**A Cry in the Distress: The Story of a Sojourner’s Deliverance**
In the days when the tribes of Israel were scattered, and many lived as strangers in foreign lands, there was a man named Elimelech, a descendant of Levi, who found himself dwelling among the people of Meshech and Kedar. These were fierce and deceitful tribes, known for their love of war and their tongues sharpened like arrows, ever ready to shoot lies and slander.
Elimelech had been forced to flee to this distant land after a great famine struck Judah. Though he longed for the peace of Jerusalem, where the Lord’s presence dwelt, he now lived among those who despised the God of Israel. Each day, he heard their mocking words, their false accusations against him and his people. They called him a fool for trusting in the Lord, and they stirred up strife against him, seeking to drive him out or see him perish.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of crimson and gold, Elimelech knelt in the small chamber of his humble dwelling. His heart was heavy, for the lies of his enemies had grown unbearable. They twisted his words, spread rumors to turn even his few friends against him, and laughed at his faith. With tears streaming down his face, he lifted his voice to the Lord, crying out as the psalmist once did:
*”In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue!”*
His prayer was not in vain, for the Lord, who hears the cries of the afflicted, inclined His ear to Elimelech. That very night, as he lay upon his bed, the Spirit of the Lord stirred within him, bringing to his mind the stories of his forefathers—how Moses had been delivered from Pharaoh, how David had been saved from the hand of Saul. A quiet assurance settled over him, and he knew that though his enemies seemed mighty, the Lord was his shield.
Days turned into weeks, and though the threats of the men of Meshech and Kedar did not cease, Elimelech’s heart grew steadfast. He began to speak boldly of the Lord’s faithfulness, even when mocked. Then, in a turn only the God of wonders could orchestrate, a dispute arose among the chieftains of Meshech, and their alliances crumbled. The very tongues that had sharpened themselves against Elimelech were now turned against one another. Strife consumed their camp, and in their confusion, they forgot their vendetta against the sojourner from Judah.
Not long after, word reached Elimelech that the famine in Judah had ended. With a heart full of gratitude, he gathered his belongings and set his face toward Jerusalem. As he journeyed home, he sang a new song, a song of deliverance:
*”Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!”*
When at last he beheld the gates of the Holy City, he fell to his knees and worshiped, for the Lord had heard his cry and brought him out of darkness into His marvelous light.
And so it was that Elimelech, the sojourner in distress, became a testament to the truth that the Lord is near to all who call upon Him in truth. He rescues the righteous from deceitful tongues and establishes their steps in peace.
**The End.**
