“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me. (Psalm 129:2)
The people of Israel have faced many enemies throughout their existence. From their enslavement to Pharaoh, to the harassment from surrounding nations when they entered into the land promised to them, to the Assyrian and Babylonian empires who conquered them and sent them into exile. God’s chosen people have known affliction, but they also know God’s faithfulness. Although they have faced enemy after enemy, God faithfully preserved Israel and through her brought forth the promised Messiah, who would defeat sin, Satan and death through His own death and resurrection.
Because of God’s faithfulness, we who are followers of Jesus, can trust Him to preserve us to the very end. No matter how challenging life gets, the end of our story is glorification (Romans 8:30). Like the Apostle Paul who faced execution for being a Christian we can say along with him, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom.” 2 Timothy 4:18.