It Was Good for Me to Be Afflicted!

"It was good for me to be afflicted!" Psalm 119:71

A gracious soul secretly concludes--as stars shine

brightest in the night, so God will make my soul shine

and glisten like gold, while I am in this furnace--and

when I come out of the furnace of affliction. 'He knows

the way that I take; and when He has tried me, I shall

come forth as gold!' Job 23:10.

Surely, as the taste of honey opened Jonathan's eyes;

so this cross, this affliction--shall open my eyes. By this

stroke I shall come to have a clearer sight of my sins and

of my self, and a fuller sight of my God! Job 33:27-28;

40:4-5; 13:1-7.

Surely this affliction shall proceed in the purging away

of my dross! Isaiah 1:25.

Surely as ploughing of the ground kills the weeds, and

harrowing breaks hard clods; so these afflictions shall

kill my sins, and soften my heart! Hosea 5:15, 6:1-3.

Surely as the plaster draws out the infectious core; so

the afflictions which are upon me shall draw out the

core of pride, the core of self-love, the core of envy,

the core of earthliness, the core of formality, the core

of hypocrisy! Psalm 119:67, 71.

Surely by these afflictions, the Lord will crucify my

heart more and more to the world; and the world to

my heart! Gal. 6:14; Psalm 131:1-3.

Surely by these afflictions, the Lord will keep pride

from my soul! Job 33:14-21.

Surely these afflictions are but the Lord's pruning-knives,

by which He will bleed my sins, and prune my heart, and

make it more fertile and fruitful! They are but the Lord's

potion, by which He will clear me, and rid me of those

spiritual diseases and maladies, which are most deadly

and dangerous to my soul!

Affliction is such a healing potion, as will carry away all

soul-diseases, better than all other remedies! Zech. 13:8-9.

Surely these afflictions shall increase my spiritual

communion with God! Rom. 5:3-4.

Surely by these afflictions, I shall be made to partake more

of God's holiness! Heb. 12:10. As black soap makes white

clothes--so do sharp afflictions make holy hearts!

Surely by these afflictions, the Lord will draw out my heart

more and more to seek Him! 'In their afflictions they will

seek Me early.' Hosea 5:15. In times of affliction, Christians

will industriously, speedily, early seek unto their Lord!

Surely by these trials and troubles, the Lord will fix my

soul more than ever upon the great concernments of the

eternal world! John 14:1-3; Rom. 8:17, 18; 2 Cor. 4:16-18.

Surely by these afflictions the Lord will work in me more

tenderness and compassion towards those who are afflicted!

Hebrews 10:34, 13:3.

Surely these afflictions are but God's love-tokens! 'As many

as I love--I rebuke and chasten,' Rev. 3:19. So says the holy

Christian--'O my soul! be quiet, be still. All is sent in love, all

is a fruit of divine favor. I see honey upon the top of every

twig; I see the rod is but a rosemary branch; I have sugar

with my gall, and wine with my wormwood; therefore be

silent, O my soul!'

Afflictions abase the carnal attractions of the world outside

us--which might entice us! Affliction abates the lustiness of

the flesh within us--which might otherwise ensnare us!

Afflictions humble us and keep us low! Holy hearts will be

humble under the afflicting hand of God. When God's rod

is upon their backs--their mouths shall be in the dust! A

godly heart will lie lowest, when the hand of God is lifted

highest.

All this proves that affliction is a mighty advantage to us!

"It was good for me to be afflicted!" Psalm 119:71