Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Monday, March 2, Psalm 34:19

Resh: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

"For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"

Again, this brings me back to the Beatitudes:

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:10-12)

This is also gives insight to the proper rendering of 1 Corinthians 10:13: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

The key to that passage is "will with the temptation", and "be able to bear it". It doesn't mean that if you do something dumb God is going to bail you out of the consequences of your stupidity. It means that He is always with you in your trials, and even in the midst of your trials He will be there and deliver you.

This is similar to James 1:2-4: "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (ESV)

And the reward is: "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12 ESV)

We've already seen in recent contemplations that Jesus assured us that we would be afflicted in this life, and that He has overcome the world. He didn't use the "bait and switch" technique many use to "lure" one into a "salvation notch" on their belts. He spoke the truth always, and when people listened, they turned to Him with eyes wide open.

I just saw a quick video of Iranian Christians rejoicing in the recent happenings. They have the unbelievable hope that they may be finally set free from the boots of their oppressors. I also saw another of an Iranian castigating the Americans condemning our country from delivering them, saying that they did not see the prisons, the murders, the kidnappings, the tortures, the rapes and brutalities of that regime, and basically that, living in their little glass houses, they don't have the slightest idea what they are talking about.

We are mocked as well when we endure trial for the sake of Christ. The world wonders how an itinerant preacher 2000 years ago can save someone. They do not see with eternal eyes. We didn't either until by the mercy of God the Holy Spirit opened ours, and we do not see Christ in the flesh as it is written:

"From now on, therefore we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer." (2 Corinthians 5:16 ESV)

For: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come," and, "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:17, 5:21 ESV)

He made us righteous. And during our stay in this present darkness He is teaching us how to live righteously. Paul exemplified Psalm 34:19 in the next chapter. It would be profitable to continue this contemplation by reading 2 Corinthians 6. For though in this life we may be afflicted, we know that He will deliver us from darkness and bring us into His eternal Light.

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*KJV used*

Memory Helps

Resh:

"Many are the afflictions
of the righteous
but the LORD delivereth him
out of them all."

This is a very famous verse, so you probably already know it. But if not, you can try my "word picture" below.

I always use word pictures as you know, and the word picture I use for "righteous" is a "nest writing", (write-nest). So, I picture a poor nest with a pencil being kicked around and "afflicted" on a street by thugs. Suddenly the mighty hand of the Lord grabs him "out of them all", and puts him in an envelope to "deliver" him to heavenly safety.

Sounds silly, but if you recited the verse OUT LOUD while imagining a picture like that, you'll see that your mind grasps the visual to aid in the audible. Give it a try!

And for those linking the numbers, I will instead use the "write nest" as the ToP hat for Uncle Pennybags of "Monopoly" fame, because he always wears a "ToP" hat, which is T=1, P=9, vowels fillers. He, along with the "singing mare" on which he is sitting are getting kicked around with that nest on top of his head. Of course "Singing" represents Psalms, and the MaRe 39: M=3, 9=4, vowels fillers, so it can only mean 39. That way we link Psalm 34:19 to the verse.