Lesson 1: Introduction
www.bible.com/bible/59/psa.25

Sometimes our lives as believers can be very difficult. David, before he became king of Israel, found it so when he was being hunted by King Saul, his own father-in-law. Saul, out of jealousy and hatred, wanted to kill David. So David escaped with the help of his wife (read the story in 1 Samuel 18-24) and lived in fear for his life for the next few years. The Apostle Paul suffered many things as well – and his list can be read in 2 Corinthians 11:25-27.

In our lifetime we see people facing these same kinds of issues today – people who are being hunted for no other reason than that they believe in Jesus Christ. It is hard to face such persecution. That is when we turn to Scripture to find both advice and comfort.

Other Christians in past years have done the same, and we can learn from their testimonies too. One such instance is this study, written by a minister whose people were being killed for their faith in Jesus. Rev. Simon used the words of David, as they are written in Psalm 25, to talk with God about his own pain and fears.

We pray these lessons will be an encouragement to you as you turn to God in the same way Rev. Simon did. As you hear the heart of this man weeping for his friends who were dying, possibly facing the same kind of treatment if those who sought his life would successfully find him, please also hear the peace and hope in his heart from knowing God was still in control. Please read and hear his confidence that God was very near to those who were being killed. Such hope and peace gives us, as it did Rev. Simon, the ability to praise God even in the face of death (see Matthew 5:10-12).

We invite your questions about what you read, and we especially offer our prayer on your behalf that as either you or your friends walk through even such a valley of death’s shadows, you will also be able to trust God.