Title: Suffering and the Word
Contents
God's word is precious and great. But the irony is that people don't really like listening to God's Word. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every disease among the people, and news of him spread throughout Syria. This is when Jesus began his public ministry. So a great crowd followed Jesus. Matthew 4 is the last. When the Lord gave the famous Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:1 says, 'When Jesus saw a crowd, he went up to the mountain and sat down, and the disciples came to him.' Therefore, the Sermon on the Mount was not taught to a large crowd. Rather, it should be viewed as teaching the disciples. In Matthew 8:1, after the Sermon on the Mount, an interesting expression appears again. He said, 'When Jesus came down from the mountain, a great crowd followed him.' Therefore, to evaluate seriously, it has little to do with the multitude of people and the Word. It just shows that there is a lot to do with multitudes and miracles and signs.
It can be said that today's phenomenon is not so different. It was a scarcity of God's word, and it is the same as in Eli's era when God's word was rare. 1 Samuel 3:1 tells us that 'the word of the Lord was rare, and visions were rarely seen while the child Samuel was serving the Lord before Eli.' The writer of Psalm 119 is a man who fully realized the preciousness, greatness, and certainty of God's Word. Today, we too must cherish the Word of God in this way and strive to win in every situation of life by allowing the Word of God to live and work in every corner of our lives.
In particular, Christians must live in suffering. If we do not understand the word of God in the midst of suffering and hold onto it, we will never be able to bear beautiful fruit in the midst of suffering. Romans 8 calmly teaches us this fact. Saints are children of God. As children of God, you will inherit all things of the kingdom of God with Christ. And we will be glorified with Christ. But in order to be glorified with Christ, of course, we must also suffer with Christ. We hope that our members who have no choice but to live in the midst of suffering in a world like the wilderness will gain more strength through the precious Word of God and win every day.
When suffering, a Christian should know that 'suffering is always present'.
The great believers in the Bible generally have a positive definition of suffering. David confessed that it is natural for the righteous to suffer much. Psalm 34:19 says, 'The afflictions of the righteous are many, but the Lord delivers them out of them all'. Paul, too, is a man who is second to none in the suffering he suffered during his ministry. He went a step further and clearly defined that the purpose of God's grace was to suffer. Philippians 1:29 says, "For it has been granted you for Christ's sake, not only that you believe in him, but that you also suffer for him." Therefore, believers are required to boldly confess, Colossians 1:24, 'I fill the rest of the sufferings of Christ in my flesh for the sake of his body, the church. Peter never lags behind. He said that it is God's will to suffer, and suffering is a blessing. 1 Peter 3:17, “It is better to suffer for doing good than to suffer for doing evil, if it is the will of God.” Also, in 1 Peter 3:14, he exhorted, 'But if you suffer for the sake of righteousness, then you are blessed; do not be afraid of their fears, and do not be troubled'.
The psalmist in the text also calmly sings that hardship always follows when we strive to live a right and righteous life of faith. First, look at verse 71 of the text. “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” It is past tense. I remember 'what I suffered'. Now look at verse 50. He said, 'These words are my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has made me alive'. He says 'I'm in trouble' right now. Therefore, it is present tense. Verse 67 clearly speaks of the past. But it is also a word that tells the future through the past. He said, 'Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word.' Because we are still living in the state we were in before suffering.
Therefore, the psalmist teaches that suffering is always with us in all times past, present and future. There is absolutely no reason for us to be discouraged or worried about that. In suffering, God's clear will and comfort always follow. Paul defined God as the God of comfort. In 2 Corinthians 1:4, God says, "He comforts us in all our afflictions, so that with the comfort we receive from God, we are able to comfort them in all afflictions." In 2 Corinthians 1:5, Paul praises, "As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." Even if someone who has never been through hardship said this, if we should believe it, how much more can we not accept it as Amen when Paul, who has experienced great suffering himself, is saying this? Now, when suffering comes, I hope that the saints will boldly go forward saying, 'You love me and acknowledge me as the righteous and want to bless you.'
In times of suffering, Christians should learn to rejoice because of the Word.
