Page 16 - August 2026 - Truth & Tidings

he suffering Paul experienced in his in Rome, including “Demas [who] hath
ministry was unique because it in- forsaken me,” and “at my first answer no
Tcluded foretold suffering. From the man stood with me” (4:10,16). There was
outset of Paul’s walk with the Lord, God no one to help Paul.
told Ananias, “I will shew him how great The Saviour too found no human
things he must suffer for my name’s sake” help. Praying in Gethsemane, He found
(Act 9:16). Paul is shown that his suffer- His disciples sleeping instead of watch-
1
ings would be filling up “the leftovers” of ing and praying (Mat 26:43,45). In our
2
the sufferings of Christ (Col 1:24). Christ’s Lord’s greatest moments of need, “all the
sufferings were not inadequate, nor was disciples forsook him, and fled” (v56).
God’s justice dissatisfied with His pay- Paul knew a small taste of what the Lord
ment for sin, but if our Lord were still here experienced in those hours. What Paul
upon earth, they would still persecute could not enter into was what Christ ex-
Him because of His righteousness and perienced when forsaken by God upon
gospel. So, Paul saw that his treatment was the cross in “the night season” (Psa 22:2).
like the continuing waves after the storm The Saviour could cry, fulfilling the words
(Joh 15:18-19; 17:14). Observe the striking of David, “My God, my God, why hast
parallels between the type of suffering thou forsaken me?” (v1). We hear the cry
Paul endured and the more intense afflic- through the Psalmist, “Be not far from
tions that Christ already passed through. me; for trouble is near; for there is none
This final article on 2 Timothy will briefly to help.” “Be not thou far from me, O
meditate on the sufferings of Christ and LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help
those of Paul, observing a few examples me” (vv11,19).
in comparing Psalm 22 and 2 Timothy.

Forsaken Strengthened
A marked comparison is found in the Paul was careful to specify that no man
abandonment of both Paul and his Lord. stood with him, but he had divine help.
At the end of Paul’s life, he laments that He says, “Notwithstanding the Lord
“all they which are in Asia be turned stood with me, and strengthened me”
away from me,” specifying “of whom (2Ti 4:17). He doesn’t inform us about
are Phygellus and Hermogenes” (2Ti how the Lord strengthened him, but an
1:15). Later, he mentions those who were approach to the Throne of Grace, to the
Great High Priest, could “obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need”
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the
KJV. (Heb 4:16). In previous perilous positions
2 A.T. Robertson’s Word Pictures. Paul could proclaim, “I can do all things

240 TRUTH kTidings August 2026