TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Complete Jewish Bible
It is for my good that I have been humbled; it was so that I would learn your laws.
American Standard Version
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I may learn thy statutes.
World English Bible Messianic
It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes.
Geneva Bible (1599)
It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted, that I may learne thy statutes.
Young's Literal Translation
Good for me that I have been afflicted, That I might learn Thy statutes.
See also
In the KJVVerse 15,970 of 31,102
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Commentary on Psalms 119 verse 71
71 ¶ It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
See here, 1. That it has been the lot of the best saints to be afflicted. The proud and the wicked lived in pomp and pleasure, while David, though he kept close to God and his duty, was still in affliction. Waters of a full cup are wrung out to God's people, Psa 73:10. 2. That it has been the advantage of God's people to be afflicted. David could speak experimentally: It was good for me; many a good lesson he had learnt by his afflictions, and many a good duty he had been brought to which otherwise would have been unlearnt and undone. Therefore God visited him with affliction, that he might learn God's statutes; and the intention was answered: the afflictions had contributed to the improvement of his knowledge and grace. He that chastened him taught him. The rod and reproof give wisdom.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verse 71. Public domain.
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Ambrose of MilanAD 397
Letter 79
If the soul, with its capacity for pleasure and delight, has tasted this true and highest good and has adhered to both with the means at its disposal, putting away sorrow and fear, then it is wonderfully inflamed. Having embraced the Word of God, it knows no bounds, it knows no satiety, and says, “You are sweet, O Lord, and in your joy teach me your laws.” Having embraced the Word of God, the soul desires him above every beauty; it loves him above every joy; it is delighted with him above every perfume; it wishes often to see, often to gaze, often to be drawn to him that it may follow. “Your name,” it says, “is as oil poured out, and that is why we maidens love you and vie with one another but cannot attain to you. Draw us that we may run after you, that from the odor of ointments we may receive the power to follow you.
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
Letter 83
Sin abounded by the law because through the law came knowledge of sin, and it became harmful for me to know what through my weakness I could not avoid. It is good to know beforehand what one is to avoid, but, if I cannot avoid something, it is harmful to have known about it. Thus was the law changed to its opposite, yet it became useful to me by the very increase of sin, for I was humbled. And David therefore says, “It is good for me that I have been humbled.” By humbling myself I have broken the bonds of that ancient transgression by which Adam and Eve had bound the whole line of their succession. Hence, too, the Lord came as an obedient man to loose the knot of human disobedience and deception. And as through disobedience sin entered, so through obedience sin was remitted. Therefore, the apostle says, “For just as by the disobedience of one man the many were constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted just.”
Augustine of HippoAD 430
Exposition on Psalm 119
"It is good for me that You have humbled me: that I might learn Your righteousnesses" [Psalm 119:71]. He has said something kindred to this above. For by the fruit itself he shows that it was a good thing for him to be humbled; but in the former passage he has stated the cause also, in that he had felt beforehand that humiliation which resulted from his punishment, when he went wrong. But in these words, "Wherefore have I kept Your word:" and again in these, "That I might learn Your righteousnesses:" he seems to me to have signified, that to know these is the same thing as to keep them, to keep them the same thing as to know them. For Christ knew what He reproved; and yet He reproved sin, though it is said of Him that "He knew not sin." [2 Corinthians 5:21] He knew therefore by a kind of knowledge, and again He knew not by a kind of ignorance. Thus also many learn the righteousnesses of God, and learn them not. For they know them in a certain way; and, again do not know them from a kind of ignorance, since they do them not. In this sense the Psalmist therefore is to be understood to have said, "That I might learn Your righteousnesses," meaning that kind of knowledge whereby they are performed.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 119:71 presents a profound and counter-intuitive declaration from the psalmist: that the experience of affliction, often perceived as negative, was ultimately beneficial and divinely purposed in his life. Far from being a mere hardship, the suffering he endured served as a catalyst, enabling him to delve more deeply into God's divine statutes, precepts, and laws, thereby fostering a more intimate understanding and dedicated obedience to the Lord's revealed will. This verse encapsulates a transformative spiritual truth, highlighting how God can leverage even the most painful experiences to cultivate profound spiritual growth and a richer, more obedient relationship with His Word.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 119:71 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is Paradox, where the seemingly contradictory idea that "affliction" (a negative experience) can be "good" (a positive outcome) arrests the reader's attention and invites deeper contemplation. This paradox highlights a spiritual truth that transcends conventional human wisdom, revealing God's ability to redeem even suffering. The verse also functions as a powerful Personal Testimony, using the first-person declaration ("It is good for me that I have been afflicted") to lend authenticity and relatability to the psalmist's experience. This makes the truth more impactful as it comes from lived experience rather than abstract theology. Furthermore, the clause "that I might learn thy statutes" serves as a Teleological Statement, explicitly stating the divine purpose behind the suffering. This clear articulation of purpose transforms the experience of pain from meaningless hardship into a purposeful, educational journey guided by God. Finally, the verse is inherently Didactic, aiming to teach a vital lesson about the redemptive potential of suffering and the supreme value of God's Word as the ultimate source of wisdom and guidance, particularly in times of trial.