MORNING MANNA 1-29-25
THE SCHOOL OF SUFFERING
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn thy statutes.Psalm119:71
We’ve heard it from parents, teachers, doctors, and bullies – “If you know what’s good for you…”. Sadly most people don’t have a clue. But in other cases they do, but don’t want it. Fortunately there are some wise folks who do, and David was among them. He said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted..”.
At first glance some might think he has lost his mind. After all, no one enjoys suffering. Even though some are able to bear up under it, they see it as a burden rather than a blessing, a hindrance instead of a help. But David was different.
It’s noteworthy that his affliction was brought upon him by evil men- “The bands of the wicked have robbed me: But I have not forgotten thy law.” Psalm 119:61. “The proud have forged a lie against me: But I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.”Psalm 119:69. It’s bad enough when troubles seem to come out of nowhere, but when it comes from others, especially those you know, it is much more painful.
It is remarkable that instead of focusing on the injustices against him David reminded himself that God would use it for good. However painful the problem was while he was going through it, David knew it would be profitable in the end. He was looking at the big picture and that enabled him to rejoice. We should do the same. ( read 2 Cor. 12:9-10).
Next David said, “That I might learn thy statutes”. He knew that troubles and trials teach us lessons that we could not learn any other way. He had prayed, “Teach me good judgment and knowledge “(vs. 66). And now he sees his afflictions as the answer to his prayer.
There seems to be no end to all that could be said about this. I could send page after page of quotes on the subject by men wiser than I, going back for centuries. But it can never be said any better than it is written in the Scriptures. It is without a doubt a fact that we should accept with assurance that the One who cannot lie has given us this promise “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”Romans 8:28 - HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, TX