Afflictions Made Beneficial.

From: The New Topical Textbook By: Reuben Archer Torrey

• 1 min. read • grade level: 14

In promoting the glory of God. John. 9:1-3. John. 11:3, 4. John. 21:18,

In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God. Psa. 34:19, 20¹⁹Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. ²⁰He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. (Psalm 34:19‑20). 2 Cor. 4:8-11⁸We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. ¹¹For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:8‑11).

In teaching us the will of God. Psa. 119:71⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. (Psalm 119:71). Isa. 26:9⁹With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9). Mic. 6:9⁹The Lord's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. (Micah 6:9).

In turning us to God. Deu. 4:30, 31. Neh. 1:8, 9⁸Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: ⁹But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. (Nehemiah 1:8‑9). Psa. 78:34³⁴When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God. (Psalm 78:34). Isa. 10:20, 21²⁰And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. ²¹The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. (Isaiah 10:20‑21). Hos. 2:6, 7⁶Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. ⁷And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now. (Hosea 2:6‑7).

In keeping us from again departing from God. Job 34:31, 32³¹Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: ³²That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. (Job 34:31‑32). Isa. 10:20²⁰And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. (Isaiah 10:20). Eze. 14:10, 11¹⁰And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him; ¹¹That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 14:10‑11).

In leading us to seek God in prayer. Jud. 4:3. Jer. 31:18¹⁸I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. (Jeremiah 31:18). Lam. 2:17, 19¹⁷The Lord hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries. (Lamentations 2:17)
¹⁹Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street. (Lamentations 2:19). Hos. 5:14, 15¹⁴For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. ¹⁵I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. (Hosea 5:14‑15). Jon. 2:1¹Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish's belly, (Jonah 2:1).

In convincing us of sin. Job 36:8, 9⁸And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; ⁹Then he showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. (Job 36:8‑9). Psa. 119:67⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. (Psalm 119:67). Luke 15:16-18¹⁶And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. ¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, (Luke 15:16‑18).

In leading us to confession of sin. Num. 21:7⁷Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. (Numbers 21:7). Psa. 32:5⁵I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. (Psalm 32:5). Psa. 51:3, 5³For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. (Psalm 51:3)
⁵Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5).

In testing and exhibiting our sincerity. Job 23:10¹⁰But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10). Psa. 66:10¹⁰For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. (Psalm 66:10). Pro. 17:3³The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts. (Proverbs 17:3).

In trying our faith and obedience. Gen. 22.1. 2, with Heb. 11:17. Exo. 15:23-25²³And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. ²⁴And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? ²⁵And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, (Exodus 15:23‑25). Deu. 8.2, 16. 1 Pet. 1:7⁷That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:7). Rev. 2:10¹⁰Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Revelation 2:10).

In humbling us. Deu. 8:3, 16. 2 Chr. 7:13, 14¹³If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; ¹⁴If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13‑14). Lam. 3:19, 20¹⁹Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. ²⁰My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. (Lamentations 3:19‑20). 2 Cor. 12:7⁷And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (2 Corinthians 12:7).

In purifying us. Ecc. 7:2, 3. Isa. 1: 25, 26. Isa. 48:10¹⁰Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. (Isaiah 48:10). Jer. 9:6, 7⁶Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord. ⁷Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? (Jeremiah 9:6‑7). Zec. 13:9⁹And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9). Mal. 3:2, 3²But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: ³And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:2‑3).

In exercising our patience. Psa. 40: 1. Rom. 5:3³And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (Romans 5:3). Jas. 1:3³Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (James 1:3). 1 Pet. 2:20²⁰For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. (1 Peter 2:20).

In rendering us fruitful in good works. John 15:2²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (John 15:2) Heb. 12:10, 11¹⁰For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. ¹¹Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:10‑11).

In furthering the gospel. Acts 8:3, 4³As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. ⁴Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. (Acts 8:3‑4). Acts 11: 19-21. Phi. 1:12. 2 Tim. 2:9, 10⁹Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. ¹⁰Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Timothy 2:9‑10). 2 Tim. 4:16, 17¹⁶At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. ¹⁷Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (2 Timothy 4:16‑17).

Exemplified, Joseph's brethren, Gen. 42:21²¹And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. (Genesis 42:21). Joseph, Gen. 45:5, 7, 8⁵Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. (Genesis 45:5)
⁷And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ⁸So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 45:7‑8). Israel, Deu. 8:3, 5. Josiah, 2 Kin. 22:19. Hezekiah, 2 Chr. 32:25, 26²⁵But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. ²⁶Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. (2 Chronicles 32:25‑26). Manasseh, 2 Chr. 33:12¹²And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, (2 Chronicles 33:12). Jonah, John 2:7⁷Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. (John 2:7). Prodigal son, Luke 15:21²¹And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. (Luke 15:21).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Access to God.

• Adoption.

• Affections, the.

• Afflicted, Duty Toward the.

• Afflicted Saints.

• Affliction, Consolation Under.

• Affliction, Prayer Under.

• Afflictions.

• Afflictions Made Beneficial.

• Afflictions of the Wicked, the.

• Agriculture or Husbandry.

• Alliance and Society With the Enemies of God.

• Altar of Burnt-Offering, the.

• Amusements and Pleasures, Worldly.

• Anointing of the Holy Ghost.