Let me thankfully acknowledge-It is good for me that I have been afflicted.

Posted : 4 May, 2013 02:24 AM

Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn Your statutes.





If I mark in myself any difference from the ungodly-if I can feel

that my natural insensibility is yielding to the influence of

grace-if I am enabled to "delight in God's law," which before I

had neglected as a "strange thing," if this softening

transformation has been wrought in the school of affliction; let

me thankfully acknowledge-It is good for me that I have been

afflicted. None indeed but the Lord's scholars can know the

benefit of this school and this teaching. The first lessons are

usually learned under the power of the word pricking and

piercing the heart; yet issuing in joyous good. All special

lessons afterward will probably be learned here. 'I never'-said

Luther-'knew the meaning of God's word, until I came into affliction. I have always found it one of my best

schoolmasters.' This teaching distinguishes the sanctified

from the unsanctified cross, explaining many a hard text, and

sealing many a precious promise-the rod expounding the

word, and the Divine Teacher effectually applying both.

Indeed, but for this discipline we should miss much of the

meaning and spiritual blessing of the word. For how can we

have any experimental acquaintance with the promises of

God, except under those circumstances for which the

promises are made? When, for example, but in the day of

trouble, could we understand the full mercy of such a gracious

word, as-"Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you,

and you shall glorify Me?" And how much more profitable is

this experimental learning than mere human instruction!

When, therefore, we pray for a clearer apprehension and

interest in the blessed book, and for a deeper experience of

its power upon our hearts; we are, in fact, often unconsciously

supplicating for the chastening rod of our Father's love. For it

is the man "whom the Lord chastens," that He "teaches out of

His law." Peter, indeed, when on the mount of transfiguration,

said, "It is good for us to be here. Let us build here three

tabernacles." Here let us abide, in a state of comfort,

indulgence, and sunshine. But well was it added by the sacred

historian-"Not knowing what he said." The judgment of David

was far more correct, when he pronounced, that it was good

for him that he had been afflicted. For so often are we

convicted of inattention to the voice of the Lord-so often do we

find ourselves looking back upon forsaken Sodom, or lingering

in the plain, instead of pressing onward to Zoar, that the

indulgence of our own liberty would shortly hurry us along the

pathway of destruction. Alas! often do we feel the spirit of

prayer to be quenched for a season by "a heart overcharged

with the cares of this life"-or by the overprizing of some lawful

comfort-or by a temper inconsistent with our Christian

profession-or by an undue confidence in the flesh. And at such seasons of backsliding, we must count among our

choicest mercies the gracious discipline, by which the Lord

schools us with the cross, that we may learn His statutes.

After all, however, this must be a paradox to the

unenlightened man. He can only "count it" all grief-not "all joywhen he falls into diverse temptations." His testimony is-It is

evil-not it is good-for me that I have been afflicted. And even

God's children, as we have before remarked, do not always

take up this word while smarting under the rod. The common

picture of happiness is freedom from trouble, not, as Scripture

describes it, the portion of trouble. Yet how true is God's

judgment, when it is the very end of affliction to remove the

source of all trouble, and consequently to secure-not to

destroy-solid happiness! We must however determine the

standard of real good by its opposition-not its accordance-to

our own fancy or indulgence. The promise of "every good

thing" may be fulfilled by a plentiful cup of affliction. Present

evil may be "working together for" ultimate "good." Let God

take His own way with us. Let us interpret His providences by

His covenant-His means by His end-and instead of fainting

under the sharpness of His rod, we shall earnestly desire the

improvement of it.

Are you, then, tried believer, disposed to regret the lessons

you have already learned in this school? Or have you

purchased them at too dear a cost? Do you grieve over the

bleedings of a contrite heart, that have brought you under the

care of the healing physician? Or could you by any other way

have obtained so rich a knowledge of His love, or have been

trained to such implicit obedience to His will? As Jesus,

"though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the

things which He suffered;" so may we "rejoice, inasmuch as

we are partakers of His sufferings," and be thankful to learn

the same obedience, as the evidence and fruit of our

conformity to Him. The Lord save us from the greatest of all afflictions, an

affliction lost! "Be instructed, O Jerusalem, lest My soul depart

from you; lest I make you desolate, a land not inhabited." "He

who being often reproved, hardens his neck, shall suddenly

be destroyed, and that without remedy." A call to tremble and

repent, to watch and pray, and "turn to Him that smites us!"

Oh! is there one of that countless throng surrounding the

everlasting throne, who has not sung-"It is good for me that I

have been afflicted?" "And one of the elders answered, saying

unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes?

and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, you know.

And he said unto me, These are they which came out of great

tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them

white in the blood of the Lamb."



by

Charles Bridges

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