Sunday
Morning Bible Study
April 4, 2004
Introduction
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm and the longest chapter of the entire Bible.
It is an acrostic psalm. Each section of eight verses begins with the same
letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The next eight verses all begin with the next
letter of the Hebrew alphabet. We’re now up to the ninth letter of the
alphabet.
It’s a song all about the Word of God. It’s also a song written by someone
who was going through a difficult time in his life.
Affliction and God’s Word
A life-long city man, tired of the rat
race, decided he was going to give up the city life, move to the country, and
become a chicken farmer. He bought a nice, used chicken farm and moved in. As
it turned out, his next door neighbor was also a chicken farmer. The neighbor
came for a visit one day and said, “Chicken farming isn’t easy. Tell you what.
To help you get started, I’ll give you 100 chickens.” The new chicken farmer
was thrilled. Two weeks later the neighbor dropped by to see how things were
going. The new farmer said, “Not too well. All 100 chickens died.” The neighbor
said, “Oh, I can’t believe that. I’ve never had any trouble with my chickens. I’ll
give you 100 more.” Another two weeks went by and the neighbor stopped by
again. The new farmer said, “You’re not going to believe this, but the second
100 chickens died too.” Astounded, the neighbor asked, “What went wrong?” The
new farmer said, “Well, I’m not sure whether I’m planting them too deep or too
close together.”
(Psa 34:19 KJV) Many are the afflictions
of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
:65-72 TETH
:65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD
well – towb – good,
pleasant, agreeable; kind, benign; right (ethical)
Lesson
God is good
Illustration
THE LIMO
The Pope had just finished a tour of the East Coast and was taking a
limousine to the airport. Having never driven a limo, he asked the chauffeur if
he could drive for a while. Well, the chauffeur didn’t have much of a choice,
so the chauffeur climbs in the back of the limo and the Pope takes the wheel.
The Pope proceeds to hop on Route 95 and starts accelerating to see what the
limo could do. Well he gets to about 90 miles per hour and, WHAM!, there are
the blue lights of our friendly State Police in his mirror. He pulls over and
the trooper comes to his window. Well the trooper, seeing who it was, says, “just
a moment please I need to call in.” The trooper radios in and asks for the
chief. He tells the chief “I’ve got a REALLY important person pulled over and I
need to know what to do.” The chief replies “Who is it, not Ted again?” The
trooper says,” “No, even more important.” The chief replies, “It’s the
Governor, isn’t it?” The trooper replies “No, even more important.” “It’s isn’t
the President is it?” “No, more important”, replies the trooper. “Well WHO in
the world is it!” screams the chief. “I don’t know,” says the trooper. “But he’s
got the Pope as a chauffeur!”
You know, life is a little like a limo. But sometimes we get to wondering,
just who’s driving this thing? Is God really in charge? Does He know what He’s doing?
God knows what He’s doing. The things God does in our lives are good.
When the angels in heaven observe how God will one day judge the earth,
they will declare:
(Rev 16:7 KJV) …Even so, Lord God Almighty, true
and righteous are thy judgments.
God knows how to do the right thing.
Sometimes we don’t understand why we are going through affliction.
Though we’ll be talking today about how sometimes we go through affliction
as a way to get us back on track when we’ve been astray … sometimes affliction
comes to people who are following close to the Lord. Sometimes affliction
doesn’t come to punish.
When we don’t understand things in our lives, we need to fall back on what
we do know –
God is all powerful. God knows everything. God is good. God is just. God is
love.
This is the essence of faith – learning to trust God even when you don’t
understand the whole picture.
(Heb 11:1 NLT) What is faith? It is the confident assurance that
what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet
see.
:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
astray – shagag – to go astray,
err, commit sin or error
Lesson
Affliction corrects my course
Sometimes God has to do something to get our attention.
Illustration
Three brothers, ages 12, 8 and 4, were playing in the afternoon on the
family acreage. Dad had a special call when it was time to come in. Supper time
came and dad called. The busy boys weren’t ready to come in and kept playing.
Later, dad called a second time and the boys still wouldn’t come. They were
busy playing. The third time dad called in a “huff,” threateningly. The boys
came running into the house. When the four-year-old passed dad, he said, “Daddy,
we didn’t hear you the first two times you called.”
God uses affliction to keep us from going the wrong way.
(Jonah 1 KJV) Now the
word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, {2} Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and
cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
God had something for Jonah to do. He had a message he was supposed to give
to Nineveh. But Jonah hated the
people of Nineveh and the last
thing he wanted to do was warn them about God’s judgment. He wanted them to
experience God’s judgment.
{3} But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of
the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he
paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish
from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah felt the only thing he could do was to try and get as far away from
God as he could.
{4} But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was
a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
This was the first “affliction”, the storm that almost sank the ship.
{5} Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his
god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it
of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and
was fast asleep. {6} So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What
meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think
upon us, that we perish not. {7} And they said every one to his fellow, Come,
and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So
they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. {8} Then said they unto him, Tell
us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine
occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art
thou? {9} And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God
of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. {10} Then were the men
exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men
knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
Isn’t that funny? Jonah has already told these fellows that he wants to get
as far away from God as possible.
