830. PSA 119:71. THE PROFITS OF AFFLICTION

Psa_119:71. The Profits of Affliction

"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."’97Psa_119:71.

"Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward." No state, or condition of life, is exempted. The history of all people, in all ages, establishes it. This equally applies to the best and holiest of mankind. We may presume that if God loves his people, he will only appoint what is for their real good. He does appoint them afflictions; and therefore, it is most evident that it is really good for them to be afflicted.

Our subject then is the salutary, or profitable tendency of afflictions. Two remarks must preface our illustrations.

(1.) That only sanctified afflictions are salutary. And that afflictions can only be sanctified by prayer, and by the blessing of God. Fire can both consume and purify. It melts the lead, but purifies the gold. It burns up the chaff, but refines the silver.

(2.) That afflictions are only so far profitable, as they are thus sanctified. So that it is the grace of God in affliction that makes them at any time profitable; and without this grace, no believer ever experienced the beneficial results, as expressed by the Psalmist, in the text.

Let us see then how good it is for the people of God to be afflicted. It is so,

I. By the lessons afflictions teach.

It is when afflicted that we are led to feel our own nothingness and unworthiness. It is then that our sinfulness is made self evident. In affliction, there is a tendency to reflection; and this brings our iniquities before us. Our omissions of duty, our imperfect services, and our manifold sins. Prosperity and health are often found connected with thoughtlessness and inattention to the state of our own souls; but when confined to the silent chamber and the couch of pain, then reflection and consideration are inevitable; and by this moral process, our afflictions oftentimes become really and most truly our best teachers. But they also show us our utter dependence on God. When in health and vigor, we are apt to lean on our own sufficiency, and may conclude that we have resources within ourselves for securing our well-being and happiness. But afflictions show us, how all our enjoyments and blessings depend on God’s will. How desirable his favor is to our real happiness; and that his friendship and help are essential to our blessedness and security.

Afflictions also impress our hearts and minds, as to the certainty of our mortality. Have you not often experienced what a stroke of pain can do? How speedily the most vigorous constitution is made to shake and tremble as the oak, smitten by the tempest! How soon we are brought to the verge of the tomb; and how we feel we must certainly come to be its inhabitants.

Now, it might be supposed that a survey of the afflictions of others would teach this. That general observation would produce a solemn estimate of our dying state. But universal experience proves, that "men think all men mortal, but themselves." And it is needful that the king of terrors should knock at our own door, before we are sufficiently awakened to the reality of his coming.

Afflictions thus teach us our true condition, our sinful character, our utter helplessness, and our dying estate. And well is it, that these lessons should be indelibly engraven on the tablet of our wayward and frivolous hearts. It is on the sick-bed that we feel the force of those graphic lines,’97

"Let others boast how strong they be,

Nor death nor danger fear;

But we’ll confess, O Lord, to thee,

What feeble things we are.

Our life contains a thousand springs,

And dies if one be gone;

Strange! that a harp of thousand strings

Should keep in tune so long."

And it is well, when the devout impression leads us to add,’97

"But ’tis our God supports our frame,

The God that built us first;

Salvation to the almighty name

That rear’d us from the dust.

While we have breath, or use our tongues,

Our Maker we’ll adore;

His spirit moves our heaving lungs,

Or they would breathe no more."

Afflictions do us good,

II. By the feelings which they produce.

They tend to produce tenderness of spirit, They give sensibility, acuteness, and sharpness to the conscience. They remove moral stupor and apathy. They tend also to humility of spirit. Health and prosperity lift up the mind, lead to self-satisfaction and elation. Afflictions bring down the haughty spirit’97bend it’97prostrate it before God, make us to feel that we are poor and frail; and at best, but as vanity; and that all boasting and vaunting must be put away. That in the dust before God is our fitting place. They also often remove coldness and indifference to the sufferings of others. We then feel tender humanity and kindness to the suffering, and our need of the sympathy of our fellow-creatures, and also our mutual dependence on one another.

It is almost impossible for those ever healthy and vigorous, to feel rightly for the delicate and the weak; or, for the prosperous man to feel rightly for the poor, and those born for adversity. But in the furnace this dross, this callousness, this want of susceptibility is often consumed, and our hearts are made soft.

We are often brought, in affliction, also to feel deadness to the world. Mid the showers and sunshine the roots sink deeper into the soil. The winds of affliction loosen them, and show us that this is not our resting-place. That speedily the tree will fall, and return to its native elements in the dust.

Thus affliction places the world in its true light, showing us that worldly honors are a mere breath, worldly pleasures a delusion, worldly riches are as dross, and all worldly scenes a passing panorama. We can then apply the words of the poet, in a most experimental manner, and say,’97

"Vain delusive world, adieu,

With all of creature good;

Only Jesus I pursue,

Who bought me with his blood.

