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AFFLICTION IS GOOD FOR ME
By Bruce O’Neill
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. —Psalm 34:19
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. —Psalm 119:71
An affliction is a problem, pain, trouble, distress, sorrow and things of that nature. Afflictions are those situations in life that we do not normally want. An affliction may be a broken bone, mental anguish, a broken heart —just about anything life may throw at you. Usually we don’t have to seek them out; they locate us. They are not things we look for; but they will be there. There are times in my Christian life when I have put myself in situations where I knew afflictions would come. But I have done these things either to stand on a Bible principle, or to help someone who may not have wanted my help. These are times I did not look forward to and I did not like going through them, but I was fully persuaded that the situation demanded such action and I must bear the burden.
While it is impossible to exhaust the subject of afflictions we will look at it in several ways, primarily from the Scriptures.
The Psalms
Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. —Psalm 34:19
Here afflictions give us the opportunity to see God work. God does work you know; He has not gone into retirement. We have the same God the people in the Bible had. He has not changed, nor will He. All this depends on the fact that the God of the Bible is your God and that you are His servant. It seems many folks think God is their servant. It is the other way around; we are to serve Him. When we are His the afflictions will come, in fact there will be many of them—that’s one of the Bible promises we wish weren’t there. But there is a second promise in that same verse; He will get us through all of them. That’s the kind of promise we like to claim.
Most of us are familiar with these next verses; I make reference to them often in my preaching, so I will give them to you with little comment. David recounts times in his life when he went into deep sin and the Lord brought affliction into David’s life as a means to get him out of those sins and get right once again with God.
When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. —Psalm 32:2-5
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. —Psalm 51:10-17
Now we will look at some of the "affliction verses" in Psalm 119:
Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. —Psalm 119:49-50
Affliction comes our way and what do we do? What should we do? We are to ask God to "Remember the word" in our situation. God’s Word is what our hope is built on for both the here and now and the hereafter. How quick we are to say, "I believe" when it comes to salvation, but when problems come we are full of doubts and fears! How we react to afflictions is an excellent indication as to whether we are saved or not—both for ourselves and for the lost folks to observe. When the affliction—the troubles—come our way our comfort should lie in the fact that God’s Word will quicken (meaning "give life") us in and through the affliction. We don’t want affliction— why should we? But afflictions have come and we must weather the storm anyway. Why not do it with God’s promises that He through His Word will give us reason to hope and give us comfort?
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I have kept thy word. —Psalm 119:67
We do our own thing. We want our own way. We get to a point in our life that we all but hang ourselves; but God has other plans. He has let us go our own way long enough. But then a God- allowed—if not God-sent—affliction comes our way. It may be one of a thousand different things. What afflicts me may not phase you in the least. But something will come along. Something will be there to bring us back to God. The Psalmist is telling us, "I went my own way, but affliction came my way. Something came into my life that caused me to stop and think. I realized doing my own thing was not what it was cracked up to be. Now I have come back to God. He has got my full attention once again. I am back in the fold because I am now seeking to follow His Word. Because of the affliction I have learned once again to be obedient to God."
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. —Psalm 119:71
Here the Psalmist tells us it was good for him to have been afflicted. He is happy about it. Why? Because he learned God’s Word because of it. You can only learn so much in a classroom. Hands-on experience makes a world of difference. An auto mechanic can learn only so much in a schoolroom, but he can learn a great deal with his head under the hood and with his hands covered with grease. Learning the Bible isn’t much different. Spending considerable time in my Bible everyday is an absolute must for me. But if I never do anything with what I have learned it won’t do me or anyone else much good. I need to see the Bible work in my life and in the lives of others. Then it will become real to me and to those whom I am trying to help.
A problem comes my way. I don’t like it and I don’t want it, but it is there just the same. The Holy Spirit brings to mind a Bible principle, I put the principle to work and the problem begins to work itself out. The affliction may be gone very quickly; or it may be there for the rest of my life, but the situation is being worked out. Don’t overlook the fact that there are thousands of potential external factors. God is using His divine principles to teach me and I am learning and growing. The whole thing turns out to be very beneficial for me because I see God’s hand in it all and I see God’s Word is true and accurate—and it works just like God claims it does.
