“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (vs19)
There are many trials and afflictions with being righteous, but the Lord delivers us from them all, keeping us safe. We suffer, but we triumph in the end, even as the Son rose from the dead, victorious, having put away sins.
We have, firstly, a praise report (vs1-7). The delivered say, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad”. God's salvation brings us joy that brings joy to others. All are not happy with Christ and despising Him is common, yet some, those born of God, will love the praise report that you give, delighting in God's grace, even as you, for they have the same heart and receive it themselves. Don't be ashamed, proclaim it allowed, so that others may rejoice with you. Give Him His due.
Secondly, the prescription for peace and joy is obedience (vs8-14). He says, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Don't deceive yourself. If you want God's blessing, then walk His way, doing good to people, even your foes.
God willingly and abundantly blesses people who honor Him by faith, who receive the atonement and live atoned lives. He gives the grace to change our behavior, and then He gives the newness of joy and peace, even as He has said.
Thirdly, God has promised the obedient will be saved and the wicked damned (vs15-22). He says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth... The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit”. You and I may take God's word surely. We know the broken heart, the heart that obeys the word of Christ, will be heard and healed. We know the righteous, afflicted even unto death, will be kept by God, so that nothing destroys us. He said of Jesus Christ and us, “He guards all his bones; not one of them is broken”.
I've been reading about William Tyndale, the man responsible for more than 80% of the King James Bible, and how he was persecuted, chased from country to country, imprisoned 16 months, and then executed by strangling and burned in the fire. He gave up his life to give us the gospel message in English, and the Lord rewarded him abundantly, keeping his soul safe and raising him from the dead to Paradise. You and I will be hated of all men for His name's sake, but in the end, we'll never be forsaken by God, and we shall rise again, one day soon, to see that God has rewarded us abundantly in eternal bliss! Is it not written, “Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned”? Bless God. We believe Him in order to escape the wrath assuredly coming upon the wicked, and we'll escape in style.
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