The Brightness of God's Goodness
"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 119:71-72
We often struggle when God's goodness and human suffering collide in our lives. We naturally assume that a hard situation means a bad situation. Yet, Scripture paints a very different picture. The affliction itself is not always good, but what God does with it and what He produces through it is profoundly good.
1. Affliction Tethers Us to the Word
The psalmist begins by acknowledging that God has dealt well with him according to His Word. When affliction strikes, it can easily shake our grip loose from God's goodness. That is why the writer immediately asks God to teach him good judgment and knowledge. He makes a bold confession of belief right in the middle of his pain. He drops an anchor down into the waters of the Word so that it catches upon the solid rock of God's character. When we are sailing smoothly across calm seas, we might lose sight of His goodness. Its true strength is proven in the storm. Affliction keeps us close and abiding in the Scriptures more than at any other time. We see this in John 6 when many people abandon Jesus. Peter looks at Christ and says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." In the pain of abandonment, Peter tightened his tether on the Word.
2. Affliction Turns Us to God
Verses 67 and 68 describe a powerful transformation. The psalmist explains what his life was like before his affliction. He was going astray. Then he explains what his life is like after the affliction. He now keeps God's Word. This sounds just like every Christian testimony. Many of us experienced a moment of intense hardship that served as a wake up call, bringing us to a life of obedience. This happens not only at the moment of our salvation but as an ongoing pattern in our sanctification. God actively puts our sin to death. That process can feel violent and painful, but it is always good when done by the hand of a loving God. Verse 68 states in no uncertain terms, "You are good and do good." God loves us so much that He will use anything necessary to turn us back to Himself.
3. Affliction Tells Us What is False and Good
Affliction works like a bright spotlight. It has a unique way of exposing what is false and revealing what is truly good. In verses 69 and 70, the writer experiences a specific type of affliction through the slander of insolent men. People are running a smear campaign against him, trying to cover his integrity with mud. The psalmist notes that the hearts of these slanderers are unfeeling like fat. Their hurtful words tell us much more about their own miserable, joyless lives than they do about the psalmist. While they grumble and complain, the writer finds his solace in keeping and delighting in God's law.
4. Affliction Teaches Us What Truly Matters
The psalmist makes a stunningly confident statement in verse 71. He says, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." Affliction is one of God's many instruments. It functions like a scalpel in the hand of a good surgeon, necessary to cut away the disease in order to bring healing. The writer concludes by declaring that the law of God's mouth is better to him than thousands of gold and silver pieces. In their day, "thousands" was the highest expression of immense wealth. Affliction teaches us the supreme value of the Word because it reveals Christ, our salvation, and the endless goodness of God.
Affliction proves the reality of our faith perhaps more than anything else. When things get incredibly hard, where do you turn? Where do you find your joy? Let your trials teach you what possesses supreme worth. A pocketful of gold and silver cannot comfort you in a hospital waiting room, but the promises of God certainly can. When you find yourself asking tough questions, remember the ultimate treasure you have in Christ.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You because You are good and You do good. We confess that we often run from affliction, failing to see how You might use it to bless us. Please forgive us for doubting Your character when the storms of life hit. Teach us to drop our anchor into Your Word. Use our trials to turn us away from wandering and to expose the empty lies of this world. Remind us that Your truth is worth far more than all the gold and silver on earth. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
We often struggle when God's goodness and human suffering collide in our lives. We naturally assume that a hard situation means a bad situation. Yet, Scripture paints a very different picture. The affliction itself is not always good, but what God does with it and what He produces through it is profoundly good.
1. Affliction Tethers Us to the Word
The psalmist begins by acknowledging that God has dealt well with him according to His Word. When affliction strikes, it can easily shake our grip loose from God's goodness. That is why the writer immediately asks God to teach him good judgment and knowledge. He makes a bold confession of belief right in the middle of his pain. He drops an anchor down into the waters of the Word so that it catches upon the solid rock of God's character. When we are sailing smoothly across calm seas, we might lose sight of His goodness. Its true strength is proven in the storm. Affliction keeps us close and abiding in the Scriptures more than at any other time. We see this in John 6 when many people abandon Jesus. Peter looks at Christ and says, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." In the pain of abandonment, Peter tightened his tether on the Word.
2. Affliction Turns Us to God
Verses 67 and 68 describe a powerful transformation. The psalmist explains what his life was like before his affliction. He was going astray. Then he explains what his life is like after the affliction. He now keeps God's Word. This sounds just like every Christian testimony. Many of us experienced a moment of intense hardship that served as a wake up call, bringing us to a life of obedience. This happens not only at the moment of our salvation but as an ongoing pattern in our sanctification. God actively puts our sin to death. That process can feel violent and painful, but it is always good when done by the hand of a loving God. Verse 68 states in no uncertain terms, "You are good and do good." God loves us so much that He will use anything necessary to turn us back to Himself.
3. Affliction Tells Us What is False and Good
Affliction works like a bright spotlight. It has a unique way of exposing what is false and revealing what is truly good. In verses 69 and 70, the writer experiences a specific type of affliction through the slander of insolent men. People are running a smear campaign against him, trying to cover his integrity with mud. The psalmist notes that the hearts of these slanderers are unfeeling like fat. Their hurtful words tell us much more about their own miserable, joyless lives than they do about the psalmist. While they grumble and complain, the writer finds his solace in keeping and delighting in God's law.
4. Affliction Teaches Us What Truly Matters
The psalmist makes a stunningly confident statement in verse 71. He says, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." Affliction is one of God's many instruments. It functions like a scalpel in the hand of a good surgeon, necessary to cut away the disease in order to bring healing. The writer concludes by declaring that the law of God's mouth is better to him than thousands of gold and silver pieces. In their day, "thousands" was the highest expression of immense wealth. Affliction teaches us the supreme value of the Word because it reveals Christ, our salvation, and the endless goodness of God.
Affliction proves the reality of our faith perhaps more than anything else. When things get incredibly hard, where do you turn? Where do you find your joy? Let your trials teach you what possesses supreme worth. A pocketful of gold and silver cannot comfort you in a hospital waiting room, but the promises of God certainly can. When you find yourself asking tough questions, remember the ultimate treasure you have in Christ.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we praise You because You are good and You do good. We confess that we often run from affliction, failing to see how You might use it to bless us. Please forgive us for doubting Your character when the storms of life hit. Teach us to drop our anchor into Your Word. Use our trials to turn us away from wandering and to expose the empty lies of this world. Remind us that Your truth is worth far more than all the gold and silver on earth. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
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