Sometimes our lives as believers can be very difficult. David, before he became king of Israel, found it so when he was being hunted by King Saul, his own father-in-law. Saul, out of jealousy and hatred, wanted to kill David. So David escaped with the help of his wife (read the story in 1 Samuel 18-24) and lived in fear for his life for the next few years. The Apostle Paul suffered many things as well – and his list can be read in 2 Corinthians 11:25-27.
In our lifetime we see people facing these same kinds of issues today – people who are being hunted for no other reason than that they believe in Jesus Christ. It is hard to face such persecution. That is when we turn to Scripture to find both advice and comfort.
Other Christians in past years have done the same, and we can learn from their testimonies too. One such instance is this study, written by a minister whose people were being killed for their faith in Jesus. Rev. Simon used the words of David, as they are written in Psalm 25, to talk with God about his own pain and fears.
We pray these lessons will be an encouragement to you as you turn to God in the same way Rev. Simon did. As you hear the heart of this man weeping for his friends who were dying, possibly facing the same kind of treatment if those who sought his life would successfully find him, please also hear the peace and hope in his heart from knowing God was still in control. Please read and hear his confidence that God was very near to those who were being killed. Such hope and peace gives us, as it did Rev. Simon, the ability to praise God even in the face of death (see Matthew 5:10-12).
Psalm 25 Of David.
1 In you, Lord my God,
I put my trust.
2 I trust in you;
do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame,
but shame will come on those
who are treacherous without cause.
4 Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you, Lord, are good.
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
11 For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
13 They will spend their days in prosperity,
and their descendants will inherit the land.
14 The Lord confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish.
18 Look on my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.
19 See how numerous are my enemies
and how fiercely they hate me!
20 Guard my life and rescue me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope, Lord, is in you.
22 Deliver Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!
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