"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE DEALING WITH AFFLICTIONS"
Ps 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. NKJV
Note: Here's how it reads in the NLT Version
Ps 119:67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.
Some explanatory thoughts and application:
1. David is sharing his heart here about affliction in his own life, and what happened to him as a result.
2. We do not know the exact nature of the affliction, but the word affliction means, to be looking down, or browbeating. It includes the idea of being humbled, troubled, and weakened. To be put down, to be downcast.
3. What David says, is that before he went through this trouble, he had gone astray, or wandered off from the Lord.
4. God in His grace, love, and mercy, brought him back into fellowship through this affliction
5. David says two things that came back into his life through this affliction, one, he kept God's Word, and two, he followed the Lord closely.
6. We don't like affliction, but, if we allow God to have His way with us when we are in an affliction, it can have the same results in us that it did in David.
7. If you have gone astray, and wandered off from the Lord, cheer up, because, He is no doubt through this affliction, wanting to draw you back to the place of obedience, i.e keeping His Word, and closely following Him.
A prayer:
Father, because we are Your Children, You care for us, and will deal with us as needed. In fact, Your dealing with us in this way, is proof that we do belong to You. You don't deal this way with those who are not yet Yours. But, You do with us. Thank You for the many, many times You have forgiven us, and received us back into fellowship with You. I'm sure we have no idea of how much You miss us when we wander away. The prodigal son's father is a good example to us of who You are. We love You.
In Jesus' name. Amen
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
