Ps 143: 3 “For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. 4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled”… 12 “And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.”
This past week I attended the annual Corpus Christi conference for 200+ young Lutherans in Turku, Finland. I had been invited to teach a three-day class on “Six-Day Creation: the Biblical and Scientific Arguments.”
After each session, many young people came up to me with questions or comments. One young person wished to speak to me privately. He shared with me that a particular health issue has been plaguing him for years and he is finding no relief. He asked me to pray for him, which I did.
That day, my Old Testament reading was Psalm 143, where David the Psalmist is crying out to God to protect him from an enemy that has been pursuing him. I suggested to the young man that we meditate on this particular Psalm, but replace the word “enemy” with the medical affliction causing him such pain.
This Psalm is also encouraging me personally because this past week we received news of a horrific health crisis that has come upon one of our grandchildren.
Perhaps you are being plagued by something as well—a medical or relationship issue or something else?
Look how this Psalm ends: while the Lord may or may not deliver us from our particular “enemy” during our lifetime, He *will* destroy all the adversaries of our soul: sin, death, and the devil.
In other words, if you believe in Jesus Christ and are baptized, through His death and resurrection, He will pave the way for your eternal life with Him. His victory over your enemy is certain.
I close with a video of the beautiful closing service at Corpus Christi. May it uplift you!
Have you heard of this wonderful annual gathering of young Lutherans in Europe (https://www.corpuschristi.eu)?
Watch this inspiring video of their closing service:
The Tiews in Germany 