Affliction
Syn: Chastening; Grief; Pain; Sorrow; Tribulation; Trouble.
Act. 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
General Notes
God is in total control of everything. Nothing passes that God does not send or permit. So affliction is part of God’s plans for men. We never enjoy being afflicted, but it is always in God’s plans for us when it happens. We should (1) learn from our afflictions. (2) be submissive to what God sends into our lives no matter what it is. (3) afflictions and suffering in this life will be the source of blessing and prizes in eternity, so we should actually “love” and “cherish” as a positive good thing instead of avoiding affliction at every turn. (4) afflictions may sometimes be God’s chastening of us because we are not learning or seeking to learn spiritually. – DCox
Types of Affliction
ISBE gives these: (1) Individual like sickness, oppression, etc. (2) National. (3) Religious Persecution.
God’s part
• God appoints 2Ki. 6:33; Job 5:6,17; Psa. 66:11; Amo. 3:6; Mic. 6:9; Isa. 45:7.
• God dispenses, as He will Job 11:10; Isa. 10:15; 45:7.
• God regulates the measure of Psa. 80:5; Isa. 9:1; Jer. 46:28.
• Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
• Joh. 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
• God determines the continuance of Gen. 15:13-14; Num. 14:33; Isa. 10:25; Jer. 29:10.
• God does not willingly send Lam. 3:33.
• God is with afflicted saints Psa. 46:5,7; Isa. 43:2.
• God is our refuge and strength Psa. 28:5-6; Isa. 25:4; Jer. 16:19; Nah. 1:7.
• God comforts Isa. 49:13; Jer. 31:13; Mat. 5:4; 2Co. 1:4-5; 2Co. 7:6.
• God preserves Psa. 34:20.
• God delivers Psa. 34:4,19; Pro. 12:13; Jer. 39:17-18.
• Christ is with. Joh. 14:18.
• Christ supports. 2Ti. 4:17; Heb. 2:18.
• Christ comforts (see God comforts above) Isa. 61:2; Mat. 11:28-30; Luk. 7:13; Joh. 14:1; 16:33.
• Christ preserves (see God preserves above) Isa. 63:9; Luk. 21:18
• Christ delivers Rev. 3:10.
• Tempered with mercy Psa. 78:38-39; 106:43-46; Isa. 30:18-21; Lam. 3:32; Mic. 7:7-9; Nah. 1:12.
Comments
God is attributed as the primary cause of all affliction, but this must be couched within the authority or rights of the divine Creator to do what he will with his own. This “primary cause” is both active (God afflicts) and passive (God allows Satan to afflict as in Job). This latter is considered like an “aboandonment” of us by God (Isa. 49:14), and this would indicate that God CONSTANTLY protects us, and when he gets displeased with us (Eze. 8:12; 9:9), he just lets this protection lapse, and bad things happen (passive cause). Within this dual aspect of why affliction befalls us, we have the detailed report of Saul, in which the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit?) left Saul (1Sa. 16:14), and this opened the door for an evil spirit to afflict him (1Sa. 18:10; 19:9). Compare with the lying spirit with Ahab (1Ki. 22:20-21). Paul recognized that his affliction was from an evil agent sent by Satan (2Co. 12:7), but at the same time, that this evil agent was working God’s discipline upon him (1Co. 12:7-9). While yet the evil spirits work against man, they work doing God’s bidding at the same time.
Man’s part
• Man is born to Job 5:6-7; 14:1.
• Saints appointed to 1Th. 3:3; Rev. 7:14; Lam. 3:1; Dan. 12:10.
• Consequent upon the fall Gen. 3:16-19.
• Sin produces Job 4:8; 20:11; Pro. 1:31.
• Sin visited with 2Sa. 12:14; Psa. 89:30-32; Isa. 57:17; Act. 13:10-11.
• Often severe Job 16:7-16; Psa. 42:7; 66:12; Jon. 2:3; Rev. 7:14.
• Always less than we deserve Ezr. 9:13; Psa. 103:10.
