Of Afflictions and Deliverance

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but out of them all the Lord delivers him.” Psalm 34:19

It is obvious that the righteous go through troubles. They are no more immune from tribulation that anyone else. Indeed, the righteous may actually endure greater affliction than others. Besides the normal vicissitudes of life, there are inner and outer troubles unique to the righteous.

All over the world, people who stand up for good against those bent on evil find themselves at the will of powers stronger than themselves. Imprisoned, outcast, or barred from earning a living, the stand for righteousness has places them in trouble’s path.

The inner struggle of the righteous is no less a source of difficulty. The current of the world around us usually takes us away from the stands of truth and honesty that righteousness desires to make. The inner resolve to stay true to a core of belief against a tide that sweeps us away from those moorings can be an unremitting exercise of will and determination. It is not easy to stand when others would rather drift.

Added to this, those who truly want to follow righteousness do not do it for show. So, though the resolve may cause an inner revolution, that same resolve keeps them from portraying themselves as struggling saints just trying to be obedient. To seek recognition for attempted righteousness negates the entire purpose for our inner resolves.

So, the first phrase of this verse is easy to see, simple to observe in ourselves and in the world around us. There is simply no doubt that the righteous do endure many afflictions.

But, as the verse says, do we see them being deliver out of all those afflictions? A surface observation would make us wonder. Yes, we might say, we have seen “some” delivered. We may have watched a family endure financial hardship, on the brink of bankruptcy, only to have a job come along at just the right time. Probably most people following Christ can relate at least one similar time in their life.

But, to be honest, we also have seen those for whom deliverance never seemed to come. We ache for them. We pray. We look for healing, for restoration, for God to take them out of the nightmarish agony of their present tribulation. And, to be absolutely honest, we have wondered how God could let them continue in their affliction.

Whether it is a loved one never healed, a friend whose business is destroyed through no fault of his own, or someone enduring the loss of a child to cancer; we wonder how God has delivered the righteous in those moments.

I do appreciate the truth that keeps me trusting in those times when affliction seems more normal than the air we breathe. I appreciate the hope that makes me look forward when prayer after prayer seems to go unanswered. I live on the truth that God provides the perseverance for those whom He doesn’t directly deliver.

One must tread carefully here. This talk of strength and perseverance in trial can sound like a cop out, and not deal directly with this verse. It says, after all, that God delivers him “out of them all”! And we think we know what deliverance looks like. It doesn’t look like a marathoner made to run their 26 miles over and over without stopping.

Paul’s outlook helps us here: whatever happens to him will turn out for his deliverance -- whether it is through his death to be with God or whether it is through his release from prison to continue ministry. (Philippians 1:19-23) Our deliverance is sure. Nothing can take us out of our Father’s hands. We remain conquerors in Christ. As long as the affliction remains, we remain certain Satan cannot defeat those made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ.

So, whether we are immediately delivered and life’s hardships eased for a moment, or we see no change in the constant barrage of difficulties, we have hope. Jesus said we would have tribulations, be we should be of good cheer. He has overcome the world.