"Many Are The Afflictions Of The Righteous"

The psalmist said, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Ps. 119:71 KJV).

In the New Life Translation (NLT) Bible, this is how the verse is translated: “The suffering you sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your principles” (of healing and obedience).

An affliction is usually understood as a physical infirmity or psychological torment or trouble. The Lord allows such things as sickness, troubles, and problems to test and strengthen our faith in God and His power to deliver us, and to help us get even greater victories out of seeming defeat or misfortune. Sometimes they happen to keep us humble and to make us pray to God.

Troubles and tribulations are God’s way to accomplish His good purposes in our lives. Sometimes “bad” things happen to test our faith in God, or just to keep us close to Him.

For example in the case of Job, according to the Bible, “This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned (or avoided) evil” (Job 1:1 NIV).

The first round of test on the faith of Job was on his material wealth. His . . . “oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword” except one who reported the misfortune to him (Job 1:14-15), and while the messenger was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and hath burned up the sheeps and the servants”. Then another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” (vs. 17). In the days of Job, camels were the means of transportation. Camels were what we may call in modern times our Cadillac in the U.S. or Rolls Royce and Mercedes Benz in Europe. Finally, while the messenger was still speaking, another messenger came and reported, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” (vss. 18-19).

Of course, Job, human as he was, agonized and got up and tore his robe and shaved his head as was the Jewish custom to show repentance and submission to God’s sovereign will. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (vss. 20-21).

The second round of test was on his physical health, namely: that Job was afflicted “with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown” (Job 2:7). The physical pain and suffering of Job was beyond description in words. The wife of Job could no longer withstand the suffering of her husband which led her to say, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (vs. 9 NIV). But Job did not listen to his wife, instead being ever faithful to God, answered, “You are talking like a foolish woman, shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said” (vs. 10).

The Bible says, “In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” (vs. 22 KJV).

Thus, it is indeed true that “Man born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).

For example, the Lord Jesus Christ was born of a woman, so he lived (as a true human being) for only 33 years (only 12,053.25 days more or less, to include the leap years). Although Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, and, in fact, a God himself (John 1:1), He had a life full of trouble (he was born in just a manger, not in a hospital; while still a baby, he was hunted by King Herod to be killed; while performing his mission (ministry) from his Father, he became the enemy of the religious leaders culminating in his death by crucifixion, the worst, most painful, longest, shameful and excruciating manner of dying. Praise God! we, the believers, the Christians so-called, do not have to suffer the same difficult and shameful agonizing death as Jesus Christ because of the unfathomable Love of God. He sent his only begotten Son to substitute for, or take the place of, every sinner (John 3:16).

What was the end of this truly faithful man, Job? The Bible tells us:

^“12 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

¹³ He had also seven sons and three daughters.

¹⁴ And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.

¹⁵ And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.

¹⁶ After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.

¹⁷ So Job died, being old and full of days.” (Job 42:12-17)

Notice that his material riches was doubled. He was the wealthiest man in the East. The original number of his children was restored, and he and his wife had very beautiful daughters who would qualify as Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss International! And, as promised by God to King Solomon if he obeyed His commandment, “lightened days of life”. Thus, Job lived a long and satisfying life (1 King 3:14 KJV).

The Word of God says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivereth him out of them all” (Ps. 34:19 KJV).

Who are these so-called righteous? Obviously, in this context, the believers of God/Christ. But then the same Bible tells us also, “There is none righteous, no, not one (Rom. 3:10 KJV). This means, no one is perfect only one is perfect – Jesus Christ (God incarnate, or in person, or God in the flesh).

It is important to remember that whatever God does, He does it in love. “All things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). God is not going to let anything happen to us who loves Him and are faithful to the end, except what is for our ultimate good. So even though “many are the afflictions of the righteous (believers)” the Lord is going to deliver us out of them all, no matter how many or whatever happens. Not just some or a few or most or many, but A-L-L of them! So the next time we are afflicted with sickness or other troubles or misfortunes in life, expect God to deliver us, just as He has promised in His Word. Only seek the Lord God through His Son Jesus in prayer and be faithful to the end like Job.