All thy pleasures I forego;

I trample on thy wealth and pride;

Only Jesus will I know,

And Jesus crucified."

In addition to the weaning influences of afflictions, they also often produce a greater love to Divine things.

To the Bible’97as the solace of this life, and the only guide to immortality. Yes, it is in perplexity that the chart is incomparably precious. In sorrow’97that the promises are so sweet. In darkness’97that the rays of celestial light are so cheering.

To Prayer’97as the only exercise which can bring relief to the spirit; and peace and hope to the mind. Is any man afflicted? let him pray. And the humble Christian will both submit and pray’97be resigned, and yet solicitous for relief.

This is well expressed in a very plaintive, yet spiritual manner, in the following lines:

"Why should a living man complain

Of deep distress within,

Since every sigh and every pain,

Is but the fruit of sin?

No, Lord, I’ll patiently submit,

Nor ever dare rebel;

Yet sure I may, here at thy feet,

My painful feelings tell.

Thou seest what floods of sorrow rise,

And beat upon my soul;

One trouble to another cries,

Billows on billows roll.

From fear to hope and hope to fear,

My shipwrecked soul is toss’d;

‘Till I am tempted in despair

To give up all for lost.

Yet thro’ the stormy clouds I’ll look

Once more to thee, my God:

Oh, fix my feet upon a rock,

Beyond the gaping flood.

One look of mercy from thy face

Will set my heart at ease;

One all-commanding word of grace

Will make the tempest cease."

To Meditation’97by which our soul’s experience is connected with Divine communion, and consolation, and joy.

To Praise’97for how sweet our mercies are then. How precious is Christ then. How great the promises; and how unspeakably good is God, our heavenly Father.

Afflictions also lead us to a higher appreciation of Divine mercies and heavenly realities. When is pardon so sweet, as when realized on the bed of languishing? When is the inward peace so serene’97the joy so bright’97he hope so cheering, as in the night of sorrow and sickness, and suffering! Then, too. it is, hat heaven rises in value; and that we feel a closer acquaintance, and a more endearing union with the spirits of the just, and the glories of the skies.

As the Christian nears the better land, he catches its fragrant perfumes; and often receives clusters of its rich grapes, as the first fruits of the eternal plenty, which is before him. He may may too, on the bed of affliction, be favored with spiritual seasons of ascending Pisgah’s top; and from thence catch enrapturing glances of the good land before him;’97so that death may be welcomed, that Canaan may be enjoyed.

Application

1. Have you experienced these benefits from affliction? If so, seek that they may permanently abide with you. Guard against the flight of these lessons and emotions with returning health. Seek often to repeat the lessons you learned, and to feel over again the experience you then enjoyed. Learn,

2. How entirely and fully we should be resigned to God and his will. He knows what is best for us. He will do that which will eventually tend most to our abiding blessedness. Then seek the spirit that can cheerfully say,’97"Not our will, but thine be done!" Oh, yes, say to your heart’97

"Be still, my heart! these anxious cares

To thee are burdens, thorns, and snares;

They cast dishonor on thy Lord,

And contradict his gracious word.

When first before his mercy-seat,

Thou didst to him thy all commit;

He gave thee warrant, from that hour,

To trust his wisdom, love, and power.

Did ever trouble yet befall,

And he refuse to hear thy call?

And has he not his promise pass’d,

That thou shalt overcome at last?

He who has help’d me hitherto,

Will help me all my journey thro’,

And give me daily cause to raise

New Ebenezers to his praise.

Tho’ rough and thorny be the road,

It leads thee home, apace, to God:

Then count thy present trials small,

For heaven will make amends for all.’

Man’s safety and blessedness is to be so given up to God’s gracious providence, as to welcome in the spirit of grateful submission all his dispensations. Yes, all his dispensations. For when you surrendered yourself to Christ, did you not say,’97

"Jesus, I my cross have taken,

All to leave and follow thee;

Naked, poor, despised, forsaken,

Thou, from hence, my all shalt be.

Perish ev’ry fond ambition,

All I’ve sought, or hop’d, or known;

Yet how rich is my condition!

God and heav’n are still my own.

Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,

Come, disasters, scorn, and pain;

In thy service, pain is pleasure,

With thy favor, loss is gain.

I have call’d thee Abba, Father,

I have set my heart on thee;

Storms may howl, and clouds may gather,

All must work for good to me."

3. Have afflictions been of no service to you? How fearful that state! And if not, don’t forget that if tenderness of heart and. purity of spirit are not produced’97if they do not make us wiser and better’97they will increase our obduracy, and make us more meet for the immitigable sorrows and anguish of eternity.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS