Psalms 34:19 (KJV)
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
The first statement is an obvious truth I can attest to in most emphatic tones! Many are the afflictions of the righteous.
Over all these years as a Christian, I can say the afflictions have been manifold and many. Oftentimes, they come in waves. If it had been one or two problems, I might have been able to hold up, but they come as hordes of the enemy, overwhelming except for the grace of God. I came to believe that the reason they come in such numbers is that I could learn that I can’t hold up on my own, but that I can stand when God holds me upright.
And I’m not the only one. I’ve pastored many hundreds of people over these years and have witnessed that they all, in a fashion designed exclusively for them, experience many afflictions. A good portion of pastoring is attempting to comfort those in affliction with the comfort wherewith we were comforted in ours.
But hold on! I have watched those who are lost experience many, manifold, and various afflictions. This world is no friend to any of the human race. The lost can sometimes avoid some afflictions the Christian will face because they are willing to make compromises the believer will not. Sometimes the wicked seem to be promoted above the righteous because they are willing to cross lines the Christian refuses to step over. But illness, war, evildoers, and death—we all face these, saved or not.
Psalms 34:20 (KJV)
He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
This isn’t true of any of us, is it?
The text then finds its best fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. He experienced many afflictions. He was delivered from them in that He did not sin when tempted like as we are.
On the cross, His bones were not broken, as those of so many executed by crucifixion were.
The ultimate fulfillment is in the person of Christ. But there is hope for the Christian, for as Gill points out: “But the Lord delivereth him out of them all; as Christ was, and all his people will be; if not in this life, by giving respites and intervals, as he sometimes does; yet hereafter, when the righteous are completely delivered out of all their trials and exercises, so as that they shall never return more upon them.”
#Psalm34v19 #GodsGrace #StrengthThroughChrist #HopeInAffliction #TheLordDelivers
So Many Afflictions: God's Grace Through Every Trial
When Troubles Come in Waves, Where Do You Turn?
Life's afflictions may be many, but God's grace is greater! You may not understand why the trials keep coming, but you can trust the Lord who promises deliverance.
Don't let your troubles drive you away from God. Let them draw you closer to Him!
Visit marvinmckenzie.org for more Daily Visits with God, Bible studies, and practical encouragement from the Scriptures.
Open your Bible. Strengthen your faith. Walk with God every day!
For this and, more than 7300 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.
If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.
My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org
Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/
Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more
Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give.
