God and Affliction
Are God’s people free from affliction?
Psalm 34:19-22 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, the Lord delivers out of them all
Proverbs 24:16-18 A just man falleth seven times and ariseth up again
Job 5:19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles yea in seven no evil shall touch thee
Micah 7:8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy I shall arise again
2 Timothy 3:11-12 Persecutions and afflictions came unto Paul but the Lord delivered him
Acts 13:45-50 The Jews say the multitudes they were filled with envy
Acts 14: 2-5 There was an assault made, both Jews and gentiles to stone them
Acts 14:19 The Jews from Antioch, Iconium persuaded the people to stone Paul
Psalm 34:6,17 This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles
How does God regard affliction?
Job 34:28 The Lord hears the cry of the afflicted
Job 35:9-16 They make the oppress to cry
James 5:4 The cries of them which they have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of the Sabbath
Exodus 22:23-24 If thou afflict them in any wise and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry
Luke 18:7-8 Shall not God avenge his elect that cry unto him day and night
Psalm 18:6-7 In my distress I called upon the Lord and he heard my voice
What has he promised to be to those in trouble?
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge our strength a present help in time of trouble
Psalm 62: 7-8 In God is my salvation and glory, my refuge is in my God
Jeremiah 3:23 Truly in the Lord God is the salvation of Israel
Psalm 142:5-7 Thou art my refuge and my portion
Dueteronomy 4:7 The Lord is in all things that we call upon him for
Psalm 145: 18-19 The Lord is nigh unto all that call upon him
With what feeling does the Lord look upon his children?
Psalm 103:13-15 Like a father pitieth his children so the Lord pitieth those that fear him
What does he know and remember?
Psalm 103:14 He remembereth that we are dust
What has the Lord promised to be to the oppressed?
Psalm 9:9 The Lord will also be a refuge for the oppressed in time of trouble
Psalm 32:7 Thou art my hiding place
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength a present help in time of trouble
Psalm 145:5 Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living
Psalm 145:18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him
What has God promised his children when passing through trials and affliction?
Isa 43:2 When though passeth through the waters I will be with thee and through the rivers it shall not overflow thee
Ps 66:12 We went through the fire and through the water but thou brought us out into a wealthy place
Isaiah 51:22-23 Behold I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling
Duet 31:6-8 Be strong and of a good courage fear not
Josh 10:25-26 Fear not, neither be dismayed, be strong and of a good courage
1 Chron 22:13-16 Then shall thou prosper if thou take heed to fulfill the statutes
Duet 1:29-35 I said unto you dread not neither be afraid
Duet 20:4 The Lord your God is he that goeth before you, to fight for you
Josh 1:5-9 As I was with Moses so will I be with thee, I will not fail thee
Hebrews 13:5-8 He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee
Dan 3:25-27 I see four men in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is as the Son of God
Learning Lessons through Affliction
What did David say with reference to his being afflicted?
Ps 119:71-72 It is good for me that I have been afflicted that I may learn thy statutes
Ps 119:69 The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep thy precept with my whole heart
Heb 12:10 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous
When afflicted for what did he pray?
Psalm 25:18-22 Look upon my affliction and pain and forgive all my sins
2 Samuel 16:12-14 It may be that the Lord will look upon my affliction
Before he was afflicted what did he do?
Ps 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy word
Jeremiah 31:18 Thou chastised me and I was chastised as a bullock
What did Christ learn through his sufferings?
Heb 5:8 He learned obedience by the things he suffered
Philippians 2:8-11 He humbled himself and became obedient unto death
Matt 26:39-42 O my Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me
In perfecting character, what must come to all?
Hebrews 12:5-8 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord
Job 5:17-18 Happy is the man whom God correcteth
Ps 94:12-14 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest O Lord and teachest
Prov 2:11-12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man
James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation
Rev 3:19-21 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten be zealous and repent
Is this chastening a pleasant experience?
Heb 12:11 No chastening for the present time seemeth to be joyous, but grievous
What did Job say in the midst of his affliction?
Job 13:15 Though he slay me yet will I trust him
Psalm 23:4 Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil
Prov 14:32-35 The righteous hath hope in his death
2 Cor 1:9 We should not trust in ourselves but in God
2 Tim 4:18 The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work
Receiving and Giving comfort
What is God called in the scriptures?
