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Before I Was Afflicted (Ps 119:67)
by Jody L. AppleIntroduction
1. suffering (affliction, trials) comes to everyone
suffering affects non-Christians
suffering affects Christians
2. suffering for a reason
the right reason
the wrong reason
3. general purpose of suffering
to warn
to deter
to punish
to give just compensation
I. Affliction is to be expected
Job 5:6,7; Eccl 7:14; John 16:33
II. Origin of affliction is due to sin
2 Sam 12:14; Ps 90:7, 8; Ezra 6; Jer 22:21-22
III. The purpose/nature of affliction
comes suddenly: Num 16:30-35; Pr 6:15; 2 Sam 12:7-12; Rev 18:10
chastening: Deut 8:5; Heb 12:5-13; Job 5:17; Ps 55:19; 94:12, 13; Pr 3:12
enlightenment: Job 36:8-10; Ps 119:67, 71; Is 26:9
purification: Is 48:10; Dan 11:35
to teach righteousness: Is 26:9
to show works of God: Jn 9:13; 11:3
to cause repentance: Deut 4:30; 30:1-3; Neh 1:8-9
to cause us to cling to God: Job 34:31-32; Is 10:20; Ez 14:10,11
to expose sin: Job 36:8, 9; Lk 15:16-20
to promote confession of sin: Ps 119:67; Pr 28:13, 14
to teach us to endure: 2 Sam 22:19; Ps 37:23, 24; 129:1, 2; Heb 11:25, 26
to teach us patience: Rom 5:3; James 1:3; 1 Pet 2:20
to cause the gospel to be preached: Phil 1:12-14
to test us: Job chptrs 1, 2, 23:10; Ps 36:10-22; Pr 17:3; Eccl 7:14; Phil 1:28-30; 2 Cor 4:17
to cause us to be fruitful: John 15:2; Heb 12:10-11
IV. The effects of affliction
see above
can harden the human soul: Neh 9:28, 29; Jer 5:3
can occur without being effective: 2 Chr 28:22; Is 9:13; Jer 2:30; Zeph 3:2
gives way to help (doesn't last forever): Job 5:11; 11:16; Ps 30:566; 112:4; Nah 1:9,12
V. Examples of affliction (chastening)
Sodom and Gomorrah: Gen 19
Plagues of Egypt: Ex 7-11
Wandering of Israel: Deut 1:34-40
Cain: Gen 4:9-12
Ahaziah: 2 Kgs 1:1-4;
Jonah: Jonah 1-4
VI. Help in time of affliction
God promises consolation: Is 66:13, 14; Ez 14:22, 23; 2 Cor 1:4; Phil 4:19
God promises deliverance: Ex 3:7-9; Hos 2:14, 15; Zech 1:16-21
there is hope, even in trials: Ps 71:13, 14; Rom 15:3-6; 2 Cor 4:8-9
there is comfort in Christ: 1 Thess 5:9-11; Heb 3:14
faith in Christ causes comfort and removes affliction: John 14:1-3
fellowship with brethren with brethren helps affliction: 2 Cor 7:6; 1 Thess 5:9-11