Psalm 119:76

In the preceding verse the psalmist acknowledged the justice and faithfulness of God in afflicting him.  Now the psalmist looks for comfort from the same Hand that smote him with affliction, for it is the same Lord that “bringeth low, and lifteth up” (1Samuel 2:7).

Psalms 119:76  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

When we are afflicted, comfort is one thing we most need.  Let’s remind ourselves again of what comfort is.

Comfort - Strengthening; encouragement, incitement; aid, succour, support, countenance (appearance of favour).

Unmingled affliction will drain us and bring us down.  But we can bear up under most any affliction when we are strengthened, helped, and supported.  While there are many sources of support for affliction, the support the psalmist seeks is that which only God can give, even His merciful kindness.

When we speak of God’s kindness we are speaking of His gentle and generous nature, His readiness to assist us.  But God’s kindness is a merciful kindness in that we deserve His severity.  But rather than show His wrath, God shows us His kindness.  And it is in this merciful kindness that we find comfort, that we find strength, help, and support in our afflictions.  Commenting on this verse Charles Spurgeon said:  “The words ‘merciful kindness,’ are a happy combination, and express exactly what we need in affliction:  mercy to forgive the sin, and kindness to sustain under the sorrow.”

Now the psalmist’s prayer to the Lord is to let His merciful kindness be for his comfort according to thy word unto thy servant.  Note that the psalmist seeks the comfort that is in keeping with God’s word.  He draws his comfort from his Bible.  Now consider your own experience.  How many times in your afflictions have you gone for comfort to such passages as the following?

Isaiah 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

These verses provide encouragement to an afflicted soul as they assure him that the Lord is with him in his affliction, that the Lord will strengthen and help him through his affliction, and that He provide all his needs.  Has this not indeed been the case in past afflictions you have endured?  And, of course, there is the well-known 23^rd Psalm that assures the Lord’s people of His care, His provision, His restoring mercy, His direction, His presence, and a place in His house.  I was recently at a Catholic funeral for a woman who had died a tragic death.  In his homily the priest pointed the grieving family to the 23^rd Psalm for comfort.  Better comfort he could not have offered.  How all of these passages provide support for souls in affliction, if they will but read them, meditate upon them, and believe them!  If we ask the Lord to let His merciful kindness be for our comfort, we must not neglect the source of comfort from which the Lord lets His merciful kindness flow into our hearts.

It bears noting that the psalmist referred to himself as thy servant, singular.  Although the promises of God are addressed to His people in general, the psalmist read them as being spoken to him in particular.  What a blessing it is to take our Bible in hand as a Book given to us personally by our God, as a personal communication from Him to each of us.

But also note that this merciful kindness is for the comfort of one who is a servant of God, one who has owned the Lord as his master and the Lord's commandments as the rule of his life.  If you are not serving God, you have some changes you need to make if you are going to use a prayer like this.

Now, believer, think of afflictions you have gone through.  Consider how the Lord got you through them and in the end you were the better for having endured them.  If in affliction you learn patience, if you learn to love this world less and to look forward to heaven more, if you learn to trust God more and the creature less, all of this is a tremendous gain.  This makes you more like the Lord Jesus and gives you certain evidence of your eternal salvation.  I cite again a passage used in our previous meditation on Psalm 119:75.

1 Peter 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

In conclusion, I find it interesting that all the rest of the verses in this octave are like this verse in that they are prayers to God beginning with the word let.

I have been sick today.  Thanks be to God for His merciful kindness to me to give me strength sufficient to provide this meditation for your comfort and mine.