THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE RIGHTEOUS (2)

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” – Psalms 34:19.

REFERENCE:

PSALMS 34:17-20

Life comes with its many twists and turns, but there is a God who delivers. David echoes this in our text; bad things happen to the good and godly ones, but the Lord will save them and not let them be defeated by what they face. As a believer, you will experience trials, persecutions, and afflictions sometime in your life journey, but that should not be your focus. Your focus should be on the victory that is assured.

 The author of this Psalm was not theorizing; he wrote from personal experience. He was a man of deep sorrows who was no stranger to suffering and grief. During this period of his life, the king (Saul) he had served faithfully, who also happened to be his Father-in-law, wanted him dead. David had to feign madness before an enemy king (Abimelech) to save his life. In his later years as king, he was on the run from his son. He cried out in Psalm 3:1-2, “Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’” (Psalm 3:1-2). Although David went through afflictions, he experienced God’s deliverance at all points. The reason he could boldly say, “But You, O Lord are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts my head.” (Psalm 3:3)

 As a believer, when you are afflicted, know that it is your faith that is being tried like a precious metal being refined in the fire. Each experience of victory strengthens your faith in God and promotes you in the school of faith. Do not despair, God is with you and will not leave you alone in the fire or let you sink in the overwhelming waters. He will walk with you through the valley and bring you out on the other side of victory. Let patience have its full work in you so you can be complete, lacking nothing. God is, through the trial, qualifying you for a throne. God’s kings are often not made in the palace, they are forged through ‘fire’…ask David!

 ‘Afflictions’ is not the last word in Psalm 34:19, ‘deliverance’ is. Fear not, your God will deliver you. Do not write yourself off; you will bounce back again. What you are going through is just a ‘comma,’ do not put a ‘full stop’ there; it is only a bend in the road, not the end of the road. I leave you with this encouraging verse, “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means…” (II Thess. 3:16KJV). By all means, and whatever it takes, God will bring you out!

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL STUDY:

Isaiah 49:25, 1 Corinthians 10:13(TPT) & James 1:2-4

 PRAYER POINTS

 + Lord, deliver me from my strong enemy: sickness, fear, poverty, bad habits, spiritual lethargy, deliver me from stagnation and every negative cycle.

 + Even if there is no hope humanly speaking, Lord, show up on my behalf, reach down from heaven, take me and draw me out of my great trials, rescue me from deep waters.

 + Father, you will give me a new song as You breakthrough for me; I will sing ecstatic praise until everyone hears how You have set me free from my misfortunes and afflictions.