Tho Satan Should Buffet [Excerpts]
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John:16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.)
The second verse of "It Is Well with My Soul" puts persecution and troubles in perspective.
Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Paul was given "a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet" him (2 Corinthians:12:7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.). Almost every saint of every age could echo Paul's concerns, for trials come to each child of God. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you" (1 Peter:4:12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:). God had a purpose in Paul's life, and He has one in ours, although Paul couldn't clearly see the purpose, and, at times, we can't either. We can, however, "glory," as Paul did; or "rejoice," as Peter advises, in response to the knowledge of God's loving oversight.
(John D. Morris, Days of Praise, Institute for Creation Research, September 2, 2009).
