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God Sends the Moths (Ps. 39)

It is an understatement to say that trials are hard. Whether we are talking about spiritual, physical, emotional, relational, or a combination of these, trials wear us down. They are hard.

We might be tempted to think, “Why me?” in a trial. But as Christians there is something hardwired into our understanding of sanctification that the “Why me?” might better be stated, “Why God?” In other words, the trials are not a surprise to God. He is soveriegn over every single detail of our lives. This does include trials.

But we may go even further. As Christians we understand that trials are brought to us by God’s sovereign hand to bring about sanctification. As James writes, “that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1.4). However, in the midst of the sanctifying vice we should still further ask, “Why God?”

The current trial may be discipline. God could be bringing the circumstances to us in order to tighten our grip on him or he could be bringing it to loosen our grip on our treasures. In either case he is working in and through circumstances in our lives to make himself our chief treasure.

Consider the Psalmist in Psalm 39. This guy believed that what he was enduring was a result of divine discipline for sin.

When you discipline a man with rebukes for sin, you consume like a moth what is dear to him; surely all mankind is a mere breath! (Ps. 39.11)

In other words, God sends the discipline and the circumstances act as a divinely dispatch moth to consume his treasure! This is good because in sin we are, like Achan, hiding treasures in our tent (Josh. 7.22). God intends to unfasten us from these fleeting treasures and to refasten us, wholly and completely upon himself.

This is why the Psalmist deals with himself and his sin. He is a good model for us:

7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. 8 Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool!

9 I am mute; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it. 10 Remove your stroke from me; I am spent by the hostility of your hand.

It is good then for us in the midst of a season of sanctifying affliction to ask, “Why God?” In this we acknowledge his sovereignty, goodness, and love. He is moving in your midst for his glory and your good (Heb. 12.7). The question is how. He may be bringing discipline or trial. But at any rate, he is bringing grace.

Therefore, watch for the divinely dispatched moths. God is graciously working to make him our true delight through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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