Fri.-Sabbath, 5/25-27/18 Devotion

Praise God—it is almost Sunday! We GET to go to church! Here is the great Thomas Watson, from his excellent work, entitled, "A Divine Cordial":

"Another heart quieting consideration is, that afflictions work for good. Judah's captivity in Babylon was for their good. 'It is good for me that I have been af-flicted,' (Ps. 119:71). Afflictions to the godly are medicinal. Out of the most poisonous drugs God extracts our salvation. Afflictions are as needful as or-dinances (1 Pet. 1:6). No vessel can be made of gold without fire; so it is im-possible that we should be made vessels of honor, unless we are melted and refined in the furnace of affliction. 'All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,' (Ps. 25:10). As the painter intermixes bright colors with dark shadows; so the wise God mixes mercy with judgment.

"Those afflictive providences which seem to be prejudicial, are beneficial. Let us take some instances in Scripture. Joseph's brethren throw him into a pit; afterwards they sell him; then he is cast into prison; yet all this did work for his good. His abasement made way for his advancement; he was made the se-cond man in the kingdom. 'You thought evil against me, but God meant it for good,' (Gen. 50:20). Jacob wrestled with the angel, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint. This was sad; but God turned it to good, for there he saw God's face, and there the Lord blessed him. 'Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, for I have seen God face to face,' (Gen. 32:30). Who would not be willing to have a bone out of joint, so that he might have a sight of God?"