February 2013 Letters

From Calgary: Dear Brooks, the various contributors to your January editorial all suggest that 2013 will not be a pleasant year, in fact it is frightening to contemplate. My wife asked me how we, as Christians, should plan on coping.

Dear Calgary: Certainly if events unfold as that editorial depicts, then we are facing some difficult times ahead. Still, who can really project the short-term future? I recall the late former prime minister of Canada, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, once remarking, “It’s not the end of the world, but you can see it from there.” Following this column, I will publish a Charles Cadwallader article that should provide great solace to all who are under the protection of the Lord.

Still, I think the best example of His protection is Psalm 91, often referred to as the “Christian Soldiers” Psalm. And of course, as the old hymn, “Onward Christian Soldiers” depicts, we are all Christ’s soldiers, at the front to extol news of the glorious Kingdom that awaits us.

Perhaps you too have read the story when, during World War I, the 91st Infantry Brigade of the U.S. Expeditionary Army was preparing to enter combat in Europe. Most of the men were “green” soldiers who had never seen combat. Its commander, a devout Christian called an assembly of his men, where he gave each a little card on which was printed the 91st Psalm. They agreed to recite the Soldiers Psalm daily.

The 91st Brigade was engaged in three of the bloodiest battles of WWI; Chateau Thierry, Belle Wood, and the Argonne. While other American units similarly engaged had up to 90% casualties, the 91st Brigade did not suffer a single combat related casualty!

This Psalm shows the “safeguard, the haven of rest,” for the true Christian soldier. Two years ago, this month in fact, we ran a paraphrased version of Psalm 91 and maybe it might help Christians to often repeat this, or more properly, the words from the Authorized King James Bible, it is the recipe for our protection.