What do you do in the midst of Affliction? Do you turn to His Word? Psalm 119

Psalms 119:67

" Before I was afflicted I went astray,

But now I keep Your word."

As we read through this great Psalm on God's Word we ought to take notice of how many times the writer (King David) makes a connection between his afflictions in life and the power of God's Word to work in our lives during that affliction.   Note the above verse, especially.   David confesses his affliction in life was caused by his straying in life.  This might be a clear reference to his adultery.    But, the solution in the midst of that affliction was keeping the Word.   Note anther passage centered around affliction and the Word:

 Psalms 119:71

" It is good for me that I was afflicted,

That I may learn Your statutes."

Here David realizes that affliction was the thing that drove him to the Word.   He learned the Word in the midst of and in light of the afflictions he was experiencing.    

Psalms 119:75

" I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are righteous,

And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me."

It is always tough to get a good framework in the midst of affliction.  We blame others, we blame ourselves, we blame our loved ones, we even blame God.  But, in affliction David realizes that after looking at God's Word, the affliction he often found himself in was out of God's faithfulness.  That is a quite different perspective for affliction.  

Psalms 119:83

" Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,

I do not forget Your statutes."

Here we don't see the word, affliction, but we have the feel and look of affliction.  A "wine-skin in smoke" is a metaphor for affliction.   In the midst of this smoke or fog, David finds it important to not forget the statures of God's Word.    In our affliction we often forget God's Word.   He is telling us to return to God's Word during this smoke.  

Note these addition verses in the rest of this great chapter teaching us the same thing about affliction and how it is married to God's Word:

Psalms 119:92

" If Your law had not been my delight,

Then I would have perished in my affliction."

Psalms 119:107

" I am exceedingly afflicted;

Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word."

Psalms 119:153

" Resh.

Look upon my affliction and rescue me,

For I do not forget Your law."