michael horton on "why do the righteous suffer?"

Horton states:

In short, whenever this question ("Why do the righteous suffer?") is raised, the conclusion is that the premise is mistaken. This is true not only in Paul (especially Rom 9-11) but throughout Israel's pilgrimage. The righteous do not suffer; no one is righteous in the sense that they qualify for God's unmitigated blessing and favor. Thus, the only thing to do is to cast oneself on God's mercy. This is precisely what David did in Psalm 51 after committing two capital crimes. Acknowledging not only his sins (first, against Yahweh, and secondarily, against Bathsheba and Uriah) but his sinful condition from conception, David does not appeal to any mechanism in the law but to a direct pardon from the King of Heaven.

Justification. Vol. 2. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI. 2018. p. 84