Mar 2010

Afflicted for the Sake of the Lord’s Testimony

Category: Daily Words for the Christian Life

“Many times they have afflicted me from my youth,”
Let Israel now say;
“Many times have they afflicted me since my youth,
yet they did not prevail against me.”
— Psalm 129:1-2

The writer of this psalm has had many years of experiencing suffering and affliction. However, he realizes that it was all for “Israel,” the Lord’s testimony. This verse indicates that the psalmist is no longer afraid of hard times, nor is he trying to escape difficult situations. He realizes that trials and afflictions have been with him since his youth, yet they were not for himself but for the sake of the Lord’s testimony. That is why he says, “Oh, let Israel say.” Then he repeats, “many times have they afflicted me since my youth,” but adds, “yet they did not prevail against me” (v. 2).

In other words the psalmist is saying, “After experiencing so many years of hardship and trials, I can testify that the Lord has always had His way. Outwardly it seemed that I failed and was beaten; but in reality I gained the victory. Outwardly I had no way to overcome all the afflictions. I was often oppressed, defeated, and even tempted to run away. However, after many years of being in all these kinds of situations, now I can testify, they did not prevail against me! I am still here! I am still fighting for the Lord’s testimony!” These two verses are very sweet. The writer has been dealt with his entire life since his youth, yet he realizes that the dealings and afflictions always came to him from the Lord with His testimony in view.

Adapted from The Journey of Life, pages 78-79.

Tomorrow: “With the Testimony in View”

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Comments on “Afflicted for the Sake of the Lord’s Testimony”

David Canfield
Wednesday, March 17, 2010

This series of Daily Words has been very helpful to me. No one likes to be afflicted, but it is good to see that it really is the Lord’s arrangement for us so that we can be “enlarged” for the sake of His testimony. And it really is necessary; only ones who submit to this process can really become a blessing to the church. Lord, have Your way in so many of us for the sake of your testimony, that the church could be so blessed.

 

Scott Wood
Thursday, March 18, 2010

I find this word encouraging to me, as stated, “they did not prevail against me! I am still here! I am still fighting for the Lord’s testimony!”. Well, to me, I’ve “almost” been convinced that my outward circumstances HAVE prevailed against me, because it seems that I’m NOT “still here” (wherever that is), and thus NOT “still fighting for the Lord’s testimony”. BUT, I have also realized before the Lord that because I still love Him and still come to Him, having no regrets or resentments of past afflictions, that I actually AM “still here”.

If I were contrary to this, then surely my circumstances “have” prevailed against me. But that is not the case. I am still here, still with Him, still loving Him and seeking Him for the growth of His testimony, the testimony of Jesus. Hence, even though my circumstances may have entirely changed and brought me to an entirely “different place”, they have not prevailed against me, and my “fighting for the Lord’s testimony” has not entirely ceased.

The key here is to know what is the essence of, and what I believe Titus essentially means by saying, “I am still here!” If “here” is limited to being in only one isolated place, or with only one particular group of believers, then the Lord’s testimony is no more, and neither am I. But how great is our Lord! and how grand is His testimony! … in all the earth! I am thankful to Him for His loving and sovereign hand that arranges and allows “tailor-made” situations for each of us in our particular environments, with our own particular traits, that we could be touched, healed, recovered and perfected by Him for His testimony as He brings us onward in His way from glory to glory.

We must consider ourselves blessed that He so dearly cares specifically for each of us, for our growth in Him and for our being a unique part of His testimony. - Cast down but not destroyed! In a different place but “still here”! Christ in you, the hope of glory!! Thank You Lord. :) Scott

 

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