Redemptive Purposes in Affliction and Trial in Scripture

Affliction and trial, though often perceived as negative experiences, are presented in Scripture as having significant redemptive purposes within God's overarching plan ^[4]. These purposes extend from promoting God's glory to fostering spiritual growth and leading individuals to repentance and deeper reliance on Him ^[1].

One primary purpose of affliction is to promote the glory of God. The suffering of individuals can serve as a canvas upon which God's power and faithfulness are displayed ^[1]. For instance, the healing of the man born blind in John 9:1-3 was not due to his or his parents' sin, but "that the works of God should be made manifest in him." Similarly, the sickness of Lazarus was "for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby" (John 11:4). The Apostle Paul's experiences of being "perplexed, but not unto despair; smitten down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 ASV) illustrate how God's strength is made perfect in weakness, thereby magnifying His glory ^[1].

Afflictions also serve to teach individuals God's will and draw them closer to Him ^[1]. The psalmist declares, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes" (Psalm 119:71 KJV). This sentiment is echoed in Isaiah 26:9, "for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." Trials can act as a catalyst, turning people back to God when they have strayed ^[1]. Deuteronomy 4:30-31 speaks of returning to the Lord in tribulation, and Hosea 2:6-7 describes God hedging up a way with thorns so that His people will return to their first husband. This turning to God often involves seeking Him in prayer, as seen in the cries of the Israelites under oppression (Judges 4:3) and Jonah's prayer from the belly of the fish (Jonah 2:1) ^{[1, 2]}.

Furthermore, affliction can serve to convince individuals of their sin and lead them to repentance ^[1]. Job 36:8-9 suggests that if people are bound in fetters and held in cords of affliction, God shows them their work and their transgressions. The prodigal son's destitution led him to "come to himself" and return to his father, confessing his sin (Luke 15:16-18) ^[1]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on Revelation 16:9 notes that "Affliction, if it does not melt, hardens the sinner," implying that a positive outcome of affliction is repentance and giving glory to God ^[8]. Similarly, the Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on Job 33:8 suggests that even the godly, who may generally confess sin, often need affliction to recognize specific sins and their deserved consequences ^[9]. God's long-suffering, which is part of His character (Exodus 34:6), is intended to lead to repentance (Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9) ^[3].

Afflictions are also understood as a form of divine chastisement, intended for purification and proof, stemming from God's love ^[12]. Psalm 94:12 and Proverbs 3:11-12 speak of the blessedness of the one whom the Lord chastens. This loving chastisement is not meant to destroy but to refine and strengthen ^[12]. The Keil & Delitzsch commentary on Psalm 6:1 distinguishes between chastisement from love, designed to purify, and chastisement from wrath against obstinate sin ^[12]. David, like Jeremiah, prayed not for the removal of chastisement but for its mitigation, recognizing its beneficial purpose ^[12].

The concept of redemption is closely linked to the experience of affliction. Redemption involves the purchase back of something lost through the payment of a ransom ^[5]. In a spiritual sense, this redemption is from the bondage of sin, the curse of the law, and all troubles ^[6]. Ephesians 1:7 states, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" ^[7]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on Ephesians 1:7 emphasizes that this redemption is "from the power, guilt, and penal consequences of sin" ^[11]. The Tyndale House commentary on Isaiah 43:21 highlights that a purpose of redemption is to honor God through the praises of the redeemed ^[10].

The New Testament further elaborates on the redemptive purposes of trials. James 1:2-3 encourages believers to "count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." This suggests that trials are instrumental in developing spiritual virtues. Paul's "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) illustrates how God's grace is sufficient in weakness, and His power is perfected in it. This experience led Paul to boast in his infirmities, "that the power of Christ may rest upon me" ^[4].

