The Goodness of God in Our Trials
Notes
Transcript
A. Rapport for the time
The Path of Life: Blessedness in Seasons of Lament Chapter 12: God’s Goodness (Psalm 119:65–72)
What do we say to those who suffer? For that matter, how do we ourselves cope with suffering? What do we do in those moments when it feels as though the earth is about to give way? How do we respond when God’s goodness and our affliction seem to be two irreconcilable realities?
B. Reading of the text
65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
C. Review of the text
D. Relevance of the text
I. Acknowledging Affliction's Advantage
I. Acknowledging Affliction's Advantage
65 You have dealt well with your servant, O Lord, according to your word.
How have we come to know what we really know from God. Lately, often a topic of discussion, the topic of knowledge and action have been brought together in our pursuit of our Lord. As we dive into the word of God the Lord uses scripture to guide our hearts with spiritual discernment. vs. 65 says that it all happens according to HIS word. Beyond knowledge to the application of God’s word is the place that he deals with us and blesses us.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Because of the unchanging word of God we can know that God is always faithful.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.
Look at what the Psalmist is asking for not items from this world that come and go but instead for good judgment and knowledge. He acknowledges that these good commandments come lead to a spiritual insight that we do not have a part from our God & his word. You won’t pick these up in the “wisdom” of your father or southern sayings.
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
The Lord is more than prepared to use the event of our ordinary everyday life to train us in HIS righteousness.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
astray—to sin (ignorantly or inadvertently)
The Path of Life: Blessedness in Seasons of Lament Discerning God’s Purpose in Suffering
We stray by nature. Our head wanders because of foolishness, and our heart wanders because of stubbornness.
The Path of Life: Blessedness in Seasons of Lament Discerning God’s Purpose in Suffering
John Owen writes, “A due consideration of this sacred truth, namely, that all our troubles, persecutions, and afflictions, are divine chastisements and reproofs, whereby God evidences unto us our adoption, is an effectual means to preserve us in patience and perseverance unto the end of our trials.
Think of how God used the events in the life of his beloved in Scripture to direct their hearts and minds so that they could be affectively used for Kingdom business. Most if not all had to go through great struggles to learn must from the Lord. Our hearts are prone to wander away from the Lord, we know this.
But GOD..
Abraham—lying twice about his wife, waiting on the promised one
Moses—taking things into his own hands and killing an Egyptian, doubting how God could use him because he could not see what God could see
Apostle Paul—Saul—who had a license to Kill the very ones that he would become by the power of God, would suffer by being beaten and left for dead, would go to Jail. In it all God would shape his heart and his mind for great use God’s economy of his Kingdom.
By being ‘afflicted’, the psalmist learns to follow God's word more closely, suggesting that believers can find wisdom and growth even amidst suffering by trusting in God’s purpose and timing.
T.S.
II. Affirming God's Absolute Goodness
II. Affirming God's Absolute Goodness
68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
How good is God exactly? As a Christian are we aware that we are not the ones that set the standard of what is Good in our life?
Remember:
15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
Grudem:
The goodness of God means that God is the final standard of good, and that all that God is and does is worthy of approval.
The goodness of God means that God is the final standard of good, and that all that God is and does is worthy of approval.
—There is no higher standard of goodness than God’s own character and his approval of whatever is consistent with that character
—There is no higher standard of goodness than God’s own character and his approval of whatever is consistent with that character
1 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise?
3 Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!
4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them,
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
69 The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
The goodness of God and the growth that we partake of as a Christian comes from hearts that are not impenetrable and proud, no it is the opposite.
Because we have been given new hearts we can hear from the Lord in the most desperate of time and know he is good.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Note how the psalmist contrasts the purity of God's law with the malice of those who defy it, promoting trust in God's consistency and truth even when faced with falsehoods. Through this, one can find solace and steadfastness by aligning with divine wisdom rather than worldly deception.
T.S.
III. Appreciating Trials’ True Treasure
III. Appreciating Trials’ True Treasure
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
We are not the correct judge of what is good for us, would you agree? There are things in my life I just knew was what I needed and what was good for me and I found out that was not the case. Instead, what I really need, what was good was actually far from the place that I was in at the time. Yet, I had no way to see it or get there on my own. In fact, if I’m completely honest I kicked and screamed a little bit as God used the situation to get my heart into a place that he could use for His kingdom. We don’t realize just what we need but our God knows. God alone is the one that can take affliction and turn it for his good.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
The Path of Life: Blessedness in Seasons of Lament Discerning God’s Goodness in Suffering
We tend to define “good” according to what we want instead of what we need, according to what makes us happy instead of what makes us holy, according to what is visible instead of what is invisible, according to what is temporal
72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
82 My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
127 Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.
Precious truth of God to our souls
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Maybe discuss how, upon reflection, suffering is esteemed as beneficial for gaining divine insight. The psalmist values God's law above riches, which teaches that experiencing God's truth through hardship is more nourishing than any secular gain. Believers are encouraged to embrace challenges as opportunities to deepen their reliance on God’s wisdom. As they draw nearer to Christ, the living Word, they can discover God's transcendent value surpassing earthly wealth.
