Meaning of Psalms 119:71

This verse, Psalm 119:71, expresses a profound theological paradox: that suffering and affliction, often perceived as inherently negative, can serve a beneficial and even essential purpose in the life of a believer. The psalmist, reflecting on his personal experience, acknowledges that his hardships were not merely random occurrences but rather divinely permitted or even orchestrated events that ultimately led to a deeper understanding and adherence to God's laws and commands. This perspective shifts the focus from the pain of affliction to its salvific and instructive potential, highlighting that through trials, one can gain a more intimate knowledge of God's character and will, leading to spiritual growth and a more steadfast commitment to righteousness.

Context and Background

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, an extended acrostic poem dedicated to celebrating the Torah, the law or instruction of God. The psalmist’s entire focus is on the value, beauty, and life-giving power of God's word. Throughout the psalm, he laments his enemies and his own failings, but always returns to the comfort and guidance found in God's statutes. Verse 71, therefore, arises from this context of deep engagement with God's word and the challenges faced by those who strive to live by it in a fallen world. The affliction is not presented as a punishment but as a pedagogical tool employed by God.

Key Themes and Messages

• The Redemptive Purpose of Suffering: The primary message is that affliction is not inherently bad but can be a means of spiritual refinement and learning.
• Discipline and Instruction: The Hebrew word translated as "decrees" (חֻקִּים, chuqqim) refers to ordinances, statutes, or appointed ways. Affliction serves to teach and impress these divine laws upon the heart.
• Spiritual Growth: The verse emphasizes that hardship can lead to a deeper, more practical understanding of God's will, fostering spiritual maturity and obedience.
• Divine Sovereignty: The phrasing "it was good for me" implies a recognition of God's active role in allowing or directing these difficult experiences for the psalmist's ultimate good.

Spiritual Significance and Application

For believers, this verse offers a vital perspective on trials. Instead of despairing in difficult times, the Christian can look for the lessons God intends to teach. This requires a posture of humility and a willingness to examine one's life and circumstances through the lens of faith. It encourages perseverance, knowing that present suffering can yield future spiritual benefits. Applying this means actively seeking God's wisdom during hardship, praying for discernment to understand His purposes, and trusting that He is using all things, even pain, to conform us to the image of Christ.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This concept is echoed throughout Scripture. The patriarchs, like Joseph, endured immense suffering (betrayal, slavery, imprisonment) which ultimately led to their exaltation and the salvation of their families, demonstrating God's redemptive plan through hardship. The Israelites' wilderness wanderings were a period of both punishment and discipline, designed to teach them reliance on God and to purify them from Egyptian idolatry (Deuteronomy 8:2-3). Jesus Himself, the ultimate example, learned obedience through the suffering He endured (Hebrews 5:8). The New Testament consistently teaches that trials are a normal part of the Christian life and are intended to produce steadfastness and maturity (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4).

Analogies

• The Sculptor and the Stone: Just as a sculptor chips away at raw stone to reveal the beautiful form within, God uses affliction to shape and refine the believer, removing impurities and revealing the desired character.
• The Refiner's Fire: Similar to how a goldsmith uses fire to separate dross from precious metal, God uses trials to purify faith and remove the dross of sin and worldly attachments.
• The Schoolroom: Affliction can be seen as a challenging classroom where God is the teacher, and the circumstances are the lessons designed to impart essential spiritual truths that cannot be learned in times of ease.

Relation to Other Verses

• Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." This verse complements Psalm 119:71 by affirming God's overarching purpose in all circumstances, including difficulties.
• Hebrews 12:5-11: This passage explicitly discusses God's discipline of His children, stating that "no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." This directly supports the psalmist's assertion.
• James 1:2-4: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." This New Testament exhortation aligns perfectly with the psalmist's understanding of affliction's beneficial outcome.