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DELIVERANCE ASSURED
LORD’S DAY, JANUARY 5
2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Psalm 3:1-8
 
“… in whom we trust that
he will yet deliver us.”
 
DELIVERANCE ASSURED
 
There may be times when troubles seem to be so severe that there seems to be no way out. This was certainly the experience of Paul and Timothy as they contended for the gospel in Asia. The situation was so desperate that they despaired for their lives as though they have received an official death sentence (apokrima).
 
Nevertheless, in a time when everything seemed hopeless, Paul placed his trust in God. Does God not have the power to raise the dead? Thus, Paul was certain that God could deliver them from their precarious situation in Asia.
 
Verse 10 tells us that Paul and Timothy were indeed rescued from the danger in Asia. It is thus with great assurance that Paul looks forward to God’s help and deliverance in future situations. Observe the progression of tense of the verb “deliver” in verse 10 – “Who delivered … doth deliver … will yet deliver.” God has helped in the past, He helps in the present, and He will continue to help in the future.
 
The same thought is expressed by David in Psalm 3. Even though he found himself in a desperate situation (Ps 3:1-2), David recalled that God has helped in the past and will continue to help in his present situation (vv 4-7). David’s unwavering faith in God caused him to declare that God has delivered, even though he had not yet experienced that deliverance (see Ps 3:7: “… thou hast smitten … thou hast broken …”).
 
We too like Paul and David can be assured of God’s deliverance in our pilgrim journey on earth. Even if wicked men were to take our life, we know our salvation is assured in Christ, and we will be with Christ forever. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).
 
THOUGHT: He hath delivered, He doth deliver, He will deliver.
PRAYER: Teach me, Father, to always trust in Thee to deliver.

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