As you read the text, there is one thing that cannot but surprise you. It is because of the common confession that they made the word of God a joy in the midst of suffering. Verse 70 says, “Their hearts are fat and fat, but I delight in Your law.” The explanation in verse 70, 'Our hearts are dull and like being immersed in oil', refers to the state in which we do not understand the Word. Therefore, the word “rejoicing” implies that we are happy because we understand the Word. In Psalm 119, the writer repeats it 11 times, confessing that he enjoys the word of God. We must remember that he was able to overcome hardships abundantly because he realized the law of the Lord and lived joyfully.
Verse 92, "If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction." Verse 143, “Tribulation and affliction have come upon me, but Your commandments are my delight.” The Word provides us with this great power from time to time. Paul also makes the same confession. Romans 5:3-4, “Not only that, but we also rejoice in our tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.” Paul also said that he rejoices even in tribulation because he knows the word, its meaning and mission.
What does the psalmist know from the text? Verse 67 says, 'Before I was afflicted, I went astray; Suffering is a teacher who guides you to walk rightly in the Word of God, and in verse 71, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, so that I may learn Your statutes.” Rather, by saying in verse 50, 'These words are comfort in my affliction, for Your word has made me alive', he confesses that he knows that suffering is a teacher of comfort who gives him new life through the word. This is truly a great realization. It is truly dignified that the people of God can understand the Word of God and rejoice because of the Word in the midst of suffering.
1 Peter 4:12 and below. 'Beloved, do not marvel at the fiery trial that comes to tempt you, as if something strange happened to you, but rejoice in your participation in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may rejoice and rejoice in the manifestation of his glory. Blessed are you if your name is reviled, for the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, rests on you. If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God in that name.' It is a wonderful and thrilling suffering, and those who realize that these words have been given cannot help but rejoice even in suffering.
In times of suffering, Christians must not forget to pray in the Word.
The psalmist never forgets to pray in his suffering. Verse 107 says, 'My affliction is great; restore me, O LORD, according to your word.' Prayer phrases appear in today's text as well. Verse 66, 'Teach me understanding and knowledge, for I have believed your commandments', verse 68, 'You are good and do good; teach me in Your statutes.' Even if we say that we understand the Word once, we can never maintain joy and gratitude without continuous prayer. We should pray for the moving and comforting work of the Holy Spirit.
What those who believe in the Word of God and live in times of suffering should seek understanding and knowledge. See Job 28:28. Understanding is the ability to turn away from evil. Knowledge is the power to fear the Lord. These cannot arise from any human ability or experience. It is given only when the Holy Spirit teaches in the Word. James also faithfully exhorts us. James 5:13, 'Is anyone among you afflicted? The psalmists also emphasize prayer with one voice. Psalm 107:19-20, 'They cried out to the Lord in anguish, and he delivered them from their affliction, and he sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them out of perplexity', Psalm 140:12, 'I know that the Lord is suffering. He will bring justice to the afflicted, and bring justice to the needy.”
Everyone! We must not forget. When God gives us suffering, it is not that we perish. Hebrews 5:8, Jesus clearly said for the purpose of suffering that even though he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered so that he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Did Heavenly Father really hate his Son Jesus, or did he allow suffering so that he might be destroyed? It's not like that. Rather, he made us learn obedience through suffering, and that became salvation. None of that must apply to us.
Even though Jesus was the Son, while he was still in the flesh, he offered up supplications and wishes with intense weeping and tears to the one who was able to save him from death. Did Jesus, then, pray for fear that he would perish? It's not like that. It is to realize the will of God the Father again, obey it, and receive power. The same should apply to us. In order to gain understanding and knowledge, to understand the Word of God more anew, we must pray for strength to overcome hardships abundantly. I hope that you will become the saints who can enjoy the blessings through victory in the Word even in the midst of suffering like this.
The Word seems to overflow like a flood, but please know that it is a rare time. It must be remembered that not everyone longs for the Word, and not everyone likes to hear the truth of God. Therefore, we must long for the understanding of God's Word on a daily basis and live a life that enjoys the Word first. When suffering, remember that suffering always exists, and you must not commit the folly of blaming God for suffering. In times of suffering, believers must learn to rejoice with the Word that has already been given to them. In the end, it will be beneficial to me, and suffering will be a valuable teacher for me, so I hope you will always maintain a joyful attitude. In times of suffering, believers must not forget to pray in the Word. Therefore, I hope you create evidence and give glory to God.