A Verse
Psalm 119:71
It was good for me to be afflicted
so that I might learn your decrees.
A Comment
I tried to read through the book of Psalms and Proverbs once a month with my other daily Bible readings. When you are wading through some of the more strenuous reads in the OT, like long lists of genealogies and land divisions, it is nice break to encounter the praise of the Psalms and the wisdom of the Proverbs. But this morning’s reading through Psalm 119 stopped me in my tracks once again.
In Psalm 119:71, David makes a staggering comment about affliction. While those who afflicted him intended evil through their actions, David perceived that God was working for his good, teaching him the LORD’s decrees. In fact, the entire section from verses 65-72 emphasizes the goodness of God even while the psalmist is suffering.
In commenting on Psalm 119:71, Charles Spurgeon, a great Baptist pastor from the 19th century who was well acquainted with grief and depression, wrote these words:
Even though the affliction came from bad men, it was overruled for good ends; though it was bad as it came from them it was good for David. It benefited him in many ways, and he knew it. Whatever he may have thought while under the trial, he perceived himself to be the better for it when it was over…
Truly he has dealt well with us, for he has dealt wisely with us. We have been kept from the ignorance of the greasy-hearted by our trials, and this, if there were nothing else, is just cause for constant gratitude. To be larded by prosperity is not good for the proud; but for the truth to be learned by adversity is good for the humble. Very little is to be learned without affliction. If we would be scholars we must be sufferers. As the Latins say, Experientia docet, experience teaches. There is no royal road to learning the royal statutes; God’s commands are best read by eyes wet with tears.
I have to admit, I am no natural fan of affliction. I do not long for it, nor do I believe that God’s people should seek it out. Yet, living in a fallen, sick-broken world means that affliction will be part of our lives. But this does not mean that God has abandoned us. He is working in the brokenness and the affliction to bring about good in all things for His people (Romans 8:28).
If you find yourself living through affliction this morning, take heart that God is still working in your life. He is teaching us that this world is not our home. He is teaching us that He is faithful. He is teaching us that He is still God. And in these truths, we can rest and find peace.
A Prayer
Would you pray with me this morning?
A Blessing
The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
A Bonus
Music ministers to me in profound ways, especially in hard times. This song is a profound and glorious reminder of God’s faithfulness in our trials and afflictions. I pray that it will minister to you as it did to me.
The Good of Affliction?