Today's Passage - Psalm 44:9-26

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Psalm 44:9-26   ...I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge. All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant.  Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path...    In this passage, the Psalmist described how the Israelites were scattered all over. From human perspective, they were deeply humiliated, but in verse 17 the psalmist said something precious. He said that these things happen to them, but they didn't forget God and they've not been false to His covenant. The covenant here is the covenant between God and the Israelites. God told them that He will be there God and they are His people. Even though at the time God allowed the enemy to humiliate them and to have them fallen into enemy's hand, this covenant has never changed and God will keep the covenant and protect the people of Israel.   When you are encountering hardship, how do you face God? When we are in time of difficulty, sometimes nothing is going well, we could complain to God and people: "Why don't you answer our prayer, God?" "God, how can you allow these things to happen to us?" We complain because we don't want to acknowledge that God has authority over all things. The psalmist had a tremendously firm faith, so he said "Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path." This reminds us of the three friends of Daniel, who refused to bow before the idol set up by King Nebuchadnezzar and were sentenced to be thrown into fire. Right before they were thrown into fire, they told the king that even if their God didn't save them, they would not bow before the golden idol, and that is strong faith!   Brothers and sisters, God never promised us that the sky will always be blue and flowers will always bloom, but God has promised that He will give us sufficient strength. Perhaps you are in a hardship that God has allowed to happen, so you must ask God to uphold your faith no matter what the circumstance is. We must firmly believe in God and persevere through the difficult circumstance by faith. The Bible tells us that those who stand firm to the end will be saved!   Pray with Pastor Tong          Lord, we thank you because you've put such wonderful example before us. We especially pray for the brothers and sisters who are experiencing hardship and might be having doubt. May you uphold their faith so that they will continue to follow you. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!