Rescue?
The 15th Sunday after Pentecost
You are the rock
where I am safe.
You are my shield,
my powerful weapon,
and my place of shelter.
You rescue me and keep me
from being hurt. ~ 2 Samuel 22:3
We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (CEB)
Strong Savior -- I really love hearing about your salvation and how you rescue people during times of trouble. I have experienced that myself. But I am troubled that there are believers who are suffering for their faith in Christ Jesus. Some of them have died. It's not their fault. They are not causing their own trouble but they are trusting you. How is it that you don't always save them from violence? Perhaps there is more going on in your rescue than what I understand. I have not lost my hope in you but I am praying for all who experience trouble -- that you would save them from being crushed. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
