Good From Afflictions

We do not know the human author of the  119th Psalm.  We do know that the

author was someone who knew life and who also appreciated the Word of God.

In verse sixty-seven he makes a confession.  "Before I was afflicted I went

astray."  It could have been King David who made this confession following

the terrible rendezvous with another man's wife, even bringing murder to the

woman's husband.  Following the chastening affliction that followed the sin,

he now says, "But now Have I kept thy Word."  Whoever wrote it describes the

sequence of events for many in our world.  The affliction that follows

disobedience is worth it if it brings us to God's Word and to obedience to

its principles.  It could have been you or me that wrote  Psalm 119:67.

He even states in verse 71, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted;

that I might learn thy statutes."  There are benefits from afflictions and

trials if we will let God speak to us through them.  The Apostle Paul tells

us that, "we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh

patience, and patience experience  and experience hope." (Romans 5:3-4)  It

was a huge price to pay and a bitter pill to swallow, but if the author is

King David we see a better man following his sin and affliction. 

We know from God's Word that "Whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges

every son whom he receives."  (Hebrews 12:6) Parents do not correct their

children because they hate them, but rather because they love them.

Someone said, "Sin will keep us from the Word or the Word will keep us from

sin."