HOPE IN HARD TIMES

“MANY are the AFFLICTIONS of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them ALL” – Psalm 34:19

God’s Word offers HOPE in HARD TIMES: “MANY are the AFFLICTIONS of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them ALL. He guards ALL his bones; not one of them is broken” (Psa.34:19). This is an encouraging scripture for facing life’s trials. Though it contains a potentially disheartening statement, that righteous people could encounter many afflictions, it also holds the reassuring promise that the Lord will deliver from them all (vv.17,19). David fled to the land of the Philistines after Saul declared his determination to kill him (1Sam.20:31). He wrote this Psalm while in a cave in Adullam after scarcely escaping death from the Philistines’ king by pretending to be insane (1Sam.21:13-15). This was to commemorate his miraculous salvation and to encourage people not to lose HOPE in Hard or Difficult Times!

The word “afflictions” means: bad or evil things; adversities, hardships, difficult times, perplexing circumstances. The Contemporary English Version says, “The LORD’s people may suffer a lot.” In other verses, this word is synonymous with things and people that are disagreeable, evil, malignant, rotten, or vicious in thoughts, disposition, and deeds. Afflictions can be any evil thing or person that causes calamity, misery, injury, and pain. To “deliver” means to ‘snatch away’ or rescue. The Lord will rescue the righteous from times of affliction and evil people.

The most righteous Person to walk the earth endured much affliction. Christ was betrayed, beaten, mocked, tortured, and endured severe pain as He faithfully walked out the Will of the Father by dying on the cross. Sacrificially, once for all, God’s Son made a way for us to escape the deathly consequences of sin in this world. His was the unmatched Price of Love by which everyone who believes becomes an adopted member of the Family of God. If God’s Son suffered affliction, Christ-followers can expect nothing less. The absence of afflictions is not what distinguishes the righteous, but the divine ability to OVERCOME ALL, a strong ingredient of which is Hope!

For the Believer in Christ, facing affliction or persecution is not a sign that one is evil and “reaping what they sowed”! Our Role Model, Jesus Christ, suffered affliction and persecution though He was righteous and without sin: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1Pet.4: 12-13). He was afflicted, harassed, persecuted, spit on, whipped, and crucified, “so that the scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of His bones will be broken” (Jh.19:36). This connects back to Psalm 34:20!

Though David was in a cave, a fugitive from both the Israelites and Philistines, he exclaimed: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (v.1). Going on, he encouraged the righteous to HOPE in God for deliverance. His Psalm is source of Comfort and Hope for the righteous going through tough times. Those who have been beaten by life’s vicissitudes can take Hope that every affliction is timed; they are not condemned for all eternity. God will rescue and redeem. THERE is HOPE and refining even in the furnace of affliction: “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction....O you afflicted one, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, and lay your foundations with sapphires” (Isa.48:10, 54:11).

In particular, Living Hope in Christ overcomes afflictions of this present life: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory...” (2Cor.4: 16-17). In Christ, dark nights of the soul can give birth to joyful, patient, hopeful hearts (Jam.1:2-4). We can REJOICE in HOPE and be patient in tribulation (Rom.12:12).