September 2 Daily Devotional

Bible Verse

"Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I keep your Word" (Ps. 119:67).

Devotional

There is infinite wisdom in our Lord's restorings. This perfection of Jesus is clearly revealed here—we see it in the way he adopts to restore. That he should make our very afflictions the means of restoring our souls—as he frequently does—unfolds the profound depth of his wisdom.

This was David's prayer: "Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules" (Ps. 119:156, ESV), and this was his testimony: "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your Word" (Ps. 119:67, ESV).

The season of trial is often the sanctified season of revival. Who has passed through the furnace and not found it so? Then the declension of the soul has been discovered, the hidden cause of that declension has been brought to light, the spirit has bowed in contrition before the Lord, grace has been stirred up in the heart, a new sweetness has been given to prayer, a new impulse to faith, a new radiance to hope, and from the flame the gold and the silver have emerged, purified from their tin and dross.

Except for producing effects like these, why the many peculiar and heavy afflictions that sometimes overtake the child of God? Do not think that our Heavenly Father takes pleasure in chastening us. Do not think that it delights him to behold the writhings, the throes, and the anguish of a wounded spirit. Do not think that he loves to see your tears and hear your sighs and groans under the pressure of keen and crushing trial. No! He is a tender, loving Father. He is so tender and so loving that not one stroke, nor one cross, nor one trial more will he lay upon you than is absolutely necessary for your good—not a single ingredient will he put in your bitter cup that is not essential to the perfection of the remedy. It is for your profit that he chastens, not for his pleasure; and that often to rouse you from your spiritual sleep, to recover you from your deep declension, and to impart new vigor, healthiness, and growth to his own life in your soul.

Give thanks unto the Lord, Jehovah,
for he is good, O praise his Name!
Let Israel say: The Lord be praised,
his mercy ever is the same.
Let Aaron's house now praise Jehovah;
the Lord is good, O praise his Name;
let all who fear the Lord extol him,
his mercy ever is the same.

In a large place the Lord hath set me,
in my distress he heard my cry;
I will not fear; the Lord is with me,
what can man do, when God is nigh?
The Lord is chief among my helpers;
and I shall see my foes o'erthrown:
far better than in man or princes,
my trust I place in God alone.

I shall not die, but live, declaring
the works of God, who tried me sore,
and chastened me; but in his mercy
not unto death hath giv'n me o'er.
The gates of righteousness set open,
the gate of God! I'll enter in
to praise thee, Lord, who pray'r hast answered,
and savedst me from all my sin.

The stone—O Lord, it is thy doing—
the stone, the builders did despise,
is made the headstone of the corner,
and it is marv'lous in our eyes.
This is the day, of days most glorious,
the Lord hath made; we'll joy and sing:
send now prosperity, we pray thee;
and, O our God, salvation bring!

(from Psalm 118:1–9, 17–25; anon.)

Be sure to read the Preface by Octavius Winslow and A Note from the Editor by Larry E. Wilson.

Larry Wilson is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. In addition to having served as the General Secretary of the Committee on Christian Education of the OPC (2000–2004) and having written a number of articles and booklets (such as God's Words for Worship and Why Does the OPC Baptize Infants) for New Horizons and elsewhere, he has pastored OPC churches in Minnesota, Indiana, and Ohio. We are grateful to him for his editing of Morning Thoughts, the OPC Daily Devotional for 2011.