My understanding and view of God will always determine how I interpret and respond to what happens to me. First, I need to realize and affirm that I am a God-made man and not self-made (73a). I may not be able to change certain personality traits, since that is how God “made and fashioned me,” but I certainly can choose how I let that disposition manifest itself. I need to remember that people encounter or observe me every day, so I want them to be able to rejoice and know that, no matter what happens in my life, I am a person who hopes in God’s word (74). That is why I must pray daily “give me understanding that I may learn your commandments” (73b). Second, I need to “know” that all God’s rules or boundaries he has put in place and deemed my responsibility to obey are “righteous” and that, if I deviate from obeying him, any chastening done to me will be in God’s faithfulness to his word (75). This is part of the “good” that comes out of affliction (67, 71). Lamentations 3:31-33 makes it clear that God does not get his jollies out of afflicting or chastening his children: “For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieved the children of men.”
So, what will comfort me during times of discipline? God’s steadfast love (76) and mercy (77). That’s why it’s so important for me to learn God’s commandments (73b), hope in his word (74b), delight in his law (77b) and meditate on his precepts (78b). (Notice again the close proximity between delighting in and meditating on God’s word. There is a definite link between the two. The more I meditate on God’s words, the more I will delight in them; and the more I find them delightful, the more I will return to them for reflection.) When affliction happens to me, I want others to know that I hope in God’s word and that God’s word is my delight. I want to share with others what I have learned from God (79) so they, too, can hope in God’s word and find comfort during their times of affliction. Most important of all, I need to allow God’s word to regulate my heart so I have nothing to be ashamed of at Christ’s coming (80; 1 John 2:28).
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