The ultimate outcome of enduring affliction with patience and faith is everlasting good for God's people ^[4]. Romans 8:35-39 affirms that nothing, not even tribulation or distress, can separate believers from the love of Christ. The Easton's Bible Dictionary notes that afflictions are "for the good of men... and the glory of God" ^[4]. They are directed by God and will result in the eternal well-being of His people ^[4].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions Made Beneficial — In promoting the glory of God -- Joh 9:1-3; 11:3,4; 21:18,19. In exhibiting the power and faithfulness of God -- Ps 34:19,20; 2Co 4:8-11. In teaching us the will of God -- Ps 119:71; Isa 26:9; Mic 6:9. In turning us to God -- De 4:30,31; Ne 1:8,9; Ps 78:34; Isa 10:20,21; Ho 2:6,7. In keeping us from again departing from God -- Job 34:31,32; Isa 10:20; Eze 14:10,11. In leading us to seek God in prayer -- Jdj 4:3; Jer 31:18; La 2:17-19; Ho 5:14,15; Jon 2:1. In convincing us of sin -- Job 36:8,9; Ps 119:67; Lu 15:16-18. In leading us to con”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Long-Suffering of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; Ps 86:15. Salvation, the object of -- 2Pe 3:15. Through Christ's intercession -- Lu 13:8. Should lead to repentance -- Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. An encouragement to repent -- Joe 2:13. Exhibited in forgiving sins -- Ro 3:25. Exercised toward His people. -- Isa 30:18; Eze 20:17. The wicked. -- Ro 9:22; 1Pe 3:20. Plead in prayer -- Jer 15:15. Limits set to -- Ge 6:3; Jer 44:22. The wicked Abuse. -- Ec 8:11; Mt 24:48,49. Despise. -- Ro 2:4. Punished for despising. -- Ne 9:30; Mt 24:48-51; Ro 2:5. Illustr”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Afflictions — Common to all (Job 5:7; 14:1; Ps. 34:19); are for the good of men (James 1:2, 3, 12; 2 Cor. 12:7) and the glory of God (2 Cor. 12:7-10; 1 Pet. 4:14), and are to be borne with patience by the Lord's people (Ps. 94:12; Prov. 3:12). They are all directed by God (Lam. 3:33), and will result in the everlasting good of his people (2 Cor. 4:16-18) in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39).”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Redemption — Defined -- 1Co 6:20; 7:23. Is of God -- Isa 44:21-23; 43:1; Lu 1:68. Is by Christ -- Mt 20:28; Ga 3:13. Is by the blood of Christ -- Ac 20:28; Heb 9:12; 1Pe 1:19; Re 5:9. Christ sent to effect -- Ga 4:4,5. Christ is made, to us -- 1Co 1:30. Is from The bondage of the law. -- Ga 4:5. The curse of the law. -- Ga 3:13. The power of sin. -- Ro 6:18,22. The power of the grave. -- Ps 49:15. All troubles. -- Ps 25:22. All iniquity. -- Ps 130:8; Tit 2:14. All evil. -- Ge 48:16. The present evil world. -- Ga 1:4. Vain conversation. -- 1Pe 1:18. Enemies. -- Ps 106”
King James Version “[KJV] Ephesians 1:7 — In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 16:9: men--Greek, "the men." repented not to give him glory-- (Rev 9:20). Affliction, if it does not melt, hardens the sinner. Compare the better result on others, Rev 11:13; Rev 14:7; Rev 15:4.”
Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 33:8: thy words-- (Job 10:7; Job 16:17; Job 23:11-12; Job 27:5-6; Job 29:14). In Job 9:30; Job 13:23, Job had acknowledged sin; but the general spirit of his words was to maintain himself to be "clean," and to charge God with injustice. He went too far on the opposite side in opposing the friends' false charge of hypocrisy. Even the godly, though willing to confess themselves sinners in general, often dislike sin in particular to be brought as a charge against them. Affliction is therefore needed to bring them to feel that sin in them deserves even worse than t”
Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 43:21: 43:21 One purpose of redemption is to honor God through the praises of the redeemed (see 1 Pet 2:9).”
Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:7: In whom--"the Beloved" (Eph 1:6; Rom 3:24). we have--as a present possession. redemption--Greek, "our (literally, 'the') redemption"; THE redemption which is the grand subject of all revelation, and especially of the New Testament (Rom 3:24), namely, from the power, guilt, and penal consequences of sin (Mat 1:21). If a man were unable to redeem himself from being a bond-servant, his kinsman might redeem him (Lev 25:48). Hence, antitypically the Son of God became the Son of man, that as our kinsman He might redeem us (Mat 20:28). Another "redempti”
Psalms (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Psalms 6:1: (Heb.: 6:2-4) There is a chastisement which proceeds from God's love to the man as being pardoned and which is designed to purify or to prove him, and a chastisement which proceeds from God's wrath against the man as striving obstinately against, or as fallen away from, favour, and which satisfies divine justice. Psa 94:12; Psa 118:17; Pro 3:11. speak of this loving chastisement. The man who should decline it, would act against his own salvation. Accordingly David, like Jeremiah (Jer 10:24), does not pray for the removal of the chastisement but of the chastiseme”

Ask Your Own Question