Psalm 34:19 - God's Good Often Comes Through Affliction - part 3 - Reflecting Christ.
Psa 34:19; God's Good Often Comes Through Affliction - part 3 -
Reflecting Christ.
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 AFFLICTION AND REFLECTING CHRIST.
Some time ago, a few ladies met to study the scriptures. While
reading the third chapter of Malachi, they came upon a remarkable
expression in the third verse:
"And He [God] shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver"
Mal.3:3.
One lady decided to visit a silversmith to learn about the
process of refining silver. After the smith had described it to her,
she asked, "But Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going
on?"
"Oh yes, Madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my
eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for
refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be
injured."
The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the
expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."
God sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye
is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and
love are both engaged in the best manner for us. Our trials do not
come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what we can
endure.
Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "When do you
know the process is complete?"
"Why that is quite simple," replied the silversmith. "When I
can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is
finished." [source unknown re Mal.3:2_]
The fact that we are called upon to endure trial shows that the
Lord Jesus sees in us something precious which He desires to develop.
If He saw in us nothing whereby He might glorify His name, He would
not spend time in refining us. He does not cast worthless stones
into His furnace. It is valuable ore that He refines. The blacksmith
puts the iron and steel into the fire that he may know what manner of
metal they are. The Lord allows His chosen ones to be placed in the
furnace of affliction to prove what temper they are of and whether they
can be fashioned for His work.
The potter takes the clay and molds it according to his will. He
kneads it and works it. He tears it apart and presses it together. He
wets it and then dries it. He lets it lie for a while without
touching it. When it is perfectly pliable, he continues the work of
making of it a vessel. He forms it into shape and on the wheel trims
and polishes it. He dries it in the sun and bakes it in the oven.
Thus it becomes a vessel fit for use. So the great Master Worker
desires to mold and fashion us. And as the clay is in the hands of the
potter, so are we to be in His hands. We are not to try to do the work
of the potter. Our part is to yield ourselves to be molded by the
Master Worker. MH471,2 re 1Pe.1:6
As gold is heated, impurities float to the top and can be
skimmed off. Steel is tempered or strengthened by heating it in fire.
Likewise, our trials, struggles, and persecutions refine and strengthen
our faith, making us useful to God. [Life Application SB re
1Pe.1:6]
Peter views trials of faith as essentially productive. To
illustrate the point, the author refers to the common practice of
subjecting gold to such intense heat that the initial form of it is
destroyed. When the gold is ready to be remolded, however, the impurities
have also perished in the flame. Trials and difficulties may assail
the life of a believer, but they also have the ability to identify
and banish those impurities which might impair growth and service.
This is the first of several passages in the epistle which view
suffering as essentially fruitful and necessary. [Believer's SB re
1Pe.1:6]
Does God help us out of all our troubles? Not exactly; as life's
sorrows and heartaches easily demonstrate. But the Lord does not promise
so much to remove our difficulties as to see us through them. God
can use even trouble to accomplish his purposes; Jesus was made
perfect through suffering (Heb. 2:10). With God's help, troubles can
mature us. The bottom line is that God changes something--if it's not
our troubles, then he changes us. [Quest SB]
Confessions of deliverance represent the experiences and
testimonies of God's people. They do not form a law which means God's people
will never suffer. If this were true, deliverance would not be
necessary. [Disciple SB]
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