Psalm 91

❇️ As a promise to the one who dwells in the shelter of the Most High the Lord tells “I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honour him” (v15)

❇️ It is interesting that the Lord does not say, I will protect him from the trouble instead he assures I will be with him in trouble. This means that the children of God will face troubles both by human wickedness and as well by devil’s design and the Lord’s promise is to be with them in their troubles.

What does he mean by this promise?

❇️ God is willing to suffer alongside his suffering children rather than being outside their troubles or remote controlling them from heaven. God is an ever present help in trouble (Ps.46:1).

❇️ Our Lord who is an embodiment of agape love(sacrificial love) is a self- implicating co- sufferer in our pain both collective and personal.

❇️ This unique participation of God in our suffering confers a spirit of courage and hope and enables the victims to show the following attitudes.

▪️To face suffering with
fortitude.
▪️To forgive the tormentors.
▪️To facilitate tormentor’s
repentence.
▪️To facilitate reconciliation
and healing.

Why does God not put an end to sufferings?

❇️ God is not waiting on the sidelines for the right moment to zoom in like a super hero to put an end to our sufferings though we may all want that to happen.

❇️ Our Lord is a co- sufferer who would prefer us pray for forgiveness instead of punishment for our tormentors.This is because our real enemy is the devil who manipulates others to inflict suffering upon us.

❇️ If all the victims were to seek punishment for their tormentors most of the people would be liable for punishment since the whole world is under the control of the evil one (1Jn.5:19). Hence it makes sense to forgive and promote repentence instead of punishment for our enemies since the real culprit is the devil.

❇️ Praying for our enemies’ forgiveness not punishment in the midst of our suffering is a divine model demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ.

✅ Insights learnt:

▪️Our Lord is a self implicating
co- sufferer in our sufferings

▪️Forgive and not punish our
enemies is to be our desire

▪️He empowers the victims to
face sufferings with fortitude
and intercede for tormentors

▪️Devil is our real enemy notpeople

Dr.E.Christadoss
Vellore 🙏🏽