Psalm 119: 65-72

Scripture:

 You have dealt well with your servant, 
      O LORD, according to your word. 
Teach me good judgment and knowledge, 
      for I believe in your commandments. 
Before I was afflicted I went astray
      but now I keep your word. 
You are good and do good; 
      teach me your statutes. 
 The insolent smear me with lies, 
      but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; 
their heart is unfeeling like fat, 
      but I delight in your law. 
It is good for me that I was afflicted, 
      that I might learn your statutes. 
 The law of your mouth is better to me 
      than thousands of gold and silver pieces.  -Psalm 119:65-72, ESV

Observation:
-God deals with us according to His word.
-Through God we learn good judgement and gain knowledge
-"Affliction" can be the very thing that drives us to God and to His word.

Frosty Morning Drive-©Deb Davis 2013

Application:
What do you do when you are being afflicted?  Webster's, by the way, defines affliction as "something (such as a disease) that causes pain or suffering;  the state of being affected by something that causes suffering."  Where do you turn when you are being afflicted?  The Psalmist turned to God.  He turned to God's own word for instruction, guidance, and comfort.  I do not know what his affliction was, it really does not matter-the answer is the same: God.


I have known what it is to be afflicted with chronic illness- my body has some issues that at times bring life to a painful, even scary place.  I've known my share of visits to the Emergency Room.  When my health has been at its lowest I too have found that I turn to God and find rest in His words.  It was during those times that I learned to love the Psalms.  Like Paul, I have prayed often for a thorn to be removed and for a time I will think that all is restored/healed, but then I will have a little incident- just this week in fact- that reminds me that everything is not as it should be with this body of mine.     
There are things I love that I have had to give up-running for instance-because they bring the thorn into sharp focus.  I have had to make choices over the years about how to live my life that while placing some limits on what I can do have opened doors that I would never have touched if not for the times of being laid low.  


How do we view affliction and suffering?  Sometimes I think we can rightly say that it is a result of some sin in our lives, but I wonder if more often than not God sends these afflictions to draw us closer to Him-to cause us to seek Him and rely on Him and learn from Him.


Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Deb

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