I am still looking at GODS Care of the Widow and Fatherless and the sojourner and stranger among us. But first Pastor Hoekstra and his writing on Grace. Then with the use of the ESV translation and with any editing from the LORD our course of study.
"Once More on the Resurrection and Sanctification"
"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us." (2Corinthians 1:8-10)
"Our passage speaks again of the Lord's resurrection power operating in our daily spiritual Christian lives, in the process of Sanctification and spiritual growth. The setting in which the LORD did this Resurrecting work was in the midst of trials while serving GOD.
Paul did not want other believers to be unaware of his difficulties. "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia." Too often, we are tempted to keep our struggles totally private. Thereby, we rob glory from GOD, when He delivers us. Also, we keep others from learning important lessons that come from watching GOD fulfill the Faithful Promises of His word.
Paul's battles were severe on this occasion. "We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves." Spiritually speaking, these trials were killing Paul and his missionary team. They were pressed down, overwhelmed, helpless, and hopeless. When we are in hopeless despair, our sufferings seem to be pointless. Yet, our difficulties (like Paul's) have this invaluable purpose built into them: "that we should not trust in ourselves but in GOD Who raises the dead." We have frequently noted that living by Grace requires humility and faith. GOD gives Grace to the humble, and faith accesses Grace. Well, in the trials of life, of which GOD is the author, GOD is working on developing these relational realities (spiritual realities that become real through a Growing Relationship with Christ Jesus).
Trials and difficulties (light afflictions) become occasions to be humbled before GOD. We are provoked to cry out to GOD in helplessness. Also, trials present new opportunities to trust in the LORD. When the trials are intense, GOD is purging us of the primary obstacle to trusting in GOD, and that is self-trust. "Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in GOD Who raises the dead." Thus, convinced that we cannot handle it, we call upon GOD, Who Faithfully resurrects us from our circumstantial death. "Who delivered us from so great a death." Thereby, our faith grows that He Will continue to rescue us: "and does deliver us; in Whom we trust that He Will still deliver us."
GOD's Carrying for:
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set His heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the LORD your God is GOD of gods and LORD of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome GOD, Who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve Him and hold fast to Him, and by His name you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, Who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven."
Psalm 10:12-15 "Arise, O LORD; O GOD, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. Why does the wicked renounce GOD and say in his heart, "You will not call to account"? But You do see, for You note mischief and vexation, that You may take it into Your hands; to You the helpless commits himself; You have been the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till You find none."
Psalm 68:5-10 "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is GOD in His Holy habitation. GOD settles the solitary in a home; HE leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. O GOD, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness, the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before GOD, the One of Sinai, before GOD, the God of Israel. Rain in abundance, O GOD, You shed abroad; You restored Your inheritance as it languished; Your flock found a dwelling in it; in Your goodness, O GOD, You provided for the needy."
Psalm 146:5-10 "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, Who keeps faith forever; Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; HE upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked HE brings to ruin. The LORD Will reign forever, your GOD, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!"
Proverbs 15:21-26 "Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead. Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! The path of life leads upward for the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol beneath. The LORD tears down the house of the proud but maintains the widow's boundaries. The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure."
Jeremiah 49:7-11 "Concerning Edom. Thus says the LORD of Hosts: "Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time when I punish him. If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, would they not destroy only enough for themselves? But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more. Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in Me."
Hosea 14:1-3 "Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips. Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, 'Our God,' to the work of our hands. In You the orphan finds mercy."
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