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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - 1 Thessalonians 3:3 - 3:3
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As if the apostle had said, "One great end why I have sent Timothy among you is this, lest either upon the account of your own afflictions, or my sufferings, you should be moved from your stedfastness, either drawn away by fraud and flattery, or driven away by force and terror;" that no man be moved by these afflictions.
Observe also, the argument to confirm them in the faith, amidst all their sufferings and afflictions, and that is drawn from the pleasure and purpose, the ordination and appointment of God, concerning their afflictions; Ye yourselves know, that we are thereunto appointed.
Learn hence, 1. That the best of saints are subject to be moved by their afflictions.
2. That it is the high commendation of a Christian, not to stir or be moved from his stedfastness by the heaviest shock of affliction that may fall upon him: That no man may be moved by these afflictions.
Some render the word appointed, set as a mark to be shot at; some saints, with holy Job, are set on purpose as a mark for the arrow of affliciton to be levelled at, yet then are they to keep their ground, and stand immovable; we honour God abundantly, when we are immovable in our active obedience; and we glorify him eminently, when we are immovable in our passive obedience; when we stand to it in the midst of sufferings, and are no more moved either by cowardice or impatience, than a post that is shot at. This is the glory of a Christian, and his great duty, and it is the glory of God, and his certain due.
Learn, 3. That believers are under a divine appointment from God himself, to undergo trouble and affliction. The ultimate destination of believers, is to rest,(God hath not appointed them unto wrath, but to obtain salvation): But the intermediate destination of them is to trouble and affliction, in order unto rest, and to prepare them for that rest. Seeing then that afflictions are appointed to us, and we appointed to them, seeing there is a decree of God concerning them, a decree as to the matter of them, as to the manner of them, as to the measure of them, as to the time of them, when they shall commence, how far they shall advance, how long they shall continue, seeing every thing in affliction is under an appointment; how meek and humble, how patient and submissive ought the Christian's spirit to be under them! And with what steadiness of expectation may and ought he to look up to heaven for a sanctified use and improvement of them! Let no man be moved by afflictions, knowing we are appointed thereunto.