“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” Psalm 23:4a
Photo by Dorin Vancea on Unsplash
Psalm 23:4 has direct encouragement for all who pay attention to it during these days of the Coronavirus and quarantine. As an additional thought on walking through difficulties, James 1:2-4 perfectly sets out a proper attitude for followers of Christ. “2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Please consider thoughtfully what Matthew Henry commented concerning these verses 350 years ago. (The following 4 paragraphs are quoted from M. Henry.)
The graces and duties of a state of trial and affliction are here pointed out to us. Could we attend to these things, and grow in them as we should do, how good would it be for us to be afflicted!
One Christian grace to be exercised is joy: Count it all joy, v. 2. We must not sink into a sad and disconsolate frame of mind, which would make us faint under our trials; but must endeavour to keep our spirits dilated and enlarged, the better to take in a true sense of our case, and with greater advantage to set ourselves to make the best of it. Philosophy may instruct men to be calm under their troubles; but Christianity teaches them to be joyful, because such exercises proceed from love and not fury in God. In them we are conformable to Christ our head, and they become marks of our adoption. By suffering in the ways of righteousness, we are serving the interests of our Lord’s kingdom among men, and edifying the body of Christ; and our trials will brighten our graces now and our crown at last. Therefore there is reason to count it all joy when trials and difficulties become our lot in the way of our duty. And this is not purely a New-Testament paradox, but even in Job’s time it was said, Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth. There is the more reason for joy in afflictions if we consider the other graces that are promoted by them.
Faith is a grace that one expression supposes and another expressly requires: Knowing this, that the trial of your faith, v. 3; and then in v. 6, Let him ask in faith. There must be a sound believing of the great truths of Christianity, and a resolute cleaving to them, in times of trial. That faith which is spoken of here as tried by afflictions consists in a belief of the power, and word, and promise of God, and in fidelity and constancy to the Lord Jesus.
There must be patience: The trial of faith worketh patience. The trying of one grace produces another; and the more the suffering graces of a Christian are exercised the stronger they grow. Tribulation worketh patience, Rom. 5:3 . Now, to exercise Christian patience aright, we must, (1.) Let it work. It is not a stupid, but an active thing. Stoical apathy and Christian patience are very different: by the one men become, in some measure, insensible of their afflictions; but by the other they become triumphant in and over them. Let us take care, in times of trial, that patience and not passion, be set at work in us; whatever is said or done, let patience have the saying and doing of it: let us not allow the indulging of our passions to hinder the operation and noble effects of patience; let us give it leave to work, and it will work wonders in a time of trouble. (2.) We must let it have its perfect work. Do nothing to limit it nor to weaken it; but let it have its full scope: if one affliction come upon the heels of another, and a train of them are drawn upon us, yet let patience go on till its work is perfected. When we bear all that God appoints, and as long as he appoints, and with a humble obedient eye to him, and when we not only bear troubles, but rejoice in them, then patience hath its perfect work. (3.) When the work of patience is complete, then the Christian is entire, and nothing will be wanting: it will furnish us with all that is necessary for our Christian race and warfare, and will enable us to persevere to the end, and then its work will be ended, and crowned with glory. After we have abounded in other graces, we have need of patience, Heb. 10:36 . But let patience have its perfect work, and we shall be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
Are our lives growing in beauty during this current time of trial? Is our relationship with the Lord and those near to us becoming stronger and sweeter?
This coming Thursday morning let’s Zoom together at 9:30 to encourage one another in flourishing during this quarantine. Be prepared to discuss pages 112-121 of our study books and to share types of valleys of the “shadow of death.” The new video for page 136 can be found as follows.
Login to https://my.lifeway.com/redeem with an email address and password
On the left-hand side click on Redeem Code
Insert the code and click Redeem. From there, click on My Account then Digital Media on the left-hand side.
You will see the sessions under the Rentals Header
You can play these videos as many times as you need.
The redemption code is-- IJE8QP24C1 (This is a new redemption code)
Please let me know if you are having trouble with Zoom. I’ll try to help.