Psalm 34:19 - God's Good Often Comes Through Affliction - part 1 - Faith.
Psa 34:19; God's Good Often Comes Through Affliction - part 1 -
Faith.
Psa 34:19 (KJV) Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but
the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
Psalm 34:19 (NLT) The righteous face many troubles, but the
LORD rescues them from each and every one.
Psa 34:19 (TLB) The good man does not escape all troubles--he
has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one.
CONTEXT
The Lord, a Provider and Deliverer.
Praise for Deliverance from Trouble
Experimental Religion: God is Good
Psalm 34: David expressed praise for deliverance, [The 365-Day
Devotional Commentary]
Psalm 34: God's Unfailing Love. We are to praise God at all
times, for in many ways we continually experience the unfailing love of
our God. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Some of the psalms praise God for His glory in creation. This
one praises Him because of the meaning of relationship with Him. He
delivers, not merely from things feared but from fear itself, removing
shame. He protects and provides. Above all, He is attentive and answers
the prayer of the righteous. [Disciple SB]
CROSS REFERENCES
Acts 14:22 (KJV) Confirming the souls of the disciples, and
exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much
tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
1 Peter 1:6 (NLT) So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy
ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a
while.
2 Tim. 3:12 (KJV) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution.
1 Thes. 3:3. 4 (KJV) That no man should be moved by these
afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily,
when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer
tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Hebrews 11:33-38 (GWT) Women received their loved ones back
from the dead. Other believers were brutally tortured but refused to
be released so that they might gain eternal life. Some were made
fun of and whipped, and some were chained and put in prison. Some
were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. Some
wore the skins of sheep and goats. Some were poor, abused, and
mistreated. The world didn't deserve these good people. Some wandered around
in deserts and mountains and lived in caves and holes in the
ground.
2 Cor 1:8, 9 (NCV) Brothers and sisters, we want you to know
about the trouble we suffered in Asia. We had great burdens there that
were beyond our own strength. We even gave up hope of living. Truly,
in our own hearts we believed we would die. But this happened so we
would not trust in ourselves but in God, who raises people from the
dead.
Malachi 3:2, 3 (KJV) But who may abide the day of his coming?
and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's
fire, and like fullers' sope: And he shall sit as a refiner and
purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them
as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering
in righteousness.
1 Peter 4:12, 13 (KJV) Beloved, think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing
happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's
sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with
exceeding joy.
2 Cor. 4:11 (KJV) For we which live are alway delivered unto
death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made
manifest in our mortal flesh.
John 16:33 (KJV) These things I have spoken unto you, that in
me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but
be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
2 Cor. 4:17 (KJV) For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Psalm 71:20 (NLT) You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths
of the earth.
Rev. 7:17 (KJV) For the Lamb which is in the midst of the
throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of
waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION RE AFFLICTIONS AND FAITH
Being a Christian does not necessarily exempt one from
affliction, but it gives one strength through faith to endure.... the
sufferings of the Christian are less than those of the unbeliever, who
suffers also the effects of intemperance, of crime, and of evil habits.
[SDA Commentary]
The ultimate measure of friends is not where they stand in times
of comfort and convenience, but where they stand in times of
challenge and controversy. That being the case, apart from adversity of
some kind, we would never know who our faithful friends really are.
In the same way, we will never know in a personal way the
faithfulness of Christ apart from adversity. As a result, our faith in Him
would never increase. It would remain static. One of the primary
reasons God allows us to face adversity is so that He can demonstrate
His faithfulness and in turn increase our faith.... God is in the
process of engineering circumstances through which He can reveal Himself
to each of us. And both history as well as our personal testimonies
bear witness to the fact that it is in times of adversity that we
come to a greater realization of God's incredible faithfulness to us.
by Charles Stanley [Inspirational SB]
It was God's plan to bring often His people into strait places,
and then in their necessity to deliver them by His power, that they
might realize His love and care for them, and thus be led to serve and
honor Him. {EW 163}
Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little
faith, and it is likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without
trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her:
tempests are her trainers, and lightnings are her illuminators. When a
calm reigns on the sea, spread the sails as you will, the ship moves
not to its harbour; for on a slumbering ocean the keel sleeps too.
