Psalm 119: Focus On God's Word Pt. 107 Suffering For Christ Will Give Way To Great Joys.

Understanding from God disciplines us for spiritual warfare.

Psalm 119:33,34  HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. 34)  Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 

We need understanding from Jehovah so that we are disciplined and prepared for  spiritual warfare. There are short term pains and struggles in this life, that will be exchanged for eternal life, heaven's joys and God's glory, when the Lord calls us home.

Since the world and all that is in it is destined to be burned or purified with fire, it is foolishness to live for the things of the world (2 Peter 3:3-13).

Short term pain but long term gain. 

Psalm 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Understanding from the teaching from God prepares us to serve Him now and for worshipping Him in heaven. Pain comes before pleasure, and suffering is replaced with joy. 

Thus, believers can endure suffering and anguish because we know such things are temporary. We will receive the full realization of all blessings that God has promised to us. 

Knowing the certainty of God's promises sustains us as we make our way through all the trials and troubles of this life.  Weeping from the afflictions we suffer is compared to enduring for a night, when the morning brings eternal joys. 

Be battle hardened soldiers of Jesus Christ. 

2 Timothy 2:1-3  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2)  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3)  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

Paul encouraged young Timothy to find strength in the grace of God to preach and teach the apostolic truth that was delivered to him. Paul taught Timothy (and us, too) that he must commit himself to the ministry God gave him to do.

He must preach the word when it is popular and when it is met with hostility. He must preach the word in season and out of season. 

All believers must endure hardness (weeping, affliction, suffering, trials and troubles) like good soldiers of Jesus Christ. 

All Christians are soldiers of Jesus Christ. We fight under His banner, for His cause  against His enemies. 

Jesus is the Captain of our salvation and we must follow Him. 

Hebrews 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 

Jesus Christ is the captain of our salvation, and members of His army must prove themselves good soldiers. We must be faithful to our Captain and resolute in His cause. We must not stop fighting until Christ calls us home (Romans 8:37:3). 

Enduring hardness means we must expect difficulties and challenges and temper our hearts and minds to patiently bear it when it comes.

Our good things will come when this life is over. 

Luke 16:25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 

Remember the teaching of Jesus about the rich man and the poor beggar named Lazarus.

The rich man had the good life. He wore expensive garments and lived in a large, comfortable home. He ate extravagant  meals each day. One day he died.

Lazarus was poor, and his body was covered with open sores that dogs licked. He survived by eating crumbs that fell from the rich man's table. One day he also died.

In death, the rich man found himself in Hell, tormented by flames because he chose to live for self and never sought God.

Lazarus found himself comforted by Abraham in paradise where he no longer experienced any sufferings or deprivation.

Most people live for self and their philosophy of life is eat, drink, be merry and grab all that you can because this life is all there is.

Believers are called to look beyond the sufferings of the Christian life, and look to what God the Father has waiting for us, when we finish our race. 

Just as joy comes after a night of sorrow, so our good things (all of God's promises) will come after this life is over. Pleasure seeking and striving to accumulate wealth must give way to seeking godliness, virtue and honesty as we serve in Christ's army.

Godliness with contentment is very profitable for believers. 

1 Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8)  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

This is a valuable lesson that each believer must learn. The culture is constantly telling us what we need and what we should do. Yet, we base our actions upon what God says to us, for our All Wise God knows what is good and best for us.

God tells us that seeking godliness and being content is far more profitable than having those things the world pursues. Thus, Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoying the temporary pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:25). 

Understanding from God helps us keep these truths in front of us, so that we might arise each morning ready to serve Christ, ready to endure whatever hardship comes our way, for the sake of the gospel.

Don't be like a wild horse or a stubborn mule. 

Psalm 32:8,9  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 9)  Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. 

King David sought to hear from the Lord. He sat before Jehovah in His temple. He read the law and received instruction from God. 

In this text, God tells us what He will do for believers. He will instruct us. He will teach us the way that we should follow. He will guide us with His eyes watching our progress. 

Then, God warns us not to be hard to handle like a horse, and not to be stubborn like a mule. These animals are hard to train and difficult to govern at times because they do not have understanding. 

The horse and the mule correspond with unbelievers and fools who say there is no God, and chose to live for self. 

Psalm 32:10,11  Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. 11)  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. 

Unbelievers will reap what they sow at the resurrection of damnation. Many sorrows of hell will drag them into eternal condemnation.

However, believers, those who fully trust Jehovah, will be surrounded by His everlasting mercies. 

Therefore, when God gives us a right understanding of things, let us be glad in heart. Let us rejoice for the surety of God's promises. Let us shout for joy because repentant faith in Jesus Christ gives us a new heart, a new spirit, one that is upright toward God.

Thoughts to Ponder...

If we wish to be taught by God and receive wisdom and instruction from Him, we must give our full attention to His Word.

God's word can make us wise unto salvation and thoroughly prepared for all good works. It has the power to make us whole and complete in Christ. It has the authority to reprove, rebuke, exhort and instruct us in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

Therefore, let us consistently read the scriptures. Let us consistently re-read them. Let us consistently think on them and ask God to teach us, instruct us and grant us understanding. 

Let us then be good soldiers of Jesus Christ, following His commands, doing His will with happy hearts.

Bob