A Look at Psalm 119:92
Making it through the hard times
Psalm 119:92 “If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”
In the previous verse, we saw how through servanthood, the law of God endures. We will not even want to serve God until we delight in His law. Moreover, only through servanthood or humility are we able to endure affliction. Without humility, affliction would kill us. When a person loves God enough to serve Him, they endure because they no longer live for themselves, they live for God.
To endure affliction, we must be focused on something greater than ourselves. A parent can endure affliction because of their love for their children. A husband can endure affliction because of his love for his wife – or vice versa. A servant can endure affliction because of their love for their master. David said that if it weren’t for his love for the law of God, his affliction would have killed him.
Egocentric people have a terrible time with affliction because it attacks the one thing, they love above everything else – themselves. When we were children, we were egocentric. We thought and reasoned like children. The only things that seem reasonable to a child are their own comfort and pleasure. However, when we became adults, we put away childish things (or should have). As mature adults, we understand that this life is not about us, it’s about Jesus. No longer should we seek presents from God, but rather, we should seek the presence of God. Our love should be centered on Him.
If we are filled with love for God, we can endure any affliction because…
“love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-11
Now let me encourage you to take some time to meditate on this verse and while you do, ask God to help you put away childish thought and reasoning.
Continued
