“Remember that the LORD your God led you on the entire journey these forty years in the wilderness, so that he might humble you and test you. . .”

It amazes me how often studies in the Psalms impacts my meditation time in the rest of the scriptures. This morning, my devotional time was spent in Deuteronomy chapter 8, but very quickly, my mind was drawn back to Psalm 119. Last month, I had spent considerable time pondering verse 75 of Psalm 119, specifically, the Hebrew word often translated “afflicted”, but sometimes translated “humbled”.

I know LORD that your judgments are right, and in faithfulness, you have afflicted me.

I know LORD that your judgments are right, and in faithfulness, you have humbled me.

Either translation is acceptable, but the nuance is different. For memorization purposes, which word did I want to use? As I wavered between the two options, this verse stayed at the forefront of my mind. The bold confidence of the Psalmist gave him a profound perspective on his circumstances.

The Hebrew word for afflicted/humbled (“anah” in verb form, or “oniy” in noun form) appears 7 times in this Psalm, and is usually attached to an expression of gratitude or expectation. Each verse  is a powerful testimony of a well-grounded faith.

This morning, however, I was focused on Deuteronomy chapter 8.

 ² Remember that the LORD your God led you on the entire journey these forty years in the wilderness, so that he might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then he gave you manna to eat, which you and your ancestors had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 

It was a “wow” moment for me. I had to stop and look up the Hebrew to confirm that “anah” was the word used in both verses 2 and 3. It was.

The author of Psalm 119 was passionate about the word of God; without a doubt, he knew this scripture (especially if the Psalmist was Ezra, the scribe, as is held by Jewish tradition). And because he knew this scripture, he had God-given perspective on his own circumstances.

He could with confidence write things like this:

“My comfort in my affliction is this; your promise gives me life.” (119:50)

“If your instruction had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” (119:92)

“It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I could learn your statutes.” (119:71)

It likely gave the prophet Jeremiah hope in the midst of devastation, as he expressed in Lamentations 3:         

¹⁹I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Even Jesus relied on these words from Deuteronomy in his time of testing in the wilderness as recorded in Matthew chapter 4:

¹Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted  by the devil. ²After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ 

All of these passages reveal the key to facing seasons of affliction with peace and hopeful expectation.         

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (119:11)

“Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep your word.” (119:67)

“I am greatly afflicted, LORD, Revive me, according to your word.” (119:107)