[280]. A Message From A Poem – The Lord In Our Affliction

[280]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – THE LORD IN OUR AFFLICTION

This was one of my first poems.

This poem came from a period that was very difficult for me when a nasty, concerted attack was made against me. That is when the Lord led me into writing poems with His help. Right back then I would not have believed that today the word count in poems is 100 000 words.

This poem is one of the first I started writing in 1997.

Affliction for a Christian rests in the basket of opposition, persecution, attack, oppression and many other words we could apply. Sometimes I think that people who oppose Christians and treat them badly, don’t even know why they do it. It is the way they are led because if a person does not belong to the Lord he belongs to the devil, and he is used for evil. The enemy STIRS up those opposed to the rightness of Christians.

A very strategic verse was written to Timothy – {{2 Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, ALL who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL BE PERSECUTED.”}}. Of course there is another side to this but I am not pursuing it in the poem. Discipline can be to correct a straying Christian.

The first mention of affliction in the New Testament is this verse in the Sower parable – {{Matthew 13:21 “yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when AFFLICTION or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.”}}. In that verse the NASB translates two words as affliction and persecution. Is there a difference?

The AV chooses “tribulation or persecution”. The first of these words can mean - Persecution, affliction, distress, tribulation, pressure – while the second word means – chase, pursue – the idea being that the victim is chased to bring trouble to him/her. All this the devil’s agents will do against the people of God to bring misery and in an attempt to cause them to fall.

One message in this poem, is that we must assist fellow believers in trouble and who face persecution and death. Our small fellowship supports The Voice of the Martyrs and The Barnabas Fund.

The second part of the poem looks at the support the Lord gives. {{Hebrews 2:17-18 “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”}}

{{Hebrews 4:15 “for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”}}

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THE LORD IN OUR AFFLICTION

Focus not in on the troubles, my friend,

But in on your friend in trouble.

To strengthen his hand by love's tightened band,

Is compassion fulfilling your Lord's true command.

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In prayer, support him, when under attack -

Needs not more attack against him.

Become his delight; support in the fight,

Turning not your attention away from his plight.

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Comfortless not, has He left us alone,

But His comforts alone, excel.

The Lord there above, on wings as a dove,

Has become our strong Refuge in comforting love.

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Tempted was He in the desert we know.

Now succours the tempted in trials.

If squashed by distress, with hurts to address,

Forsake all and flee to the Lord, our strong Fortress.

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Long nights of deep affliction soon will pass.

So bright will be eternal dawn!

Our sins once He bore; and afflictions sore:

Hallelujah! Forgiven! And blessed evermore.

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Around 9 June 1997 R E Ferguson 10-8-10-12 ABCC (internal rhyme)