Sunday, December 16, 2012

Turning to God in the midst of trouble

Pam Padgett ... teacher

In Psalm 55 we see various problems which are common to all of us, such as enemies coming against us with their words and the wicked trying to oppress us ...

Psalm 55:1 Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. 2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

Fears also come to us, and we may want to run away ...

Psalm 55:4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

We see violence, strife, sorrow, wickedness, deceit, and guile around us ...

Psalm 55:9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. 11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

We may even be attacked by those we had not considered to be our enemies ...

Psalm 55:12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.

In whatever trials and trouble we face, we can call upon God and HE is able to help us There is great comfort for us in this.

I was also reminded of the promise that although the righteous face many afflictions, God delivers him out of them all ...

Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.