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through Christ which strengtheneth me” ready done much evil against him (v14),
(Php 4:13). It is evident that he still could and he was experiencing the evils of a
do all things because the Lord brought dank Roman dungeon. The “evil work” he
him the strength. Our Lord cannot help would be delivered from was the same evil
but “be touched with the feeling of our work pressing in around him, encourag-
infirmities” (Heb 4:15). Remember, the ing him to do the evil work of denying his
Lord knew abandonment by the near- Lord and the gospel, or to sin in response
est disciples. The leading disciple of the to his treatment. He was confident that the
twelve denied association with Him. He, Lord “will preserve me unto his heavenly
however, was not ashamed of them and kingdom” (v18), when he will reign with
called them brothers after His resurrec- Christ and where the display of the grace
tion (Joh 20:17). Paul could be confident of God will give expression. Paul was
that the Captain of his salvation was “not confident in deliverance from evil.
ashamed to call [him brother]” (Heb 2:10- He could be confident knowing that his
11). During our suffering according to His Lord was likewise delivered. Our Saviour
will, He is never ashamed to call us His was mocked in His suffering on the cross,
brother, even if others are. even by those unknowingly quoting the
Likewise, our Lord Jesus Christ could Psalm, “He trusted on the LORD that he
proclaim upon the cross the Psalm, “My would deliver him: let him deliver him,
strength is dried up like a potsherd” (Psa seeing he delighted in him” (Psa 22:8;
22:15). This is a marvelously enigmatic Mat 27:43). He could not be delivered in
statement. Still in that moment, He was those moments, for our salvation required
the One “by [whom] all things consist” that He endure the cross and the wrath
(Col 1:17). His strength was dried up, yet of God that would be poured out upon
He cried triumphantly in a booming voice, Him, for He was “delivered by the de-
“It is finished!” (Joh 19:30). So, our Lord terminate counsel and foreknowledge of
Jesus still found His strength in His God, God ... [and] taken, and by wicked hands
saying of Him, “O my strength, haste thee … crucified and slain” (Act 2:23).
to help me” (Psa 22:19). He endured what But would He be delivered? Praise the
no one else could undertake. Lord, after His death He was delivered in
Delivered resurrection. The writer to the Hebrews
notes, “Who in the days of his flesh, when
Paul expresses that he “was delivered he had offered up prayers and supplica-
out of the mouth of the lion” and “the Lord tions with strong crying and tears unto
shall deliver me from every evil work” him that was able to save him from death,
(2Ti 4:17-18). Paul does not plainly express and was heard in that he feared” (Heb 5:7).
who the “lion” was – perhaps Nero, or In Psalm 22, what begins as a threnody
Satan’s usage of political persecution, or, turns to cheerful melody of one delivered:
very unlikely, the lions in the Colosseum. “For thou hast heard me” (v21); “in the
The Lord, however, did deliver him from midst of the congregation will I praise
this imminent threat. thee” (v22). The One who suffered is now
Paul’s confidence extends to every evil glorified and desires to share this acquired
work. This evil work is not the evil that glory with those who also will suffer with
men could do to him. Alexander had al- Him (2Ti 2:12).

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