• Frequently terminate in good Gen. 50:20; Exo. 1:11-12; Deu. 8:15-16; Jer. 24:5-6; Eze. 20:37.
• Saints are to expect Joh. 16:33; Act. 14:22.
• Of saints, are comparatively light Act. 20:23-24; Rom. 8:18; 2Co. 4:17.
• Of saints, are but temporary Psa. 30:5; 103:9; Isa. 54:7-8; Joh. 16:20; 1Pe. 1:6; 5:10.
• Saints have joy under Job 5:17; Jam. 5:11.
• Of saints, end in joy and blessedness Psa. 126:5; 126:6; Isa. 61:2-3; Mat. 5:4; 1Pe. 4:13-14.
• Often arise from the profession of the gospel Mat. 24:9; Joh. 15:21; 2Ti. 3:11-12.
• Exhibit the love and faithfulness of God Deu. 8:5; Psa. 119:75; Pro. 3:12; 1Co. 11:32; Heb. 12:6-7; Rev. 3:19.
Man’s Response to Chastisement
• Should praise God Psa. 13:5-6; 56:8-10; 57:6-7; 71:20-23.
• Should imitate Christ Heb. 12:1-3; 1Pe. 2:21-23.
• Should imitate the prophets Jam. 5:10.
• Should be patient. Luk. 21:19; Rom. 12:12; 2Th. 1:4; Jam. 1:4; 1Pe. 2:20.
• Should be resigned 1Sa. 3:18; 2Ki. 20:19; Job 1:21; Psa. 39:9.
• Should not despise chastening Job 5:17; Pro. 3:11; Heb. 12:5.
• Should acknowledge the justice of their chastisements Neh. 9:33; Job 2:10; Isa. 64:5-7; Lam. 3:39; Mic. 7:9.
• Should avoid sin. Job 34:31-32; Joh. 5:14.
• Should trust in the goodness of God. Job 13:15; Psa. 71:20; 2Co. 1:9.
• Should turn and devote themselves to God. Psa. 116:7-9; Jer. 50:3-4; Hos. 6:1.
• Should keep pious resolutions made during affliction. Psa. 66:13-15.
• Should be frequent in prayer. Psa. 50:15; 55:16-17.
• Should take encouragement from former mercies. Psa. 27:9; 2Co. 1:10.
God’s Purpose in giving us affliction.
• To do us good Deu. 8:2-3,16.
• Likewise God corrects our walk by tribulation 1Co. 11:32.
• Teaching us spiritual truth Psa. 119:71.
• Keeping us in God’s Word Psa. 119:67.
• To force man to seek God Hos. 5:15; 2:14-15.
• To prove us, and do us good. Deu. 8:2-3,16.
• To refine us as silver Zec. 13:9. (more intensity works better)
• So we will not be condemned with the world. 1Co. 11:32.
• To produce patience in us Jam. 1:3; Rom. 5:3.
• To produce righteousness in us Heb. 12:11.
• To bear more spiritual fruit Joh. 15:2.
• To produce holiness in us Heb. 12:10; “perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle” 1Pe. 5:10.
• To give us the ministry of consolation of others 2Co. 1:4.
Comments
ISBE lists three purposes of affliction: (1) punitive or retributive, (2) Probational, (3) Disciplinary and purificatory. (4) Vicarious and Redemptive. Punitive – Although very true, this purpose is denied in the case of Job. Not all affliction is a punishment for sin done. Probational – Affliction tests us to see what our real character is like, which can only be seen under high stress and duress. Disciplinary (teaching) and Purificatory – Through tribulation, God teaches us much that cannot be learned in any other context. These afflictions then purify our motives and spirit to make us more approved before God. Vicarious and Redemptive – In Isaiah 53, the value of vicarious suffering is undertaken, and this is shown both in the light of consolation as well as our redemption. The only way to salvation is through suffering (Acts 14:22).
