We are hardwired to trust in ourselves. That’s not good for us or the God-glorifying purpose for which God created us. Therefore, suffering is used to break us of self whereby we might trust more deeply in God. So God’s intent in suffering is not to pull us away from Him as many people seem to believe, but rather draw us closer to Him. And the more He strips us during affliction of our human resources and excuses and justifications and easy way outs, the more we will run to Him and cling to Him as the only thing we’ve got.
Randy Smith

Spurgeon PS1839

Spurgeon PS1839

EXPOSITION.

39,40. It is impossible to be too frequent in the duty of ascribing all our victories to the God of our salvation. It is true that we have to wrestle with our spiritual antagonists, but the triumph is far more the Lord’s than ours. We must not boast like the ambitious votaries of vainglory, but we may exult as the willing and believing instruments in the Lord’s hands of accomplishing his great designs.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS.

Verse 39.–To be well girt was to be well armed in the Greek and Latin idioms, as well as in the Hebrew.–^Alexander Geddes, LL.D., 1737-1802.

HINTS TO PREACHERS.

Verse 39.–The Red Cross Knight armed for the fray.