From Ryan Ruffing
Psalm 143: The psalmist is emphatic that the Lord will act to rescue him from his troubles. After entreating the Lord to act, the psalmist declares confidently: “in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies” (vs. 12). Part of what anchors the psalmist’s confidence is his recollection of God’s saving works of old: “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands” (vs. 5). We do not often think of memory as an antidote for despair, but the Bible speaks of it over and over again – God calls his people to remember his saving deeds of old, as a regular encouragement in our current times of trouble.
Psalm 144: The psalmist recognizes that the God who rules over the created order, and its various functioning (vs. 5-6), is the one who deserves praise for all the blessings that that order produces (vs. 12-15). How often do we experience good things, and forget that God is the source of all that is good.
John 18.33-19.5: Before Pontius Pilate, a king, Jesus is obviously without fear. He does not shrink from his message and mission, but rather turns the tables and brings Pilate to ask some fundamental questions – “What is truth?” (vs. 38). Jesus is unfettered by Pilate, because Jesus is the true King, whose “kingdom is not from the world” (vs. 36). As his followers we are also called to be unafraid in the face of the world – our security is not from the world, and therefore we are able to be bold, as Jesus is bold in proclaiming His kingdom.