C.H. Spurgeon

This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word bath quickened me. " - A 119.50.

It is almost needless for me to say that, in some respects, the same events happen unto all men alike; in the matter of afflictions it is certainly so. None of us can expect to escape trial. If you be ungodly, "many are the afflictions of the righteous." If you walk in the ways of holiness, you shall find stumbling blocks cast in your way by the enemy. If you walk in the ways of unrighteousness, you shall be taken in snares and held therein even to unto death.

There is no escaping trouble. We are born to it as the sparks fly upward. When we are born the second time, though we inherit innumerable mercies, we are certainly born to another set of troubles. We enter upon spiritual trials, spiritual conflicts, spiritual pains, and so forth; thus we get a double set of distresses, as well as twofold mercies.

He who wrote this 19th Psalm was a good man, but assuredly he was an afflicted man. Many times did David sorrow sorely. The man after God's own heart was one who felt God's own hand in chastisement.

David was a king; therefore, it would be folly on our part to suppose that men who are wealthier and greater and more screened from affliction. It is quite the reverse. The higher up the mountain, the more boisterous the winds. Depend upon it, that the middle state for which Agur prayed, "Give me either poverty nor riches," is, upon the whole, the best. Greatness, prominence, popularity, nobility, royalty bring no relief from trial but rather an increase of it. Nobody who consulted his own comfort would enter upon dignities attended with so much labor and sore travail.

Child of God, remember that neither goodness nor greatness can deliver you from affliction. You have to face it, whatever your position in life; therefore, face it with dauntless courage and extort victory from it.

Yet even if you do face it, you will not escape it. Even if you cry to God to help you, He will help you through the trouble, but He will probably not turn it aside from you. He will deliver you from evil, but He may yet lead you into trial. He hath promised that He will deliver you in six troubles and that in seven there shall no evil touch you, but he does not promise that either six or seven trials shall be kept from you.

One like unto the Son of God was with the three holy children in the fire, but He was not with them until they were in the fire --- at least not visibly; and He was not so with them as either to quench the flame or to prevent their being cast into it. "I am with thee, Israel, passing though the fire" may well describe the covenant assurance.

May we realize the fire if only thus we can realize the divine presence! Gladly may we accept the furnace if we may but find the company of the Son of God with therein. Every child of God among you can, with the psalmist, speak of my affliction. You may not be able to speak of my affliction. You may not be able to speak of my estate, my heritage, my wealth, my health; but you can all speak of my affliction. No man is a monopolist of misery. A portion of the black drought of sorrow is left for others. Of that cup we must all drink, little or much; and we must drink of it as God ordains. So far, then, one event happens to all.

My object at this time is to show the difference between the Christian and the worldling in his affliction a peculiar comfort: “This is my comfort in my affliction". Second, that comfort comes from a peculiar source: "This is my comfort in my affliction". Second, that comfort comes from a peculiar source: "For thy word hath quickened me". Third, the peculiar comfort is valuable under very special trials such as are mentioned in the context.

THE CHRISTIAN HAS PECULIAR COMFORT UNDER AFFLICTION.

"This," says David, “is comfort in my affliction". "This" _ dwell on the word "this" --- as different from the consolations of other men. The drunkard takes his cup, and he quotes Solomon: "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts"; and as he quaffs his cup, he says, "This is my comfort in my affliction". The miser hides his gold, takes down his purse and chinks it. Oh, the music of those golden notes! And he cries, "This is my comfort in my affliction".

Men mostly have some comfort or other. Some have allowable comforts, though they be but of minor quality. They find comfort in the sympathy of men in domestic kindness, in philosophic reflection, in the homely content. But such comforts generally fail, always fail, when the trial becomes exceedingly severe.

Now, just as the wicked man and the worldly man can say of this or that, "This is my comfort", the Christian comes forward and, bringing with him the Word of God brimming with rich promises, says "This is my comfort in my affliction'.

You put down your comfort and I put down mine. "This is my comfort"- he is evidently not ashamed of it; he is evidently ready to set forth his solace in preference to all others; and while others say, "I derive consolation from this" and "I....... from that", David opens the Holy Scripture and cheerfully exclaims, and “This is my comfort".

