Psalm 34:19 is strangely comforting verse. It begins, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” Isn’t that the truth! “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” Before throwing a pity party, does this verse even apply to us? Are you righteous? Am I? Psalm 143:2 says, “Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.” We’re disqualified, this verse isn’t for us, unless….. Unless God gives you righteousness, which makes it His gift not your merit. Jeremiah 23:6 – “The Lord our righteousness.” St. Paul says that God made Jesus, “who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Yes, the verse is for us.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” If you think about it, sincere Christians are troubled by more things than people who don’t care about God and things eternal. Striving to follow God’s word, we see and experience things that threaten our walk with Christ. Those temptations trouble us but are of no importance to people who are spiritually apathetic. These first words of Psalm 34:19 affirm the life you and I are trying to live. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous.” More about the verse tomorrow.
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