Let the winds rush howling forth, and let the waters lift up
themselves, then, though the vessel may rock, and her deck may be washed
with waves, and her mast may creak under the pressure of the full and
swelling sail, it is then that she makes headway towards her desired
haven. No flowers wear so lovely a blue as those which grow at the foot
of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam so brightly as those which
glisten in the polar sky; no water tastes so sweet as that which springs
amid the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives
and triumphs in adversity. Tried faith brings experience. You could
not have believed your own weakness had you not been compelled to
pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God's
strength had you not been supported amid the water-floods. Faith
increases in solidity, assurance, and intensity, the more it is exercised
with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too.
Let not this, however, discourage those who are young in faith. You
will have trials enough without seeking them: the full portion will
be measured out to you in due season. Meanwhile, if you cannot yet
claim the result of long experience, thank God for what grace you
have; praise him for that degree of holy confidence whereunto you have
attained: walk according to that rule, and you shall yet have more and
more of the blessing of God, till your faith shall remove mountains
and conquer impossibilities. [Morning and Evening by Charles H.
Spurgeon re 1Pe.1:6]
God's people have their trials. It was never designed by God,
when he chose his people, that they should be an untried people. They
were chosen in the furnace of affliction; they were never chosen to
worldly peace and earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of
mortality was never promised them; but when their Lord drew up the charter
of privileges, he included chastisements amongst the things to
which they should inevitably be heirs. Trials are a part of our lot;
they were predestinated for us in Christ's last legacy. So surely as
the stars are fashioned by his hands, and their orbits fixed by him,
so surely are our trials allotted to us: he has ordained their
season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have
upon us. Good men must never expect to escape troubles; if they do,
they will be disappointed, for none of their predecessors have been
without them. Mark the patience of Job; remember Abraham, for he had his
trials, and by his faith under them, he became the "Father of the
faithful." Note well the biographies of all the patriarchs, prophets,
apostles, and martyrs, and you shall discover none of those whom God made
vessels of mercy, who were not made to pass through the fire of
affliction. It is ordained of old that the cross of trouble should be
engraved on every vessel of mercy, as the royal mark whereby the King's
vessels of honour are distinguished. But although tribulation is thus
the path of God's children, they have the comfort of knowing that
their Master has traversed it before them; they have his presence and
sympathy to cheer them, his grace to support them, and his example to
teach them how to endure; and when they reach "the kingdom," it will
more than make amends for the "much tribulation" through which they
passed to enter it. [Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon re
Acts 14:22]
In all ages Satan has persecuted the people of God. He has
tortured them and put them to death, but in dying they became conquerors.
They revealed in their steadfast faith a mightier One than Satan.
Satan could torture and kill the body, but he could not touch the life
that was hid with Christ in God. He could incarcerate in prison
walls, but he could not bind the spirit. They could look beyond the
gloom to the glory, MB29, 30 re Act. 14:22
We often wish we could escape troubles--the pain of grief, loss,
sorrow, and failure; or even the small daily frustrations that
constantly wear us down. God promises to be "close to those whose hearts
are breaking," to be our source of power, courage, and wisdom, and
to help us through our problems. Sometimes he chooses to deliver us
from those problems. When trouble strikes, don't get frustrated with
God. Instead, admit that you need God's help and thank him for being
by your side. [Life Application SB]
It assaults our pride to acknowledge that there are things we
don't know or problems we can't overcome. But when we stop trying to
do it ourselves, we are in a position to receive the help God
sends. List questions that you have for God. Don't tell him what to do,
just ask. Then sit quietly for a while and listen. [Quiet Time SB]
Neither Christianity nor the Twelve Steps promises us freedom
from problems or pain in this life. But they both say that God will
be with us, will care for us, and will give us the power to face
those problems and persevere. [Life Recovery Devotional SB]
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