Can you say the same? This "- in opposition to everything else this promise of God, this covenant of His grace: "This is my comfort."

Now read "this" in another sense, as indicating that he knew what it was. "This is my comfort." He can explain what it is. Many Christians get a comfort out of God's Word and out of religious exercises, but they can hardly tell what the comfort is.

A rose smells sweet to a man who does not know the name of the rose. A rose grower tells me, "This is the Marshal Neil". Thank you, dear sir, but I do not know who Marshal Niel is or was or why the flower bears his military name, but I can smell the rose all the same.

So, many people cannot explain doctrines, but they enjoy them. After all, experience is better than exposition. Yet it is a splendid thing when the two go together so that the believer can say to his friend, "Listen, I will tell you: `this is my comfort!".

"I saw how happy you were dear friend, when you were in trouble. I saw you sick the other day, and I noticed your patience I knew you to be slandered, and I saw how calm you were. Can you tell me why you were so calm and self-contained?".

It is a very happy thing if the Christian can turn round and answer such a question fully. I like to see him ready to give a reason for the hope that is in him with meekness and fear, saying, "This is my comfort in my affliction".

I want you, if you have enjoyed comfort from God, to get it packed up in such a form that you can pass it on to a friend. Get it explained to your own understanding so that you can tell others what it is so that they may taste the consolation wherewith God has comforted you. Be ready to explain to young beginners, "This is my comfort in my affliction".

Again "this" is used in another sense-that is, as having the thing near at hand. I do not like speaking of my comfort from God and saying "That is my comfort; that is the solace which I enjoyed long ago". Oh, no, no! You need a comfort that you can press to your bosom and say, "This" is the word which indicates nearness. "This is my comfort". Do you enjoy it now? You were so happy once. Are you as happy now? What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!

How sweet their memory still! Yes, that is very well, Cowper, but it would be better to sing, What peaceful hours I now enjoy! How sweet the present hour! "This is my comfort"; I have it with me. As my affliction is present with me, so my consolation is present with me. You have heard the classic story of the Rhodian who said that at such and such a place he had made a jump of many yards. He bragged till a Greek who stood by chalked out the distance and said, "Would you mind jumping half that length now?"

So I have heard people talk of what enjoyments they once had, what delights they once had. I have heard of a man who has the roots of depravity dug out of him. And as for sin, he has almost forgotten what it is. I would like to watch that brother when under the influence of rheumatism. I do not want him to have it long, but I should like him to have a twinge or two that I might see whether some roots of corruption do not remain. I think when tried in that way-or if not just in that way, in some other-he would find that there was a rootlet or two still in the soil.

If a storm were to come on, perhaps our brave dry-land sailor might not find his anchor quite so easy to cast overboard as he now thinks it is. You smile at the talk of modern perfection, and so do I; I am sick of it. It is so utterly contrary to that which I have to learn every day of my own unworthiness that I feel a contempt for it. Do have your comforts always handy; pray God that that which was a consolation years ago may be a consolation still, so that you may say, "This is my comfort in my affliction".

Again, I think the word "this" is meant as pleading it in prayer. Let me read the previous verse: "Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope". That is Thy promise which Thou hast made me to hope upon; Lord, fulfill it to me; for this Thy promise is my comfort in my affliction, and I plead it in prayer. Suppose you and I are enabled to take comfort out of a promise we have in that fact a good argument to plead with God. We may say, "Lord, I have so believed this promise that I have been persuaded that I had in my possession the blessing therein promised me. Now shall I be ashamed by this my hope? Wilt Thou not honor Thy Word seeing Thou hast caused me to rest upon it?". Is not this good pleading? `Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope; for this is already my comfort, and Thou wilt have given me a false comfort and led me into error if Thy Word should fail. 0 my Lord, since I have sucked my comfort out of the expectation of what Thou art about to do, surely by this Thou art pledged and bound to Thy servant-that Thou will keep Thy word!".

Hence, the word " this" is seen to be a very comprehensive word. May the Spirit of God teach us each to say of our priceless Bible, "This is my comfort in my affliction".