2 Cor 1:3-8 The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
2 Corin 7:6 Nevertheless God comfort those that are cast down
What promise is made to those that mourn?
Matt 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted
Isaiah 61:1-3 To comfort all those that mourn
Isa 66:13-16 As one whom his mother comforteth so I will comfort
Malachi 4:1-3 Unto you that fear my name shall the Son of righteousness arise with healing
2Thess 1:7-9 To you who are troubled rest with us
Isaiah 57:18 I have seen his ways and will heal him and restore comforts unto him
Luke 6:21 Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall laugh
John 16:20 Ye shall be sorrowful but your sorrow shall turn into joy
2 Corinthians1:7 As ye are partakers of his suffering even so shall ye be also of his consolation
Rev 21:4 God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes
Why does God comfort us in tribulation?
2 Cor 1:4 God comforts us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble by the same comfort wherewith we are comforted
Note: One who has passed through trouble and affliction himself and receive comfort from God, is better able to minister comfort to others.
Does Jesus sympathize with us in our affliction?
Heb 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was at all points tempted as we are
Note: It was a sight to awaken sympathy. The deceased was the only son of his mother, and she a widow. The lonely mourner was following to the grave her sole earthly support and comfort, when the Lord saw her he had compassion on her. As she moved on blindly, weeping noting not his presence, he came close beside her, and gently said, “weep not.” Jesus was about to change her grief to joy, yet he could not forbear this expression of tender sympathy, he came and touched the bier, to him even contact with the dead could impart no defilement, the bearers stood still, and the lamentations of the mourners ceased. The two companies gathered about the bier, hoping against hope . One was present who had banished diseases and vanquished demons; was death also subject to his power? In a clear authoritative voice the words are spoken, “young man I say unto thee, Arise.” That voice pierces the ears of the dead. The young man opens his eyes; Jesus takes him by the hand, and lifts him up. His gaze falls upon her who has been weeping him, and mother and son unites in a long clinging, joyous embrace. The multitude look on in silence, as if spell bound. There came a fear upon all, hushed and reverent they stood for a little time as if in the very presence of God . Then they glorified God, saying that a great prophet is risen up among us and that God hath visited his people.” The funeral train returned to Nain as a triumphal procession, and the rumor of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about. The Desire of Ages pg 318-319.
Note: He who stood beside the sorrowing mother at the gate of Nain watches every mourning one beside the bier. He is touched with sympathy for our grief. His heart, that loved and pitied, is a heart of unchangeable tenderness. His words, that called the dead to life is no less efficacious now than when spoken to the young man of Nain. He says “ All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,” Matthew 28:18. That power is not diminished by the lapse of years, nor exhausted by the ceaseless activity of his overflowing grace. To all who believe on him, he is still a living Saviour. Jesus changed the mother’s grief to joy, when he gave her back her son; yet the youth was but called forth to this earthly life to endure its sorrows, its toils and its perils and to pass again under the power of death. But Jesus comforts our sorrow for the dead with a message of infinite hope: “I am he that liveth, and was dead, and behold I am alive forever more …… and have the keys of hell and death. Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He likewise took part of the same; that through his death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Rev 1:18, Heb 2:14-15.
How did he manifest his sympathy in the case of Mary and her friends weeping over Lazarus?
John 11:33-35 He groaned in the spirit and was troubled
Whatever may come, what blessed assurance has everyone who loves God?
Rom 8:28-29 All things work together for good to those that love God
2 Tim 1:9 God called us with a holy calling not according to our works
Note: Satan cannot hold the dead in grasp, when the Son of God bids them live. He cannot hold in spiritual death one soul who in faith receives Christ’s words of power. God is saying to all who are dead in sin, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead.” Ephesians 5:14. That word is eternal life. As the word of God which bade the first man live, still gives us life, as Christ’s words, “Young man I say unto thee, Arise,” gave life to the youth of Nain. So that word, “Arise from the dead”, is life to the soul that receives it. God hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. Col 1:13. It is all offered us in his word; if we receive the word we have this deliverance.
And if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you. He that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall arise first, then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Rom 8:11; 1 Thess 4:16-17. This is the word of comfort wherewith he bids us comfort one another. (Desire of Ages pg 320)
Ambassadors of Christ 