August 31, 2022: Day 187 – II Thessalonians 1-3 and Psalm 79-80

This second letter of Paul to the church in Thessalonica is similar to the first.  Timothy remains mentioned in the greeting as someone who is writing the letter along with Paul.  Once again Paul speaks to the congregation to encourage them even while they are experiencing a persecution that was real and was felt tangibly.  Family members were dying and they felt as if their lives were in danger every time that they left their home.  But they had not lost their faith and so Paul wanted to encourage them and let them know that they are not going through this alone.  I see you, I see the lives that you live and how you are keeping the faith.  But continue to keep the faith.

In Psalms 79 and 80 we do have a lament followed by a lament.  In 79 we read its sense in vs.9 where we read: “Hel us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name.”  The point is that if God’s people suffer then how in the world will those who follow idols evern come to believe in a God who allows His people to suffer.  That simply doesn’t work.  But we just heard Paul say that there is redemption and value in suffering and in fact, if you do suffer then it is proof that you are one of God’s children.  I’m guessing the converse can be true which ought to catch our attention.