Worthy to Suffer

In this week’s sermon text from Acts, we once again find the Apostles enduring fierce opposition at the hands of the Jewish authorities. Though they are severely beaten and forbidden from preaching, they considered it an honor “to suffer dishonor for [Jesus’] name” (Acts 5:41). Most of the Scripture readings this morning are taken from Psalm 25, a psalm that comforts us with the promise that God will redeem us “out of all [our] troubles” (Psalm 25:22) even when surrounded by enemies. In a similar vein, Jesus, Lover Of My Soul, Incarnate God! (Psalm 91), and O God Our Help In Ages Past (Psalm 90) all cry out to the Lord for help, asking Him to hide us “until the storm of life is past,” to “save us when we cry and put our foes to shame,” and to “be our guard while troubles last.” To Live Is Christ reminds us that “all these present trials will turn to deliverance,” while Be Still, My Soul and The Lord Ever Hear You (Psalm 20) encourage us to “bear patiently the cross of grief or pain” because our God is faithful to sustain us in our weakness. Our response mirrors the Apostles’ response to their difficult situation: just as they “did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus” (Acts 5:42) even after being explicitly commanded “not to speak in the name of Jesus” (Acts 5:40), we conclude the service by joyfully singing Holy God, We Praise Your Name. —Henry C. Haffner