The Truth About Suffering

My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. [Psalm 119.71]

On this day in 2017, I wrote the following article: Too Proud To Repent. I am just as convinced today about what Psalm 119.71 says as I was on that day.

I will develop my thoughts here just a little more however.

As time has gone on, and man has "developed" in knowledge, one key ingredient of his knowledge has gone almost entirely missing: the knowledge of God. Knowledge of God first understands that He is Creator of All. Everything else about God must be understood in light of this Biblical fact. God created everything that is good. In fact, the basis for this is found just a couple verses earlier:

You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees. [Psalm 119.68]

By contrast then, everything that is bad can only be measured by its lack of goodness much the same as darkness can only be measured by the absence of light or dryness can only be measured by the absence of water. God promised certain and measurable blessings on the lives of those who obey Him (Deuteronomy 28.1-14). God also warned that disobedience would interfere with blessings and that curses would be the result (Deuteronomy 28.15-68). While these curses certainly seem measurable, their value is discernable only by what is taken away (life, health, peace, possessions, etc...). So the real issue is about what controls the blessings - and that is obedience to God.

God designed everything on earth to work a certain way. It should be noted here that that way was "good" (see Genesis 1). There were no sickness and disease and everything worked as it was designed for goodness. It was only when man disobeyed that God's blessing was withheld and then is when trouble started. So severe was the absence of God's blessing that even the ground that previously provided an abundance of food, became (and still remains today) a toil upon man to till and maintain just so he could eat. As God's hand of blessing was withdrawn, all that could result were curses (the absence of God's blessings). The absence of God's blessing became the harsh reality of man's disobedience - a reminder that there was (and is) a better way. This harsh reality came upon man individually and corporately.

And, that brings us to Psalm 119.71:

My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. [Psalm 119.71]

If man, in his vast knowledge however, reasons that curses are random (whether from God or otherwise), then his suffering is no longer "good" for him as it no longer leads him back to obedience and therefore back to God and His blessings. Man's knowledge has evolved to prevent him from discerning God. Man's knowledge is his deception.

As far as Jesus is concerned, what is said here is just as applicable. There is no way man can appreciate the value of Christ's suffering if "all suffering" is not seen a punishment from God. Furthermore, to remediate suffering (any suffering) by any other means than repentance and faith (individually or corporately) is to miss God's call to such repentance and faith. Anything that stands in the way of our repentance and faith - any treatment for a curse other than God - is an idol.

There is no way suffering can be deemed "good for me" unless it brings me to the source of the suffering (disobedience) and draws me to the truth of God's Word (that I need to repent and believe).

Those of us alive today may enjoy the following truth:

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” [Galatians 3.13]

But how can we enjoy this truth unless we understand that suffering is directly tied to sin and disobedience? We simply cannot. Our knowledge of science and decay and disease has blinded us to the truth of suffering. Consequently, we only continue to suffer.

Father, help Your people to understand the truth about suffering.