Psalm 119:67 – “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.”
Psalm 119:71 – “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.”
Psalm 119:75 – “I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.”
Today’s reading in the Psalms gives us an unique perspective on affliction. Christian doctrine today does not embrace affliction. We are taught that we should be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous. And there are scriptures to support the fact that God wants to bless us and heal us. But we must maintain a balance when it comes to biblical doctrine. The key word is balance. What can we learn from today’s One Year Bible reading about affliction?
One purpose of affliction may be to bring correction. In verse 67, affliction caused the erring psalmist to turn from straying to come back to obedience to God’s word. God can use affliction to correct our wandering and our straying.
God can also use affliction to teach us valuable principles and truths. Notice the wording of verse 71: “It is good for me that I have been afflicted…” When’s the last time you heard someone say it was good for me? Affliction can be used by God as a valuable teaching tool.
Lastly, verse 75 shows us the trust of the psalmist in God’s judgments. God knows what He is doing when He afflicts is. The declaration of this is that in “faithfulness You have afflicted me.” That shows an incredible trust in the wisdom of God.
Before you invoke the scriptures that promise you divine healing, ask God if there is something you can learn or something that needs correction in your life. Then trust God in His wisdom to be faithful to you. He has your best interest in mind.