We call the Bible "the Word of God" and well we should, because that is just what it is. But not only is it the Word of God, it is words from God. From the first word in Genesis to the last word in Revelation we have words from God that He not only wants us to know, but demands that we know. The Bible—the Word of God—are words from God, His written will for every person who has lived, is living, or will ever live. Sadly, we are content with our personal brand of shallow Christianity, but God is not. He brings affliction, we respond by learning His statutes. Our hard heads and hard hearts are so slow to understand and slower still to change. Why must the afflictions come before we learn? May God help us to apply the truths as we study, and not only after He has brought afflictions our way.
I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. —Psalm 119:75
Here we are told the affliction came directly from God Himself. Yes, God is love, but love is not letting a sinner have his own way. Whatever the affliction was it caused the Psalmist to remember that God’s Word is right, and that God brought affliction upon this man because God was being faithful to him. Modern theology must have a hard time with this verse. How can a loving God bring a problem into the life of one of His followers? Easy: the same way a loving mother will slap the hand of her young child reaching for a hot stove.
Consider what we are told in Hebrews: "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." —Hebrews 12: 5-8 (also see Proverbs 3:11-12).
The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. —Matthew 5:3-4
I wonder how the ‘name it, claim it’ television preachers handle these verses? What do those who say, "If you are not rich, you are not right with God" do with these verses? How can a person be "happy" (that is what blessed means) when he has a poor spirit and is mourning?
A believer may be poor in spirit for a season, but then the sunshine will break forth once again. Things do get us down from time to time. Nowhere in the Bible will you find that things are to always come up roses in the believer’s life. Afflictions are part of our lives, but there is victory found in these problems. Did everything work out just as was expected for Abraham? Moses? Joseph? Rachael? Joshua? Ruth? Hannah? David? Jeremiah? Peter? Paul? If you say "Yes" you don’t know your Bible. Their future reward was much greater than their present conflict. Paul refers to them as "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" —2 Corinthians 4:17
We will mourn over the loss of a Christian loved one or friend who is called home to Heaven. We mourn— and we have every reason and right to —but we are at the same time comforted knowing they have left this world of pain and sorrow for the presence of God forever, and someday all believers will be reunited in the place prepared for us by the Lord Jesus Himself. Only a believer in Christ can shed tears of sorrow and tears of joy at the same time.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. —Matthew 5:10-12.
Try to live a separated Christian life and you will find out who your friends are, and you will find that you don’t have many. Try to live like the Bible says you should and you will be labeled "Judgmental," "Legalist," and "Pharisee." To earn any or all of these titles just have a conservative opinion that differs from someone else’s more liberal opinion. If it is an opinion that means taking a reasonable and responsible stand, or separating from something or someone, well, lookout. Take a stand against something and you will be labeled anti-this and anti-that, but turn that around and respectfully tell these same folks that their beliefs or practices are not in line with the plain teaching of the Scriptures and they will want to cart you off to a mental hospital. I take some strong stands on a number issues of what I consider important Bible teachings. I know folks who take a differing view on some of these things. Honestly, I find myself far more respectful of those who take an opposing view, or a weak stand, or no stand then they do towards me. I can show them "chapter and verse." They can show me little or nothing from the Scriptures, and I am still the legalist.
So far in America persecution is limited basically to finger pointing and name calling, but it hurts just the same. But these things are beneficial too; they drive you to your knees and back to the Book to see if these things are really so. If you find yourself wrong you must make haste to correct the situation. If you prove yourself right, hang on; the ride will be bumpy, but the final destination will prove itself worth it all. The Lord Jesus spoke of the "strait gate" and the "narrow way." The "broad way" said Jesus leads to destruction, and His way leads to life. See Matthew 7:13-14.
My Teeth
I am blessed with a mouthful of lousy teeth. If you have not had a tooth go bad on you, you have no idea of what you are missing. Most Christians have to wait to get to Heaven to get their crowns. I am getting mine now; unfortunately they are all in my mouth. Last August and the August before that I have had teeth that after nearly 50 years of happy residence decide that they no longer want to be part of my mouth. When a tooth wants out it means it wants out now. Both times I was at work and I called my wife to find a dentist who would pull the tooth for me. Both times I had to wait a considerable amount of time before the appointment. Both times the pain became worse and worse. Both times I prayed and—I am being very sincere—I have seldom felt closer to God. Pain has a way of purifying a man’s soul. Both times I confessed every sin I could remember and (jokingly here) I made up a few more. Both times I thanked God for saving me and a lot of other things too. While I hope I never have a tooth go bad on me again, I know the affliction was good for me.
