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UNDERSTANDING “AFFLICTION”

Text: Psalm 119
3 May 2026

REFLECTIONS ON AFFLICTION

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm written in the Bible. This Psalm was written by a faithful man who determined to read and to practise what he read from the Scriptures. One of the topics he dealt with is the subject of “affliction.”

65 You have dealt well with Your servant,

O LORD, according to Your word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge,

For I believe Your commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,

But now I keep Your word.

68 You are good, and do good;

Teach me Your statutes.     Psalm 119:65-68

  1. With reference to God’s dealings with His servant

a) He affirmed that God had dealt well with him

b) God had dealt according to what He had declared in His word

  1. On the part of the Psalmist

a) He prayed that he would have good judgment and knowledge

b) He had a basic faith in the commandments of the Lord

  1. On the subject of “affliction”

a) He was going through affliction

b) But he did not blame God for the Lord had been good to him

c) What he needed was good judgment and knowledge

  1. Wise and necessary confession

a) Before affliction

He had gone astray

b) Affliction had caused him to deal with this problem

God is essentially good even if affliction is allowed

OUR CHALLENGE

  1. To ponder the approach taken by the Psalmist
  1. To believe that God has been good and faithful to us
  1. Affliction is a good teacher of faith and life