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 119:71 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of suffering and divine pedagogy, resonating throughout the biblical narrative. It challenges the simplistic notion that all suffering is punitive, instead presenting it as a crucible for spiritual formation and a pathway to deeper knowledge of God's character and commands. This perspective aligns with the broader biblical theme that God, in His infinite wisdom and love, often uses the difficult circumstances of life to refine, humble, and instruct His people, drawing them closer to Himself and His revealed will. The psalmist's declaration that affliction was "good" because it led him to God's statutes foreshadows New Testament teachings on the sanctifying power of trials, where endurance produces character, and character, hope. It underscores the sovereignty of God, who can orchestrate or permit even painful events to achieve His righteous and beneficial purposes in the lives of believers, ultimately for their spiritual maturity and His glory.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 119:71 provides a transformative lens through which to view life's inevitable hardships. Instead of succumbing to despair or bitterness when affliction strikes, this verse invites us to embrace a posture of faith and learning, trusting that God's hand is at work even in our pain. It encourages us to reframe suffering not as a curse, but as a potential classroom where divine truths are most deeply impressed upon our hearts. When trials come, whether physical, emotional, or relational, our first instinct should be to turn to God's Word, recognizing that these very difficulties might be the means by which He intends to teach us a new "statute," reveal a deeper facet of His character, or impress upon us a forgotten truth. This requires humility to admit our need for instruction and active engagement with Scripture, allowing its light to illuminate our path even in the darkest valleys. By adopting this perspective, we can move beyond mere endurance to genuine spiritual growth, finding purpose and even gratitude in circumstances we would naturally wish to avoid.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is God the one who causes affliction, or does He merely allow it?
Answer: The Bible presents a nuanced view. While God is sovereign over all things and can certainly bring about or allow affliction for His purposes, it's crucial to understand His character. In Psalms 119:71, the psalmist states, "I have been afflicted," implying a passive experience, but the context of Psalm 119 often speaks of God's righteous judgments and the psalmist's trust in God's good dealings (e.g., Psalms 119:65). For believers, affliction is often understood not as punitive judgment for sin (which Christ has already borne), but as divine discipline or instruction. Hebrews 12:10-11 clearly states that God disciplines us "for our good, that we may share in His holiness." While sin can certainly lead to suffering, and we live in a fallen world where natural disasters and human evil exist, God is able to use all circumstances, including those He permits or orchestrates, to refine His children and draw them closer to His Word. So, while He may not directly cause every instance of suffering in the way a human agent might, He is certainly sovereign over it and redeems it for a redemptive purpose, demonstrating His ultimate control and loving intent.
How can affliction be "good" when it's so painful and difficult to endure?
Answer: The "goodness" of affliction, as expressed in Psalms 119:71, is not about the immediate experience of pain, which is inherently unpleasant, but about the ultimate, beneficial outcome. It's a statement of faith and perspective, recognizing that God can transform even the most grievous circumstances into instruments of spiritual growth and deeper understanding. Just as a surgeon's painful incision is "good" because it leads to healing, or intense athletic training is "good" because it leads to strength, so too can spiritual affliction be "good" because it leads to a more profound knowledge of God's statutes. Often, in times of comfort, we become complacent or distracted from God's Word. Affliction strips away these distractions, humbles us, and creates a desperate hunger for divine truth, making us more receptive students of God's law. The pain is real, but the purpose is redemptive, leading to a spiritual maturity and wisdom that might not have been attained otherwise. This perspective aligns with Romans 5:3-4 which teaches that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 119:71 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist learned God's statutes through his own affliction, Jesus, the Son of God, perfectly embodied this principle in His earthly life and redemptive mission. The book of Hebrews explicitly states that Jesus, "though he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). This does not imply that Jesus was ever disobedient, but rather that His perfect obedience was demonstrated and perfected through the crucible of His human experience, culminating in the ultimate affliction of the cross. His suffering was not for His own learning in the sense of acquiring new knowledge, but for the perfection of His human nature as our High Priest, making Him fully able to sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 2:10 and Hebrews 4:15). The cross, the ultimate affliction, was the means by which God's greatest "statute"—His eternal plan of salvation—was fulfilled, demonstrating His righteousness and love. For believers united with Christ, our own afflictions, when endured in Him, become a means by which we share in His sufferings (Philippians 3:10), are conformed to His image (Romans 8:29), and grow in our understanding and application of God's Word, which is now revealed most fully in Christ, the living Word (John 1:1). Thus, our suffering, like the psalmist's, can be "good" because it draws us deeper into the life and truth of the One who suffered for us, making us more like Him and revealing His glory through our transformed lives.