Finding Good in Adversity
Part 9
Sermon Series: A Word about the Word
Date: May 11, 2003 P.M. Service
Place: Allendale Baptist
Text: Psalm 119: 65-72
Introduction
As I looked and studied this 9th section in the 119th chapter I am reminded of the story of a man that went through great adversity: A man reported this accident when he was trying to be helpful and do his job.
“When I got to the building I found that the hurricane had knocked off some bricks around the top. So I rigged up a beam with a pulley at the top of the building and hoisted up a couple barrels full of bricks. When I had fixed the damaged area, there were a lot of bricks left over. Then I went to the bottom & began releasing the line. Unfortunately, the barrel of bricks was much heavier than I was; and before I knew what was happening the barrel started coming down, jerking me up.
I decided to hang on since I was too far off the ground by then to jump, and halfway up I met the barrel of bricks coming down rather fast. I received a hard blow on my shoulder. I then continued to the top, banging my head against the beam and getting my fingers pinched and jammed the pulley. When the barrel hit the ground hard, it burst its bottom, allowing the bricks to spill out.
I was now heavier than the barrel. So I started down again at a high speed. Halfway down I met the barrel coming up fast and received severe injuries to my shins. When I hit the ground, I landed on the pile of spilled bricks, getting several painful cuts and deep bruises. At this point I must have lost presence of mind, because I let go of my grip on the line. The barrel came down fast-giving me another blow on the head and putting me in the hospital.
I respectfully request sick leave.”
This is a story of adversity; but with hope of time off.
The psalmist has had disappointments and discouragements but as he sees it, even though everything is not like he wants it to be, he is learning to find good in adversity.
My friend, you and I must come to understand this because we will all experience adversity. Hard times will come; disappointment will come; and when it arrives it will wear you down. Adversity saps the energy from us and will eventually leave us ineffective.
The psalmist tells us that adversity is good if it draws us closer to God.
As we search and feed on God’s Word we will find good in adversity.
In this section of Scripture the psalmist tells us of the …
I. Consistency of God’s Word
The Word of God is consistent in…
A. Its intent
“You have dealt well with your servant”
1. Even when things are seem to be going wrong, God is in control.
2. He is still good and He is still working.
3. The greatest example of this is the life of Joseph.
4. He was the favorite of his father receiving the coat of many colors. He told his family of the dream he had of his brothers serving him. They became jealous of him and sold Joseph into slavery. He was tempted by his master’s wife who tried to seduce him then had him put in prison for some 12 years.
5. But God had a plan and purpose. After prison he became the prime minister of Egypt and saved the nation from starvation during a famine. When his brothers came to Egypt to obtain food, he helped them without revealing who he was.
6. At times God’s Word may be strange to us, but it is totally dependable.
7. God is going to be true to His word in our lives.
Scripture is also consistent in…
B. Its integrity v. 65b “according to Thy Word.”
1. Everything God does is consistent to His Word.
2. His character is always consistent with His Word.
3. God is fully trustworthy.
If we are to find good in adversity we need to come to the understanding and come to accept the consistency of the Word of God.
II. Conclusions of God’s Word
1st the psalmist makes a…
A. Declaration v. 66
1. He declares he accepts God’s commandments.
2. When we believe someone we are ready to listen to them.
3. The psalmist says I believe God and now I am ready for instruction.
4. I believe that is the problem with many Christian today we don’t totally believe God and that He knows what is best for us.
Then the psalmist speaks of…
B. Defiance v. 67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I have kept Thy Word.”
1. The psalmist is confessing something at one point or time in his life had moved him away from God
2. He is talking about an affliction that brought about a conversion or a change in his life.
3. Sometimes our disobedience brings about an affliction in our lives.
4. This is one of the values of adversity. It brings us to the end of ourselves or to the point of we can no longer depend upon ourselves.
The conclusions of the Word of God are the declaration, the defiance and then the…
C. Demand v. 68 “Thou art good and doest good; teach me Thy statues.”
1. This may seem like a simple statement but what a person is they do.
2. Because God is holy, all of His dealings are holy.
3. Because God is love, everything He does is in love.
4. And since God is good, we can demand instruction from Him.
5. So I must ask why would a Christian seek any other instruction.
III. Comfort of God’s Word
A. Evil Intent vv.69a, 70a, 71a “The proud have forged a lie against me,”; “Their heart is as fat as grease.” “It is good for me that I have been afflicted.”
1. No one is harder to take than people who forge lies against us, to have your name smeared, to have you character questioned.
2. Accusations are always front page news but the retractions usually can be found on section E page 24.
3. It is the intent of the devil to attack the character, to question the motives, and to forge a lie about someone.
4. “Their heart is as fat as grease.”
5. “Fat” does not have a negative meaning in the Hebrew society; fatness spoke of prosperity or well-being.
6. But “fat as grease” does have a negative description.
7. It means repulsive; it refers to sensual bloating, not spiritual blessing.
But in the midst of the lies the affliction the psalmist finds encouragement and …
B. Everlasting Instruction
1. 69b; “But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.”
2. 70b; “But I delight in Your law.”
3. 71b; “That I may learn Your statutes.”
· Any adversity that moves us toward God, any adversity that brings us to our knees is worthwhile.
· When an individual is pushed toward God by adversity, gains deeper insight into the Word of God.
· Things we have known with our minds, we suddenly understand with our hearts.
In this one last verse we see a great conclusion. We see the…
IV. Costliness of God’s Word v.72
“The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.”
Notice 2 things which are significant in this verse.
A. Excellence
1. Better means excellent.
2. When we refer to the Word of God as being excellent we are saying it is the highest of all teaching. It is the most meaningful and useful of all instruction.
3. There are many goo things the world and men can teach us, but only God can teach us excellence.
Next notice its…
B. Extravagance
1. Verse 72b “Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.”
2. Outside of our salvation the Bible is the most valuable material possession we have in the world.
Matthew Henry says this of the psalmist’s reference to the extravagance of the Word of God.
“The psalmist had but a little of the Word of God in comparison with what we have, yet see how highly he valued it; how inexcusable then are we, who have both the OT and NT, and yet account them as a strange thing.
He had a great deal of silver and gold in comparison with what we have, yet see how little he valued it. His riches increased and yet he did not set his heart upon them, but upon the Word of God. “
The Word of God is better to us and brings us greater pleasures. The Word of God maintains us and it assures us of a better inheritance.
Invitation.
