Psalm 119:66–72

Commentary

See hard times as God’s training school

Suffering is never good in itself, but God is able to use it for good (Romans 8:28). Sometimes God uses our suffering to train us. Just as a gardener prunes the vine (John 15:2), parents discipline their children (Hebrews 12:10) and a metal worker refines silver and gold in the fire (1 Peter 1:6–7).

The psalmist writes, ‘Train me in good common sense... Before I learned to answer you, I wandered all over the place, but now I’m in step with your Word... train me in your goodness’ (Psalm 119:66–68, MSG). When you are going through hard times don’t allow that to make you doubt God’s goodness. Instead, see it as God’s training school.

Unfair criticism is hard to receive. The psalmist writes, ‘The godless spread lies about me, but I focus my attention on what you are saying’ (v.69, MSG). Attacks may come from those whose ‘hearts are callous and unfeeling’. Yet, in the midst of this, you, too, can find ‘delight’ in God’s words (v.70).

The psalmist is able to see that God has actually used his troubles, affliction and suffering: ‘My troubles turned out all for the best – they forced me to learn from your textbook. Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine’ (vv.71–72, MSG).

Prayer

1 Timothy 5:1–20, 6:1–2

Commentary

Take care of those going through hard times

The Bible is a very practical book. Paul gives Timothy sensible and practical instructions on how to look after those in the congregation who are going through hard times.

1. Take care of the old and young

   Paul says that we are to treat those who are older than us with the respect we would show to our parents, and to treat those younger than us as our brothers and sisters (vv.1–2). Someone once observed that many men should have this verse as a screensaver on their computers: ‘Treat younger women as sisters, with absolute purity’ (v.2).

2. Take care of the needy

   For example, the church is to provide for widows who don’t have any family to support them: ‘Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need’ (v.3). Those who do have family should be supported by them if at all possible (v.4).

3. Take care of your extended family

   Paul makes a point that still has great relevance today. Not only do we have a duty to provide for our own spouse and children, but we must also provide for our ‘extended family’, our parents and grandparents: (vv.7–8).

4. Take care of leaders

   Church is also to provide for the leaders ‘who direct the affairs of the church’ (v.17). ‘Those who work deserve their pay!’ (v.18, NLT). Their position of responsibility means that we should not easily entertain a complaint against them: ‘Don’t listen to a complaint against a leader that isn’t backed up by two or three responsible witnesses’ (v.19, MSG). But, at the same time, the consequences of sin are greater for those in a position of leadership (v.20). Paul warns ‘keep a close check on yourself’ (v.21, MSG).

5. Take care of yourself

   Timothy himself clearly had stomach problems and ‘frequent illnesses’ (v.23). Paul does not reproach him for his sickness. Rather, he gives him some practical advice (which may sound strange to our modern ears): ‘Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses’ (v.23).

6. Take care in the workplace

   This letter was written at a time when Christians were in no position to lead the fight against slavery. They were a tiny minority in an empire where a high proportion of the population were slaves. Paul is not endorsing slavery. Rather, he is giving practical advice on how to live when we find ourselves in circumstances that are far from ideal. Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, however hard life is, your concern should be for ‘God’s name’ (6:1).

Prayer

Jeremiah 43:1–2, 44:1–5

Commentary

Stay faithful to God in hard times

Mother Teresa said, ‘I am not called to be successful but to be faithful.’

At this point in his ministry, Jeremiah was probably in his mid-sixties. He had been a prophet for forty-seven years. During this time, he had seen Jerusalem reduced to ruins. He had faithfully spoken the word of God, but his message had been consistently ignored and rejected by those to whom he was sent. He had also suffered a great deal due to their opposition and disobedience. All this must have been very disappointing and discouraging for Jeremiah.

Even after all that happened, and though his earlier prophecies had been fulfilled, the people still refused to listen to him. Jeremiah was faithfully telling them ‘everything the LORD had sent him to tell them’ (43:1). He was telling the truth. But he had to put up with what must have been the very hurtful slander of arrogant people saying to him, ‘you are lying’ (v.2).

In spite of Jeremiah’s warning, they ‘disobeyed the LORD’s command’ (v.4). They ‘entered Egypt in disobedience to the LORD’ (v.7). Although the Lord warned them ‘again and again’ (44:4), ‘they did not listen or pay attention’ (v.5). They said to Jeremiah, ‘We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD!’ (v.16). Jeremiah’s message was flatly contradicted by those who heard it.

Jeremiah’s ministry must have appeared to be a failure; once again full of discouragement and disappointment. Even so, he remained true to the task that God had given him and faithfully delivered God’s words to the people.

In chapter 45, we encounter another person’s discouragement and disappointment – Jeremiah’s associate Baruch. Baruch, despite being of high birth, had to play second fiddle to Jeremiah. His role was to record Jeremiah’s prophecies. He despaired of the fruitlessness of his efforts. He said ‘Woe to me! The LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest’ (45:3).

But the Lord says, ‘Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not’ (v.5).

It is always a temptation to be self-centred and to seek great things for ourselves – whether through money, success, position, fame, reputation or respectability – but we must never seek any of these things for ourselves. At the end of the day, it does not matter if our life appears to have been a failure and ends in disappointment. What matters is faithfulness to the Lord. God will reward each person according to their faithfulness, not according to their apparent success (see Matthew 25:14–30).

When you are faithful to God, you allow him to work and to achieve his plans through your life. Jeremiah and Baruch must have felt like failures, and yet few people in history have had a greater impact than they. The prophecies they recorded are a key part of God’s revelation to the world, and contain some of the most important prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament – and how many authors can claim a readership of billions over 2,500 years after their death?

Prayer