Short Thoughts

It is good for me that I have been afflicted;
that I might learn thy statutes.
~ Psalm 119:71

David is not found here fainting under the chastening hand of the Lord. We know that chastisement is not very pleasant. The writer of Hebrews says, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous” (He 12:11). It is very tempting to complain or at least grudgingly submit. However, the Psalmist gratefully submits to God’s will. He goes so far as to say, “It is good.” He expresses complete confidence in God. He does not say that he hopes it will be good or maybe it will turn out all right. He says, “It is good.” Let us look to the scriptures and find food for our soul concerning our afflictions.

Psalm chapter 34 states in verse 19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” Often we find that our afflictions are brought upon ourselves because of contrariness to the word and will of God. David admits as much when he says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word” (Ps 119:67). David has retraced his steps. He has searched his own heart and found it not perfect before God. God is justified in afflicting His servant, as always. David can see the good even though it is difficult to bear. Even in affliction, we should praise God and submit to His will. God does not afflict without a reason. He is not as a man, given to many different tempers and frames of mind. God does not act on a whim or in a fit. Whatever He has done, He has done well. David realizes this and gratefully submits to His sovereign will.

David sees that through chastisement and suffering he is brought to a better understanding. Solomon said, “The rod and reproof give wisdom.” One great design in affliction is that we will be made better. David says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Those afflictions might be chastisement and they might be ordained sufferings. Our Lord suffered, and it was not chastisement. Shall we escape the cup that our Lord had to drink? We are made better in suffering and to be chastised of the Lord is to be blessed. “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law” (Ps 94:12). We should thank God that when we stray He corrects us in order to bring us back to Him.

We also see that chastisement is consistent with our desire. Paul said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Ph 3:13-14). He said that he was not running uncertainly but in order to obtain. The great aim of our life should be to be conformed to the very image of Christ. If this is our desire, then the chastening of the Lord is consistent with it. God’s chastening hand will lead us back to the way whenever we have strayed from it. Therefore, we should welcome correction when it saves us from greater folly.

Christian, what is your state at this hour? Are you afflicted? Have you searched your heart? We must determine if our afflictions are for correction or suffering. Let us with David invite the Lord to “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps 139:23-24). Oh, to be made conformable to Christ and to be purged of everything contrary! May God grant us this blessing in Christ Jesus.

I am the good shepherd:
the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
~ John 10:11

The sheep have known no better time than when the Good Shepherd was revealed. For years God’s people had been led astray. Their religious leaders were nothing more than hirelings. They cared not for the sheep. They did not do the things they did out of a motive of love and compassion. They loved the applause of men and sought it at every turn. “Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts” (Lu 20:46). They held to the traditions of men and “made the commandment of God of none effect.” Their teaching was not for the glory of God and the edification of the people. They rather hoped to bring men into compliance with their own whims and narrow standards.

They were also hypocrites. Jesus spoke of them plainly saying, “They say and do not.” They claimed to be the interpreters of the Law of God, but were themselves not subject to the Law. The sheep were not in real safety under the leadership of the hirelings. They would flee at the first sign of trouble. They certainly were not willing to “spend and be spent” in service. But, all hope is not lost. The Good Shepherd has come. Jesus declares, “I am the good shepherd.” The Good Shepherd tends, leads, feeds, and cares for the sheep. He is moved with love and compassion and is tender toward them. He will not flee. He will never forsake. In fact, He gave His life for the sheep.

More than once in John chapter 10, Christ states that He lays His life down. In verses 17 and 18 He says, “I lay down my life…. no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.” He was certainly no hired shepherd. He did it all willingly and lovingly. He was not coerced. He obligated Himself. So, He willingly laid His life down. Let us consider how that Jesus laid down His life in two ways.

Firstly, He laid down His life in a selfless act of service. Paul states of Christ, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Ph 2:7). He laid down His life in self-denial. He did not have His own agenda. He was not seeking the praise of men. He did not go about trying to make Himself more comfortable, rich, powerful, honored, or famous. We read in Matthew 4:23, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” And again in Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” He made it clear that He did not come to earth to do His own will. He came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” He humbled Himself and became a servant. He laid down His life. He laid it aside and did not serve Himself.

Secondly, He laid down His life as a sacrifice. His obedience had no bounds. He was “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” He gave it all. He kept nothing back. The hymn writer wrote,

I gave my life for thee, My precious blood I shed,
That thou might’st ransomed be, And quickened from the dead;
I suffered much for thee, More than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony, To rescue thee from hell;

He was slain, but it was from the foundation of the world. He was not overtaken and forced. He willingly laid down His life. He made no objection while He was lifted up from the earth. Praise God, what a Shepherd! This story is amazing and it makes us wonder,

Love sent my Savior to die in my stead,
Meekly to Calvary’s cross He was led,
Nails pierced His hands and His feet for my sin,
He suffered sore my salvation to win,
O how He agonized there in my place,
Nothing withholding my sin to efface,
Why should He love me so? (Adapted JFS)

He died in order to pay for the sins of the sheep and gain for them eternal life. What wondrous love is this? Praise God for the Good Shepherd that loves the sheep and was willing to suffer for them.

To the left sidebar I have added a “Site” box, which links to the blog and to the booklog. The reason for this change is that I have made the booklog into its own page and will also soon do the same with articles and essays. So, each of these sections will have their categories and archives. Overall, I hope this makes the site better and enables better posting and tracking of content in the different areas.