D.Miall Edwards (in ISBE, “affliction”) says “The thought that tribulation is of brief duration, in comparison with the Joy that shall follow (Psa. 30:5; Isa. 54:7; Joh. 16:22); a thought which culminates in the hope of immortality.” If we can grasp this concept, that through the present clouds of affliction, we can focus on the sun of eternity, we see that the affliction is momentary, and eternal bliss is forever.
Examples of afflicted saints.
• Joseph, Gen. 39:20-23; Psa. 105:17-19.
• Moses, Heb. 11:25.
• Eli 1Sa. 3:18.
• Nehemiah, Neh. 1:4.
• Job, Job 1:20-22.
• David 2Sa. 12:15-23.
• Paul, Act. 20:22-24; 21:13.
• Apostles 1Co. 4:13; 2Co. 6:4-10.
General Comments
Affliction does not come randomly, nor only because of Satan’s desire. Affliction is an instrument in the hand of God to accomplish God’s purposes. God uses affliction because He has to, not because it delights Him Lam. 3:33. It is a necessary consequence of the fall (Gen. 3:16-19; Job 5:6-7; 14:1), so saints should expect it Joh. 16:33; Act. 14:22. God uses affliction to show off the godly character of the saints, thus using it to provide a benefit to God’s work as well as individual glory to the saints.
There would be seen a problem as to how a just, holy, loving God would afflict his own children. While this on its surface would supposedly mar the image of God, it can be understood that sin rages within man, and affliction, taken by us as good or bad, is a means by which God can cause us to confront our spiritual illness and deal with it. Affliction and cruelty causes us to seek God’s help, and this, after getting our attention, God can deal with us.
Sources: TTT, Butler, ADK; ISBE.
Afflicted, Duty Toward the a.
David Cox’s Topical Bible Concordance
• To pray for them Act. 12:5; Phi. 1:16, 19; Jam. 5:14-16.
• To sympathise with them Rom. 12:15; Gal. 6:2.
• To pity them Job 6:14.
• To bear them in mind Heb. 13:3.
• To visit them Jam. 1:27.
• To comfort them Job 16:5; 29:25; 2Co. 1:4; 1Th. 4:18.
• To relieve them Job 31:19-20; Isa. 58:10; Phi. 4:14; 1Ti. 5:10.
• To protect them Psa. 82:3; Pro. 22:22; 31:5.
Afflictions
David Cox’s Topical Bible Concordance
___________________________
Afflictions in General
• God appoints 2Ki. 6:33; Job 5:6, 17; Psa. 66:11; Amo. 3:6; Mic. 6:9.
• God dispenses, as He will Job 11:10; Isa. 10:15; 45:7.
• God regulates the measure of Psa. 80:5; Isa. 9:1; Jer. 46:28.
• God determines the continuance of Gen. 15:13-14; Num. 14:33; Isa. 10:25; Jer. 29:10.
• God does not willingly send Lam. 3:33.
• Man is born to Job 5:6-7; 14:1.
• Saints appointed to 1Th. 3:3.
• Consequent upon the fall Gen. 3:16-19.
• Sin produces Job 4:8; 20:11; Pro. 1:31.
• Sin visited with 2Sa. 12:14; Psa. 89:30-32; Isa. 57:17; Act. 13:10-11.
• Often severe Job 16:7-16; Psa. 42:7; 66:12; Jon. 2:3; Rev. 7:14.
• Always less than we deserve Ezr. 9:13; Psa. 103:10.
• Frequently terminate in good Gen. 50:20; Exo. 1:11-12; Deu. 8:15-16; Jer. 24:5-6; Eze. 20:37.
• Tempered with mercy Psa. 78:38-39; 106:43-46; Isa. 30:18-21; Lam. 3:32; Mic. 7:7-9; Nah. 1:12.
• Saints are to expect Joh. 16:33; Act. 14:22.
• Of saints, are comparatively light Act. 20:23-24; Rom. 8:18; 2Co. 4:17.
• Of saints, are but temporary Psa. 30:5; 103:9; Isa. 54:7-8; Joh. 16:20; 1Pe. 1:6; 5:10.
