Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What can Psalm 119 teach us about afflictions and the Word?

Psalm 119 teaches that affliction is a purposeful, refining tool God uses to deepen a believer's understanding of His Word and foster obedience. It reveals that trials, while painful, are "good" because they break complacency, teach God's statutes, and drive the afflicted to cherish Scripture as their ultimate comfort and sustaining life. 

Psalm 119 teaches that in a broken world, affliction is transformed from a mere enemy into a tool that, when paired with the Word, leads to spiritual maturity and a deeper delight in God. 

The experience of suffering often shifts a person's values, making the Word more precious than material wealth. 

1: Greater than Gold: After being afflicted, the psalmist declares that God's law is better to him than "thousands of gold and silver pieces" (v. 72).

2: An Anchor for the Soul: In times of persecution or mockery from others, the Word remains a "hiding place" and a "shield" (vv. 114-115)

Psalm 119 shows us appreciation for God's precious Word.

‘'How can youths keep a clean path?' (9)
"I am fond of your reminders" (24)
"Your word is my hope" (74, 81, 114)
"How I do love your law!" (97)
"More insight than all my teachers" (99)
"Your word is a lamp to my feet" (105)
'The essence of your word is truth' (160)
Peace for those who love God's law (165)

Solomon and his father, David, wrote in the traditional Hebrew form of their day. Hebrew verse, which was often sung to musical accompaniment, is not dependent on rhyme. Rather, it is noted for its rhythm of thought, or ideas—a literary form called parallelism. Lines may be synonymous in expression, or they may present contrasting thoughts. (Psalm 37:6, 9) Often, the second line expands on the first line by adding something fresh. 

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and Bible chapter, containing 176 verses in 22 alphabetic stanzas of 8 verses each. All but two of these verses (119:90 and 122) refer in some way to the Word or law of Jehovah God, repeating several or all of the expressions (law, reminder, orders, commandment, judicial decisions) of Psalm 19:7-14 in each stanza. The Word of God is referred to more than 170 times by one or the other of the following 8 expressions: commandment(s), judicial decision(s), law, orders, regulations, reminder(s), saying(s), and Word (s).

Suffering as an Essential Teacher. One of the most startling claims in the psalm is that suffering is actually "good" because of what it produces. 

Experimental Learning: "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes" (v. 71).

Deeper Insight: In times of ease, Scripture can remain academic; in the "valley of death-shade," those same truths become practical, lived-out convictions. 

The psalmist recognises that his suffering is not a sign of God's neglect, but of His firm commitment to the believer's growth.

Afflictions are opportunities for Christ to display his power in us. As long as we can handle things in our own strength, we won't see God's power. It's when the burden becomes too heavy for us to bear that Christ comes along and says, "Hey, let me take that from you," and reveals his universe-sustaining strength.

David observed that his affliction pushed him to the Scriptures to seek help from God. He received the Lord's help, and he expressed the "delight" of being comforted and revived by the truths of the Scriptures: "This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me" (Psalm 119:50)

Because they are perfect in beauty and style, the psalms of the Bible are to be included among the most fantastic literature in any language. However, they are much more than literature. They are a living message from the Supreme Sovereign of all the universe, Jehovah God himself. They give deep insight into the fundamental teachings of the Bible.

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