Psalms 118:18

The Lord hath chastened me sore: but He hath not given me over unto death.

The afflictions of God’s people

I. The condition.

1. The Author of it. Affliction comes not out of the dust; God is the Inflicter of all evils and crosses upon us.

(1) Look up to the Lord in every affliction and labour So see Him in it.

(2) Here is matter of comfort to the servants of God: that whosoever, or whatsoever may be the instrument, God Himself is the principal cause of every trouble to them. It is the cup which their Father gives them to drink, and therefore they may be sure that it is well mingled and tempered for them.

2. The nature of it--a chastening, for the better rule and government of His family. (l) To wean us from the world, and an inordinate love of things below.

(2) To embitter sin to us, and subdue corruption.

(3) For examples to others--

(a) of warning, that they may avoid and take heed of the like provocations;

(b) of patience, that they may be strengthened to endure the like afflictions.

3. The aggravation.

(1) The frequency of these chastenings, not once only, but often, even again and again.

(2) The multitude of these chastenings, not one single one only, but many, one in the neck of another.

(3) The grievousness and tediousness of them, not some light ones only, but such as were very irksome and hard to be borne.

II. The qualification. “But He hath not given me over unto death.” Consider these words--

1. In their connection, add so they are a qualification of those that went before, and they serve to show unto us the manner of God’s dealings with His people, which is to mitigate His afflictions of them, and to correct them still in measure; He chastens them but does not undo them. Thus (2 Corinthians 6:9; 2 Corinthians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Lamentations 3:32).

(1) God’s aim and intent is not destruction but reformation, which death doth hinder and prevent the opportunities of, unto us.

(2) As God does thus mitigate His corrections in wisdom, so also in mercy, because He is a gracious God, and He continues still so to be without alteration (Lamentations 3:22; Malachi 3:6).

2. Absolutely. “He hath not given me over unto death.”

(1) Out of His goodness, and mercy, and love to His people.

(2) Because He has work and service for them to do.

(3) For the good and comfort of their friends. (T. Hereon, D. D.)