Psalm 119:65-72 - The Word of God and Affliction

Psalm 119:65-72
You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word. Teach me good discernment 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 arrogant have forged a lie against me; with all my heart I will observe Your precepts. Their heart is covered with fat, but I delight in Your law. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Message: The Word of God and Affliction

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

In my reading of Psalm 119 thus far, I have looked at:

• The Blessedness of Keeping God's Law (v. 1-8)
• God's Word in the Heart (v. 9-16)
• A Longing for God's Word (v. 17-24)
• The Power and Desire to Obey (v. 25-32)
• A Heart Inclined to God's Law (v. 33-40)
• Saved to Testify (41-48)
• The Word of God in times of trouble (v. 49-56)
• Not Forgetting God's Law (v. 57-64) 

In just reviewing those passages, it is interesting the emphasis thus far by the author of this Psalm. I guess it is interesting in light of today's passage. The writer has been pressing forward that God's Law and it's keeping, its place in our heart, our desire for it, our longing, our desire to follow it and obey, being inclined to it, testify of it, it is there for us in times of trouble and we do not forget it. It is what we need. And today we see that God's word in his heart has not always been this way.

I just think about the author and what he penned. He is thrilled with God's Word and has seen there is nothing like it. It is everything to him, but he also wants to convey that life has not always been this way for him. He is real; he is human; he has made mistakes - "I was afflicted and I went astray." Sometimes pain sends us away from God. I need to always have empathy for others and the way they are reacting to god in the midst of trials. Our responses are not always wonderful and faith and trust based. Sometimes those responses are turning from God. But, what a great testimony that this person who just spent 64 verses speaking of the greatness of God's word was at another time at a low point.

He sees that afflictions were for our best. It is what we needed in our lives. He recognizes this now; he didn't recognize this before. Being afflicted gave him the instruction he needed to learn the statutes and laws of God.

Promise: Sometimes we do not understand the sweetness of the Law of the Lord. God disciplines whom He loves, and if we endure affliction at His loving hand, we are conformed more and more to the image of Christ.