The title of this Psalm reads: Michtam of David, to
teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned,
and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.
David was engaged in a war with Edom. Apparently, David’s
army was defeated at the first. The Psalm is written after the great defeat,
and before the fortune of war has turned. The Psalm opens with a plea to God
not to cast them off (60:1).
It sure looks like God has forsaken them: “Thou
hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of
astonishment” (60:3). The word rendered “hard” means “severe, grievous”. It
refers to the afflictions they had undergone. Hardships had been heaped upon
them and it felt as if God had forsaken them.
Many Christians when they face afflictions question if
there is God. They seem to think that if God is on their side, He should take
care to ensure they have a trouble free life. But as we read the Old and New
Testament, we see that such is not the case. Joseph suffered much in spite of
his innocence. Paul suffered much for the sake of Christ. Yet, none of them
blamed God. Joseph declared: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me;
but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much
people alive” (Genesis 50:20).
How significant that sentence: “God meant it for
good!” God had a purpose for Joseph and he was part on God’s plan to bring
about the scheme of redemption. Joseph allowed himself to be used by God to
fulfil a bigger picture.
Afflictions have a purpose in the plan of God. A
brother who had been unfaithful for a while came back to the Lord after he was
diagnosed with cancer. The Psalmist says: “Before I was afflicted I went
astray: but now have I kept thy word” (Psalm 119:67). The Prodigal son
returned to the Father after he hit rock bottom in his life (Luke
15:14-18).
Our Lord instead says: “In the world ye shall have
tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul follows with these words: “Yea, and all
that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy
3:12).
Just as Job or Joseph, we may never understand why we
suffer. We just need to have faith that “all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”
(Romans 8:28).
All our afflictions and trials are appointed for our
welfare (Romans 5:3-4). Hopefully, they take off our affections from this
world, teach us the truth about our living for the temporary things of this
life, wake us up to seek the life that is eternal, and finally, lead us to
God.
Let us be encouraged by the words of the apostle Paul:
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal”
(2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
Paul’s afflictions were anything but light. Yet, he
called them “light affliction.” Why? Because when he compared the eternal
reward he would receive, his afflictions became light. Today, we say: “It is
worth the money.” The afflictions were worth because of the reward. Likewise,
when we think of the reward that we will receive, we will arrive at the same
conclusion as Paul: our afflictions are light.
Jimmy Lau
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