{11} Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the
sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous. {12} And he
said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be
calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
I wonder if Jonah is figuring that he’s going to be thrown overboard and
drown. He might be thinking that God is simply trying to destroy him for his
disobedience. Yet God is trying to get his attention.
{13} Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but
they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. {14}
Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we
beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us
innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. {15} So they
took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her
raging. {16} Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice
unto the LORD, and made vows. {17} Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to
swallow up Jonah.
God was not intending Jonah to die.
And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
(Jonah 2 KJV) Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the
fish's belly,
Jonah is certainly one stubborn fellow. When the storm hit, he wasn’t ready
to pray. It took three days and nights in the fish’s belly before he was ready
to surrender to God.
{2} And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD,
and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Jonah’s affliction has finally gotten through to him. He’s finally crying
out to God for help.
If you’ve been going through a tough time, perhaps it’s time to do some
soul searching. Have you been going the wrong way? Is God trying to get your
attention? Does He have it yet?
:70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.
Sounds like someone’s been eating too many Krispy Kremes. Probably means
that they are just “thick” and unable to think about spiritual things.
Ps 119:70 (NIV) Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in
your law.
:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy
statutes.
Lesson
Affliction teaches me the Word
We learn to trust in God through our affliction. Let affliction drive you
to the Word to learn what you need to learn.
The affliction of
Sickness
Paul had his thorn in the flesh.
He learned strength in weakness. He learned that God’s
grace was enough
Domestic problems (relationships, marriage)
Many fellows finally realize that they need to change
their priorities when everything at home falls apart.
The lessons guys learn are:
Get Jesus first in your life.
Love your wife as Christ loves the church.
Disappointment (when things don’t come out the way we want)
The prodigal son went off to live the high life.
(Luke
15:11-24 KJV) And he said, A certain man had two sons: {12} And the younger
of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth
to me. And he divided unto them his living. {13} And not many days after the
younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and
there wasted his substance with riotous living. {14} And when he had spent all,
there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. {15} And
he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into
his fields to feed swine. {16} And he would fain have filled his belly with the
husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. {17} And when he came to himself, he said, How
many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish
with hunger! {18} I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him,
Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, {19} And am no more
worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. {20} And he
arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father
saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
{21} And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in
thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. {22} But the father said
to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring
on his hand, and shoes on his feet: {23} And bring hither the fatted calf, and
kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: {24} For this my son was dead, and is
alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
When he “came to himself”, he learned that he was better
off being a servant in his Dad’s house than trying to count on the world.
:73-80 JOD
:73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me
Lesson
God knows you
You are not an accident of evolution. You were designed by a God who cares
for you.
He designed you. He made you. He knows what you need. He knows how you
work.
(Psa 139:14 KJV) I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and
wonderfully made
Yield to Him.
:75 that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Lesson
Faithful Affliction
Sometimes affliction comes because we’re going in the wrong direction, and God’s
kids always get caught.
Illustration
Rabbi Retirement
An elderly rabbi, having just retired from his duties in
the temple, finally decides to fulfill his lifelong fantasy to taste pork. He
goes to a hotel in the Catskills in the off-season (not his usual one, mind
you), enters the empty dining hall and sits down at a table far in the corner.
The waiter arrives, and the rabbi orders roast suckling pig. As the rabbi is
waiting, struggling with his conscience, a family from his congregation walks
in! They immediately see the rabbi and, since no one should eat alone, they
join him. Shocked, the rabbi begins to sweat. At last, the waiter arrives with
a huge domed platter. He lifts the lid to reveal nothing else but roast
suckling pig with a big apple in its mouth. “This place is amazing!” cries the
rabbi. “You order a baked apple, and look what you get!”
He is faithful to discipline those
that are His sons.
(Heb 12:5-11 KJV) And ye have forgotten the
exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou
the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: {6} For
whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
{7} If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is
he whom the father chasteneth not? {8} But if ye be without chastisement,
whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. {9} Furthermore
we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them
reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of
spirits, and live? {10} For they verily for a few days chastened us after their
own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his
holiness. {11} Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but
grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
He only disciplines us because He wants the best for us. He disciplines us because He is a faithful Father.
Sometimes affliction comes for reasons other than our disobedience.
Job was not afflicted because he was a sinner. He was afflicted because God
was proud of him. Satan thought that Job only served God because God was good
to him, yet God showed Satan that Job served God because Job loved and trusted
God, no matter what.
Job’s affliction also had a benefit in it for Job.
(Job 42:5 KJV) I have heard of thee by the
hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Job’s affliction brought Job closer to God. God was faithful to bring Job closer to Him.
:76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort
merciful kindness – checed –
goodness, kindness, faithfulness
Ps 119:76 (NLT) Now let your unfailing
love comfort me
John writes,
(John 1:17 NLT) For the law was given through Moses;
God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
Are you struggling with affliction?
God wants you to find comfort. God’s comfort is found in Jesus Christ.
There is no one who knows what you need better He does.
There is no one who loves you more than He does.
He is the one who died on a cross for you, paying for your sins.
It’s not uncommon for people in a crisis to turn to Jesus. Sometimes that’s
just how God has to get our attention. Does He have yours?