Dec. 19
AFFLICTIONS, BUT NO BROKEN BONES
"He keepeth all his bones; not one of them is broken" Ps. 34:20
This promise by the context is referred to the much afflicted
righteous man: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the
Lord delivereth him out of them all." He may suffer skin-wounds and
flesh-wounds, but no great harm shall be done, "not a bone of him
shall be broken."
This is great comfort to a tried child of God, and comfort which I
dare accept; for up to this hour I have suffered no real damage from
my many afflictions. I have neither lost faith, nor hope, nor love.
Nay, so far from losing these bones of character, they have gained in
strength and energy. I have more knowledge, more experience, more
patience, more stability than I had before the trials came. Not even
my joy has been destroyed. Many a bruise have I had by sickness,
bereavement, depression, slander, and opposition; but the bruise has
healed, and there has been no compound fracture of a bone, not even a
simple one. The reason is not far to seek. If we trust in the Lord, He
keeps all our bones; and if He keeps them, we may be sure that not one
of them is broken.
Come, my heart, do not sorrow. Thou art smarting, but there are no
bones broken. Endure hardness, and bid defiance to fear.