The Young Lady
A couple of years ago my wife and I visited a church to hear a chorale group that would be singing the grand old hymns of the Christian Faith. (A chorale is a large mixed singing group that performs with little or no instrumental accompaniment.) Since this was a Christian college group several of the singer/students gave a brief testimony. One young lady’s testimony stuck with me. I do not recall her name, or where she was from, or what her plans for the future were. I do remember this: "I was raised in a home where our father was not faithful to his family." She did not say how her father failed his family; she didn’t need to. He may have deserted his family; he may have run off with another woman; he may have been a drunkard or a dope fiend. Whatever it was; he was not faithful to his family.
This man put his "loved ones" in affliction. I know nothing of this young lady other than her performance and her brief testimony. I will say this woman was succeeding in life simply because of where she was and what she was doing. Her Christian college would never have allowed her to be in the spotlight if she was not living an exemplary Christian life. Behind her was a godly mother, a godly pastor and church and perhaps other godly family members—and I would imagine a lot of tears. This lady could have rebelled. She could have gone into the world. She could have followed her father’s shameful lead. But she didn’t. She was afflicted and she went forward with her affliction with Christ, and not backwards with the devil and the world. She determined the failings of her father would not cause her to be a failure. Many young people would have let the unfortunate situation rule and ruin their lives; but not this young woman.
Some people allow situations to drive them from God and others allow the same or similar situations to drive them to God. Who do you think determines the out come? It is the individual—you. We wonder how good can come from evil, but it can and does when we submit ourselves to God. This lady refused to allow her life to be ruined by a father "who was not faithful to his family." Instead she went forward. Now, I would assume she is a pastor’s wife, a missionary, or perhaps a godly mother, faithful to her responsibilities, stronger because of the afflictions she suffered.
Manasseh
Manasseh, son of godly King Hezekiah became king of Judah at the age of 12. He remained king of Judah until his death 55 years later. Manasseh was "evil in the sight of the LORD." King Hezekiah was one of the great revival kings that helped turn the people back to the one true God. Manasseh undid everything his godly father had done —and then some. Manasseh built alters to the false gods. He "caused his children to pass through the fire" (i.e. he offered his own children as sacrifices). Manasseh did just about every evil thing that he could imagine. You can read about all this in 2 Chronicles 33:1-9. The Bible tells us in verse 10, "And the LORD spake to Manasseh and to his people: but they would not hearken." The story continues: "Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplications, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God." —2 Chronicles 33:11-13
King Manasseh would not listen to God. God brought an enemy army into Judah to get his attention. Manasseh was captured by enemy forces "among the thorns." He was in the thorn patch for only one reason: he was running for his life. The Assyrians were known for their extreme cruelty. Doubtless captured King Manasseh was not treated well. His days of being a prisoner of war were perhaps the most important days of his life.
When Manasseh found himself in affliction he turned to God and humbled himself. A man who has been king since he was a boy does not find it easy to be humble. Everyone had been bowing to him. Now it was his turn to bow. Most rich folks and nobility never find God because they do not know where to begin when it comes to being humble. "And when he was in affliction...he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him...Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God".
God works in mysterious and marvelous ways. When He sets His sights on a man to win that man’s soul there is no escape. An evil king becomes a humble king. A worshiper of false gods becomes a worshiper of the one true God. A proud man becomes a praying man. Manasseh was saved later in his life. Thus the Chronicles properly record him as an evil ruler. Decades of evilness are not erased on Earth by salvation. The consequences of his sins would influence his nation for many years to come. Decades of evilness is erased in Heaven by salvation. God readily forgives the Saviour-seeking sinner.
Many a soul has been won to Christ in jail or prison. Many have realized the sins they committed to land them in jail was of great offense not only to society, but also to God. The affliction of being arrested, being in jail, the trial, and the sentence have caused many men and women to turn to God just as Manasseh did.
I cannot prove it with the Scriptures, but I would imagine Manasseh looked back on that thorn patch as one of the great turning points of his life. Perhaps Manasseh said, "Thank God for the thorn patch." Perhaps there is a thorn patch in your life, and just like Manasseh you put yourself in it; but now God can take that place of affliction and turn it around to His advantage and use it to the saving of your soul, or to move you on to higher spiritual ground.
If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour after reading this article please write us. We would like to rejoice with you. lpm8998@core.com
Published
for Incarcerated Christians