Consider (Part 1)

“In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: surely God has appointed the one as well as the other,” [Eccl 7:14]. This cry is applicable to most Christians, for “man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward” [Job 5:7]; cares can corrode us, fears dismay us and disappointments confound us. In our relationships there are the seeds of bereavement, in our possessions the elements of danger and in our affections are traces of anxiety and torment. We are tempted, at times, to cry with Lamentations: “I am the man who has seen affliction by the rod of his wrath” [Lam 3:1] and “Is it nothing to you, all you that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow,” [Lam 1:12] which is singularly self-important ignorance and arrogance, for there is “No temptation [which] has overtaken you except such as is common to man;” [1 Cor 10:13]. But one does wonder if God is our friend why does he not exempt us from such trial and if he is our father why does he not protect his child. The eternal question is — If I am His why am I thus?

Peter addressing the early church said we are: “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,” [1 Pet 1:2] but he also said “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;” [1 Pet 4:12-13]. The first compensates and consoles for the second. Religion does not exempt us from the evil day but it does prepare us for it, and within the host of biblical instructions and examples not the least is our text – “in the day of adversity consider.” Talking to His disciples Jesus said: “In the world you will have tribulation;” [John 16:33] and King David inferred: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” [Ps 34:19]. So Old and New Testament confirm the rightness and certainly of trial and tribulation.

However, our calling is “reasonable service” [Rom 12:1], not unjust and callous but destined for glory, for God is the author of every good thing, and our pilgrimage to Him is by our own effort for  we are not carried but we are guided. He works within us to form His majesty enabling us to walk worthy. It is therefore realistic for us to consider that our religion is sensible, and like saints of old we can say “I thought on my ways and turned my feet to His testimonies”  [Ps 119:59]. This word extends to all parts of religion, thus in the midst of adversity we can say confidently, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” [Rom 18:31]. His testimonies are sure and shot through with divine love and affection. Thus we should consider Him in all aspects and especially His ways in our life. The Bible says “Consider Him” [Heb 12:3] and so we will. His design for us must be perfect.

O love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee:
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be

Let us consider our duty – our text says “God has appointed the one as well as the other.”  It is God’s sovereign will, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” [1 Peter 5:6-7]. Samuel knew about this, “And Samuel told him [Eli] every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good” [1 Sam 3:18].

The lessons of adversity are fourfold, correction, prevention, examination and usefulness. The last one was prominent amongst Puritan writers; life must always be useful or effective! The purpose of our life here must be productivity and in that fruitfulness we must consider men of old and how they fared with God. We may be under grace but Jesus came to fulfil the law! His basic dealing with men does not change from generation to generation. Abraham committed sin in taking Hagar and now we have the Middle East crisis because of Ishmael. God forgave the transgression but did not remove the problem.