Part 2 – Lamenting Our Trials

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called BALM FOR THE TROUBLED SOUL.

Let me expand a little more on Psalm 88:1-9 — in the last verses, the author repeats the lamentation of verse

Psalm 88:8-9 (KJV) 8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. 9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. 

There was none to show compassion to him, none to pity him, none to counsel or comfort him, none to whom he might impart his mind fully for easing him… rather, his old friends who loved him before, failed him and forsook him, and God made it manifest that He was the one who thrust them away from him… so none were to accompany him… he was to sit in darkness completely alone.  Thus we learn that though a friend be made for the day of trouble (Prv 17:17), and though it would have been an ease to have had any friend’s company as a means of comfort, yet he found none — in this particular situation, God withheld them all for the trial of His servant.  It is important to note, such a heavy and comfortless condition may be the lot of any beloved child of God (though it is never a continual condition): “Thou hast removed lover and friend far from me; my acquaintances are in darkness” (v. 18). Under the saddest sense of wrath, a believer is still called to “trust in the Lord,” even though it seems as though God has slain him. As Peter said, “To whom else should we go?  You alone have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68; Job 1:21; 2:9-10).  The man of faith considers the fullness of reality, not just the negative aspects of it.

The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, said: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed… perplexed, but not despairing” (2 Cor 4:8).  Obviously, Paul was often perplexed,  but he never completely despaired, because he “knew” that God was causing all things to work together for good in his life (Rom 8:28)… and “that knowledge” gave him a peace and a joy that surpassed all understanding (Phil 4:6-9).  Paul knew that the living God was so ordering his life that regardless of the sufferings and trials that he was subjected to, “the lasting good of his soulwas being produced (Phil 4:11).  Paul knew our God is a personal God, exercising personal care over the personal lives of every one of His children.  The word “causes” (Rom 8:28) is in the present tense in Greek; thus, the emphasis is that God is “continually working good in our lives” (not spasmodically, or only in certain circumstances).  The truth of the matter is, God is always working good in our lives, whether we feel like He is or not — He is continually and perpetually working toward the end of our great good, and “not even our stumbling and bumbling puts a halt to that work.”  Our stumbling may make the process more painful and less joyful, but it does not stop God’s work in us!  As the good book says, “God will accomplish what concerns me!” (Ps 138:8; Is 55:11; 1 Th 5:24).

It is also important to note that God causes “all things” to work together for our good — there is nothing that is excluded.  Our God (the LORD of lords and the KING of kings) sits on His throne in Glory and causes everything in the universe (which He made) to conspire together for the eternal good of His children!  Obviously, we can’t really grasp the immensity of this concept, because “all” includes things that seem unfavorable and favorable to us, both good and bad, both pleasant and painful… and it also covers our sins and mistakes and failures.  Remember Joseph’s reply to his brothers: “As for you, you meant it for evil, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen 50:20).  Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “God is able to take the angriest, cruelest actions of sinners and turn them into an implement of His grace in the lives of His children.”  By the way, only a sovereign God can take every circumstance and every detail of our life, and every action of others toward us, and every pain and every pleasure, and weave it all together for the ultimate good of His children.  The very last things in the world that I might think God could use, He can use for good in my life.  Remember, He actually used the most heinous crime ever committed (the crucifixion of Christ) to procure our salvation — in other words, He used the worst thing imaginable to accomplish the greatest good imaginable!  So, don’t fret over some sin you may have committed, thinking that you derailed God’s eternal purpose for your life!  Such is the lie of hell!  As Spurgeon so succinctly stated it, “Omnipotence has servants everywhere!”  What a concept to try and grasp!  The devil has always tried to persuade us that God is not good… starting in the Garden of Eden in his conversation with Eve.  But God is good — just as Jesus said, “No one is good except God alone” (Mk 10:18).  And this is the God who is working for our good in all things — the only good One!  Take a moment and “thank God” for the good He is doing in your life “right now,” even if you  feel completely sinful and abandoned — prayerfully articulate the truths presented above, and   you will experience a “strange peace” in your soul, despite your perplexing condition (Phil 4:6-9).

God chastised Israel but never permanently abandoned them!  Never!  No matter how sinful or obstinate they became… in the end, because of God’s incredible grace, they will ultimately become a holy and upright people to the praise of His glory! There are some very significant lessons to learn from the situation in Ezek 34.  First, note that God did not shield His people from hardships.  Our earthly domain is an environment of suffering; that is what the introduction of sin has done, and we all are paying the price for that.  We suffer not only for our own sins (1 Pet 4:15), and for the sins of others (Ex 20:5; Rom 5:12), but we also suffer because God is testing our faith (the “dross” is being removed), and we are being made more like Christ (Is 48:10; Jam 1:2-3;   1 Pet 1:6-7; 4:1, 12-13, 17-18).  Only heaven has that atmosphere where trials and problems will not exist (Rev 21:1-5).  Second, God allows His people to suffer for their own good — suffering is the classroom of obedience; it is through suffering that we “learn” critically important spiritual lessons.  Trials are a refining process (Is 48:10; Jam 1:2-3; 1 Pet 1:6-7).  Christ Himself was even subjected to suffering that He might become qualified as our merciful high priest (Heb 2:10, 17-18; 4:15-16; 5:8-9).