Scripture Daily

Context No. 4224 of 4322 · Psalms

Context · Reflection

Psalms 119:65-80: in context

65You have treated your servant well, according to your word, LORD. 66Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. 67Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I observe your word. 68You are good, and do good. Teach me your statutes. 69The proud have smeared a lie upon me. With my whole heart, I will keep your precepts. 70Their heart is as callous as the fat, but I delight in your law. 71It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. 72The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver. 73Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments. 74Those who fear you will see me and be glad, because I have put my hope in your word. 75LORD, I know that your judgments are righteous, that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. 76Please let your loving kindness be for my comfort, according to your word to your servant. 77Let your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. 78Let the proud be disappointed, for they have overthrown me wrongfully. I will meditate on your precepts. 79Let those who fear you turn to me. They will know your statutes. 80Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.

The psalmist makes a startling confession about his suffering. Before I was afflicted, he says, I went astray, but now I keep your word. And more startling still: it is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. He looks back on a painful season not with resentment but with a kind of gratitude, because through it he was drawn back to God and taught to treasure his word.

What stands out is the redemptive purpose the psalmist finds in his affliction. Before the affliction, he wandered; the suffering brought him back and taught him God's ways. He does not pretend the affliction was pleasant, but he can say it was good, because of what God worked through it. In faithfulness, he even says, God had afflicted him, for his good.

Suffering is not meaningless in God's hands; he can use it to draw us back when we have wandered, to teach us his ways, to make his word precious to us. Like the psalmist, we may one day look back on a painful season and say, it was good for me that I was afflicted, because through it we learned what ease had never taught us.

Can I trust, like the psalmist, that God may use even my afflictions for good, drawing me back when I have wandered and teaching me his ways, so that I might one day say, it was good for me that I was afflicted, because of what he worked through it?

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