Psalm 91:15, 16 He shall call on me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. I will be with him in trouble. Illustrate by presence of a friend in the time of sickness and distress. That friend may be unable to help, and yet the best of help comes from that friendly presence. If God is with us in trouble, we are sure he can help and deliver. If he does not, it can only be because he is doing kinder things for us, by letting the trouble stay. The strain of feeling alone in time of trouble may be illustrated by a lonely walk through a strange and dangerous country. "Have you ever walked on, mile after mile, until it grew very dark, and there were no stars overhead, and no friendly voice or guide anywhere; and, as you grew very tired and faint and footsore, did it not seem as if the way became more rough and stony at every step? You can remember each time you stumbled in the weary darkness against a stone, how the pain seemed to shoot hotly through every nerve; and the lack of light, and the uncertainty lest each step might bear you over the precipice, - all this unnerved you. But how different if a loved friend had been with you! and especially if it so happened that he knew the road and the country well!" God's presence is the summum bonum. All we can need is included and involved in it. He really need not tell us what he will do for us; it is enough if he will be there. And so the Lord Jesus wrapped up everything for his disciples in this one assurance, "Lo, I am with you all the days." I. GOD'S PRESENCE WITH US MEANS THE BEST POSSIBLE LIMITATION OF OUR TROUBLE. II. GOD'S PRESENCE WITH US MEANS ABUNDANT COMFORTING UNDER OUR TROUBLE. III. GOD'S PRESENCE WITH US MEANS THE FULFILMENT OF THE MISSION OF OUR TROUBLE. IV. GOD'S PRESENCE WITH US ASSURES OF A "HAPPY ISSUE OUT OF ALL OUR AFFLICTIONS." God with us in trouble is the fact; but everything for us depends on our sensible realization of the fact. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. |
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