• Saints have joy under Job 5:17; Jam. 5:11.
• Of saints, end in joy and blessedness Psa. 126:5; 126:6; Isa. 61:2-3; Mat. 5:4; 1Pe. 4:13-14.
• Often arise from the profession of the gospel Mat. 24:9; Joh. 15:21; 2Ti. 3:11-12.
• Exhibit the love and faithfulness of God Deu. 8:5; Psa. 119:75; Pro. 3:12; 1Co. 11:32; Heb. 12:6-7; Rev. 3:19.
Afflictions Made Beneficial.
• In promoting the glory of God Joh. 9:1-3; 11:3-4; 21:18-19.
• In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God Psa. 34:19-20; 2Co. 4:8-11.
• In teaching us the will of God Psa. 119:71; Isa. 26:9; Mic. 6:9.
• In turning us to God Deu. 4:30-31; Neh. 1:8-9; Psa. 78:34; Isa. 10:20-21; Hos. 2:6-7.
• In keeping us from again departing from God Job 34:31-32; Isa. 10:20; Eze. 14:10-11.
• In leading us to seek God in prayer Judg. 4:3; Jer. 31:18; Lam. 2:17-19; Hos. 5:14-15; Jon. 2:1.
• In convincing us of sin Job 36:8-9; Psa. 119:67; Luk. 15:16-18.
• In leading us to confession of sin Num. 21:7; Psa. 32:5; 51:3, 5.
• In testing and exhibiting our sincerity Job 23:10; Psa. 66:10; Pro. 17:3.
• In trying our faith and obedience Gen. 22:1-2; Heb. 11:17; Exo. 15:23-25; Deu. 8:2, 16; 1Pe. 1:7; Rev.
2:10.
• In humbling us Deu. 8:3, 16; 2Ch. 7:13-14; Lam. 3:19-20; 2Co. 12:7.
• In purifying us Ecc. 7:2-3; Isa. 1:25-26; 48:10; Jer. 9:6-7; Zec. 13:9; Mal. 3:2-3.
• In exercising our patience Psa. 40:1; Rom. 5:3; Jam. 1:3; 1Pe. 2:20.
• In rendering us fruitful in good works Joh. 15:2; Heb. 12:10-11.
• In furthering the gospel Act. 8:3-4; 11:19-21; Phi. 1:12; 2Ti. 2:9-10; 2Ti. 4:16-17.
• Exemplified
– Joseph’s brethren Gen. 42:21.
– Joseph Gen. 45:5, 7, 8.
– Israel Deu. 8:3, 5.
– Josiah 2Ki. 22:19.
– Hezekiah 2Ch. 32:25-26.
– Manasseh 2Ch. 33:12.
– Jonah Jon. 2:7.
– Prodigal’s son Luk. 15:21.
Afflictions of the Wicked, The.
• God is glorified in Exo. 14:4; Eze. 38:22-23.
• God holds in derision Psa. 37:13; Pro. 1:26-27.
• Are multiplied Deu. 31:17; Job 20:12-18; Psa. 32:10.
• Are continual Job 15:20; Ecc. 2:23; Isa. 32:10.
• Are often sudden Psa. 73:10; Pro. 6:15; Isa. 30:13; Rev. 18:10.
• Are often judicially sent Job 21:17; Psa. 107:17; Jer. 30:15.
• Are for examples to others Psa. 64:7-9; Zep. 3:6-7; 1Co. 10:5-11; 2Pe. 2:6.
• Are ineffectual of themselves, for their conversion Exo. 9:30; Isa. 9:13; Jer. 2:30; Hag. 2:17.
• Their persecution of saints, a cause of Deu. 30:7; Psa. 55:19; Zec. 2:9; 2Th. 1:6.
• Impenitence is a cause of Pro. 1:30-31; Eze. 24:13; Amo. 4:6-12; Zec. 7:11-12; Rev. 2:21-22.
