Things Often Missing During Afflictions
By Bob W. Lovelace
The applications in this brief study will deal with those who are in
affliction. Dear reader, you will notice that with some of these God has no
pleasure. For others, they see God’s faithfulness during their afflictions.
Those In Whom God Has No Pleasure:
Grievous times can be the result of
one’s own sin, the Psalmist said. There are many simple, applicable lessons
from the Psalms concerning this very thing. Hear this, “Fools because of their
transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted” (Ps. 107:17).
Listen to this noteworthy statement: “Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for
I have believed thy commandments. [67] Before I was afflicted I went astray:
but now have I kept thy word” (Psalm 119:66-67). Hence affliction can cause one to want to
learn and keep God’s statutes! He said, "It is good for me that I have
been afflicted; that I might learn they statutes" (Ps. 119: 71). One shows
another mercy by using the truth and requiring righteousness (Cf. Ps. 85:10).
When afflicted we must not separate ourselves from God’s word! Again he said,
“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
[50] This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me”
(Psalm 119:49-50 ).
Dear brother or sister in Christ it was God’s word that revived him. If
one chooses to be separated from that Word then there is no revival to learn,
to keep His commandments, and to receive strength and comfort. What a miserable
affliction that would be! In that state sin is a source of depression in one’s
life.
Listen, the afflicted must endure and not cast away (“to throw off, cast
aside”) their confidence (read Heb. 10:35-36). Here “confidence” means “all
out-spokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness, publicity; by
implication assurance :” (Strong’s Help).
Question: What are we to be so outspoken about? About our faith in
Christ and salvation through Him. Often when people suffer or get sick they say
nothing good about the church, the
Savior, or the hope of salvation! By contrast those who continue to be
outspoken and frank, with the kind of bluntness that displays hearts set on
heaven, strengthen others about them (Heb. 10:34; Phil. 1:14, 19-21). The
point: there are spiritual things we need to speak when either sick or
afflicted! When there is “no revival” (See above, Ps. 119:49-50.) one quits
talking about salvation and spiritual things!
To receive help and strength Paul prayed and then better understood the
relationship between weakness and God’s strength and grace (read 2 Cor.
12:9-10; Acts 16:25). He continued to work (Cp. I Pet. 4:19). For encouragement
one should remember if they endured affliction before then they can do it again
(Heb. 10:32-34). Understanding the purpose of there being “many” trials and not
one or none, that being to prove our faith, enables us have joy even in the
midst of those trials (Cf. Ja. 1:2-4; 5:13) . Friends, those who loose all joy in
afflictions do not really believe in the salvation of their souls! (read I Pet.
1:6-9). We really can rejoice while understanding that such produce humility
and perseverance (2 Cor. 12:7, 10; Rom. 5:3-5).
The Hebrew writer plainly said that God has no pleasure in those who
draw back to perdition (Heb. 10:37-39). It appears that material goods
mentioned in Heb. 10:34 along with ease of life was their greatest enemy. In
Heb. 10:25 these caused some to loose interest in serving God on His terms! “Draw back” means just that!
Now let’s review some of these simple points:
1. Grievous times
are the result of one’s own sins in Ps. 107:17.
2. When one
separates their self from the Word there is no desire to learn, to keep His
commands, and to receive comfort from God.
3. Some did not
recall former times when they did joyfully endure afflictions with
faithfulness.
4. Some cast away their confidence
and quit speaking about spiritual things.
5. Some had no regard for worship,
i.e. they lost interest in serving God on His terms (Heb. 10:24-25).
Folks, you call that falling away! And what is the outcome? God has no
pleasure in these!
Those Who See God’s Faithfulness During
Affliction:
The Bible teaches that the righteous
often suffer affliction. Moses suffered affliction with the people of God
because he was righteous (Heb. 11: 25). Timothy was told, "endure
afflictions..." (2 Tim. 4: 5). In Heb. 13:23 he had been in prison. Paul
said, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12).
Question: What are the differences between the two noted in this brief
study?
For one God hears the cry of the afflicted. He heard the cry of His
people in bondage in Egypt and was aware of their sufferings (Ex. 3:7). The
Psalmist said, “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will
shew them his covenant. [15] Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord; for he shall
pluck my feet out of the net. [16] Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me;
for I am desolate and afflicted. [17] The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O
bring thou me out of my distresses. [18] Look upon mine affliction and my pain;
and forgive all my sins” (Ps. 25:14-18).
Question: What is the “secret of the Lord”? It says whoever has this
will see His faithfulness. So, what is it? “Secret” ~ H5475 sod sode From H3245; a session, that is, company
of persons (in close deliberation); by implication intimacy, consultation,
a secret: - assembly, counsel, inward, secret (counsel). The “secret” is
continued counsel with the Lord! Moreover the Psalmist tells us what we should
do when “troubles are enlarged,” which means “to grow wide or large.” We can
expect troubles and at times multiple troubles at the same time. We can expect
this at times, but we should also expect to be delivered! (Cf. Ps. 34:7; I Cor.
10:13). The forgiveness of sins is also included in Ps. 25:18.
God’s promises
also apply to our sicknesses. “For I
will restore health unto thee,” Jeremiah said (Jeremiah 30:17). Concerning
Epaphroditus, Paul said, “For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had
mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow
upon sorrow” (Phil. 2:27). Paul’s reference to his own sorrow in this makes it
plain that God considers our sorrows.
There should be sessions with brethren who
are faithful (Cf. James 5:14-16, 19-20; Jude 22-23). Question: Who “called”
here? The one who was sick called! Many in the church do not know how to endure
affliction or to get well. “Call” ~ Strong’s Help proskaleomai, Greek 4341, ...to call toward oneself,
i.e. summon, invite :- call (for, to, unto). There is “desire” on their part
here! Actually I see three things: sickness, prayer and sin forgiven based upon
repentance and confession. This person cares about their health and soul. The
mention of forgiveness shows their desire or concern was not to be just for
their physical well being. It was not come and just take care of my physical
problem, but come and take care to the degree that any spiritual problem will
be taken care of as well! To hear instruction and reproofs keeps us among the
wise (Prov. 15:31-33; Heb. 3:12-13;4:12-13). When you have James 5 types of
situations it is clear that the spiritual is not ignored or overlooked!