Reflections on Deliverance from Persecution

	Psalms and Readings Reflections on Deliverance from Persecution

Psalm 57

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy,

     for in you my soul has taken refuge;

in the shadow of your wings I take refuge,

     until the storms of destruction pass by. 

I cry to God the Most High,

      to God who has always been my help. 

May he send from heaven and save me,

     and shame those who assail me.

May God send his truth and his love.

 My soul lies down among lions

     Who would devour the sons of men.

Their teeth are spears and arrows,

        their tongue a sharpened sword

O God, arise above the heavens.  May your glory shine on earth.

They laid a snare for my steps;

     my soul was bowed down.

They dug a pit in my path,

     but fell it themselves.

My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.

     I will sing, I will sing your praise.

Awake, my soul! Awake, lyre and harp!

     I will awake the dawn.

 I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples;

     among the nations I will praise you.

For your love reaches to the heavens;

     And your truth to the skies.

O God, arise above the heavens. May your glory shine on earth.

John 15:18 – 16:4

"If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, "Servants are not greater than their master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.  Whoever hates me hates my Father also.  If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.  It was to fulfil the word that is written in their law, "They hated me without a cause.'  "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.  You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

"I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. 

Psalm 42

Like the deer that yearns for running streams,

      so my soul is yearning for you, my God. 

My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life.

     When can I enter and see the face of God?

My tears have become my bread, by night, by day,

     as I hear it said all the say long, "Where is your God?" 

These things will I remember, as I pour out my soul:

     how I would lead the rejoicing crowd into the house of God,

     amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving, the throng wild with joy.

Why are you cast down, my soul, why groan within me?

Hope in God; I will praise him still, my saviour and my God.

 My soul is cast down within me as I think of you;

     from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon, from the hill of Mizar.

Deep is calling  on deep in the roar of waters;

    Your torrent and all your waves swept over me. 

By day the Lord will send his loving kindness;

     by night I will sing to him, praise the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock, "Why have you forgotten me?

     Why do I go mourning oppressed by the foe?

With cries that pierce me to the heart, my enemies revile me,

     Saying to me all the day long, "Where is your God?" 

Why are you cast down, my soul, why groan within me?

     Hope in God;  I will  praise him still, my saviour and my God.

Mt 5:43-48

"You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

  

2 Thess 3:1-5

Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ

Psalm 70

O God, make haste to my rescue,

     Lord, come to my aid!

Let there be shame and confusion

     on those who seek my life.

O let them turn back in confusion,

     who delight in my harm,

Let them retreat, covered with shame,

     who jeer at my lot.

Let there be rejoicing and gladness

     for all who seek you.

Let them say for ever: ‘God is great’,

     who love your saving help.

 As for me, wretched and poor,

     come to me, O God.

You are my rescuer, my help,

     O Lord, do not delay.

Phil 3:7-11

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Rom 8:31-39

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 86

Turn your ear, O Lord and give answer

     for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life, for I am faithful:

     save the servant who trusts in you.

You are my God, have mercy on me Lord,

     for I cry to you all the day long.

Give joy to your servant, O Lord,

     for to you I lift up my soul.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving,

     full of love to all who call.

Give heed, O Lord to my prayer

     and attend to the sound of my voice.

In the day of distress I will call

     and surely you will reply.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord,

     nor work to compare with yours.

All the nations shall come to adore you

     and glorify your name, O Lord:

For you are great and do marvellous deeds,

     you who alone are God.

Show me, Lord, your way

     so that I may walk in your truth.

Guide my heart to fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart

     and glorify your name for ever;

For your love to me has been great:

     you have saved me from the depths of the grave.

The proud have risen against me;

     ruthless men seek my life:

to you they pay no heed.

But you, God of mercy and compassion,

     slow to anger, O Lord,

Abounding in love and truth,

     turn and take pity on me.

O give your strength to your servant

     and save your handmaid’s son.

Show me a sign of your favour

     that my foes may see to their shame

          that you console me and give me your help.

1 Pet 4:12-14

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

2 Cor 4:8-11

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.

Rom 12:17-21

Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd,

     there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

     where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me

     to revive my drooping spirit.

He guides me along the right path;

     he is true to his name.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness

     no evil would I fear.

You are there with your crook and your staff;

     with these you give me comfort.

You have prepared a banquet for me

      in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

     my cup is overflowing.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

     all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

      for ever and ever.

     

Psalm 3

How many are my foes, O Lord!

 How many are rising up against me!

How many are saying about me,

 "There is no help for him in God."

But you, Lord, are a shield about me,

      my glory, who lift up my head.

 I cry aloud to the Lord.

      He answers from his holy mountain.

 I lie down to rest and I sleep.

      I wake, for the Lord upholds me.

 I will not fear even thousands of people

     who are ranged on every side against me.

Arise,  Lord! Save me, my God!

      you who strike all my foes on the mouth;

      and who break the teeth of the wicked!

O Lord of salvation, bless your people!

Mt 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of

     heaven.

 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 

 "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 

 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,  

     for they will be filled.

 "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 

 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 

 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called

      children of God. 

 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness'

      sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

 "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you  

      and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,

     for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who

     were before you.

Psalm 118:81-88

I yearn for your saving help;

     I hope in your word.

My eyes yearn to see your promise.

     When will you console me?

Though parched and exhausted with waiting

     I have not forgotten your commands.

How long must your servant suffer?

     When will you judge my foes?

For me the proud have dug pitfalls,

     against your law.

Your commands are all true; then help me

     when lies oppress me.

They almost made an end of me on earth

     but I kept your precepts.

Because of your love give me life

     and I will do your will.

Rev  7:2-4, 9-14

I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea, saying, "Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads."  And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel. After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.  They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"  And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God,  singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."  Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?"  I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.