• Sometimes humble them 1Ki. 21:27.
• Frequently harden Neh. 9:28-29; Jer. 5:3.
• Produce slavish fear Job 15:24; Psa. 73:19; Jer. 49:3, 5.
• Saints should not be alarmed at Pro. 3:25-26.
• Exemplified
– Pharaoh and the Egyptians Exo. 9:14-15; 14:24-25.
– Ahaziah 2Ki. 1:1-4.
– Gehazi 2Ki. 5:27.
– Jehoram 2Ch. 21:12-19.
– Uzziah 2Ch. 26:19-21.
– Ahaz, & c 2Ch. 28:5-8, 22.
Affliction, Consolation Under.
• God is the author and Giver of Psa. 23:4; Rom. 15:5; 2Co. 1:3; 7:6; Col. 1:11; 2Th. 2:16-17.
• Christ is the Author and Giver of Isa. 61:2; Joh. 14:18; 2Co. 1:5.
• The Holy Spirit is the Author and Giver of Joh. 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7; Act. 9:31.
• Promised Isa. 51:3, 12; 66:13; Eze. 14:22-23; Hos. 2:14; Zec. 1:17.
• Through the Holy Scriptures Psa. 119:50; 119:76; Rom. 15:4.
• By ministers of the gospel Isa. 40:1-2; 1Co. 14:3; 2Co. 1:4, 6.
• Is abundant Psa. 71:21; Isa. 66:11.
• Is strong Heb. 6:18.
• Is everlasting 2Th. 2:16.
• Is a cause of praise Isa. 12:1; 49:13.
• Pray for Psa. 119:82.
• Saints should administer to each other 1Th. 4:18; 5:11; 1Th. 5:14.
• Is sought in vain from the world Psa. 69:20; Ecc. 4:1; Lam. 1:2.
• To those who mourn for sin Psa. 51:17; Isa. 1:18; 40:1-2; 61:1; Mic. 7:18-19; Luk. 4:18.
• To the troubled in mind Psa. 42:5; 94:19; Joh. 14:1, 27; 16:20, 22.
• To those deserted by friends Psa. 27:10; 41:9-12; Joh. 14:18; 15:18-19.
• To the persecuted Deu. 33:27.
• To the poor Psa. 10:14; 34:6, 9, 10.
• To the sick Psa. 41:3.
• To the tempted Rom. 16:20; 1Co. 10:13; 2Co. 12:9; Jam. 1:12; 4:7; 2Pe. 2:9; Rev. 2:10.
• In prospect of death Job 19:25-26; Psa. 23:4; Joh. 14:2; 2Co. 5:1; 1Th. 4:14; Heb. 4:9; Rev. 7:14-17; 14:13.
• Under the infirmities of age Psa. 71:9, 18.
Affliction, Prayer Under.
• Exhortation to Jam. 5:13.
• That God would consider our trouble 2Ki. 19:16; Neh. 9:32; Psa. 9:13; Lam. 5:1.
• For the presence and support of God Psa. 10:1; 102:2.
• That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn Psa. 51:11.
• For divine comfort Psa. 4:6; 119:76.
• For mitigation of troubles Psa. 39:12-13.
• For deliverance Psa. 25:17, 22; 39:10; Isa. 64:9-12; Jer. 17:14.
• For pardon and deliverance from sin Psa. 39:8; 51:1; 79:8.
• That we may be turned to God Psa. 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer. 31:18.
• For divine teaching and direction Job 34:32; Psa. 27:11; 143:10.
• For increase of faith Mar. 9:24.
• For mercy Psa. 6:2; Hab. 3:2.
• For restoration to joy Psa. 51:8, 12; 69:29; 90:14-15.
• For protection and preservation from enemies 2Ki. 19:19; 2Ch. 20:12; Psa. 17:8, 9.
• That we may know the causes of our trouble Job 6:24; 10:2; 13:23-24.
• That we may be taught the uncertainty of life Psa. 39:4.
• That we may be quickened Psa. 143:11.