'My son, do not despise the Lord ’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. ' [Proverbs 3:11-12 NIV]
This is a good example of an aphorism - a short pithy statement that causes us to think and remember what has been said. Have you ever been in the company of a 'spoiled child.' The parents are so afraid to tell their little darling that it is wrong to spit out their dinner all over the table and the carpet or scribble on the walls with a felt-tip pen. It can be highly embarrassing for a spectator. Many of the young people I met when they had been excluded from school had come into that category - they had not been taught any form of discipline when they were children. And so they believed that they had a licence to behave in any way they pleased. They had not been taught to show any respect to anyone. They grew up with such a poor attitude that they were almost unemployable. I feel better now - I will come down from my soap-box.
The word translated as 'discipline' is the Hebrew word muwcar which can be rendered as chastisement, reproof, warning, instruction or discipline. It can also mean 'restraint.' Karren was given the task of creating illustrations for the blogs on the Book of Proverbs and I am very grateful for her diligence and originality. She has a picture of her sister's dog being chastised. I don't know if you have seen the TV programme called, "Dogs behaving badly." This programme features a dog-training expert who is brought in when pet dogs are out of control. They become a risk to themselves and people who come into contact with them. They have not been taught boundaries and so they imagine that their outrageous behaviour is quite acceptable. I trained my mongrel called Ben and I had to be very strict with him. He constantly watched for opportunities to push the boundaries. I was able to take him for walks along a busy road without putting him on a lead because he walked by my side. He stayed in his own garden without needing to fence him in. The training was demanding and there were times when Ben resented me - judging by the look he gave me. But he was a very loyal well-mannered dog and this was because he was disciplined.
This proverb states clearly that in the Christian pathway (to bring it up to New Testament thinking), we should not be taken by surprise when the Lord disciplines us. He is correcting our tendency to go our own way and to disobey him. I can look back to times in my life when I have been aware that the Lord is correcting me - with a strong hand. I am so grateful for His correction and reproof. The writer of the Proverbs points out that this is evidence that we are loved by God. It was because that I loved my three children that I set clear boundaries for them - or perhaps more accurately that their mother set clear boundaries for them and I reinforced these. When I rebuked them for doing something wrong - and this was not a regular occurrence - it was because we loved them dearly and wanted the best for them.
If you feel that the Lord has been correcting you, do not become irritated or angry with God. It may be hard to bear, but it is clear evidence of His wonderful love for us.
I would like to end today's blog with a quotation from the book of Hebrews which explains this better than I could ever do.
'Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ' [Hebrews 12:7-11 NIV]
Photo by Karren McPherson, a commissioned photograph which illustrates brilliantly today's study.
My father was a strict disciplinarian and although at the time I may have disliked how he disciplined me, I’m now grateful that he did. It’s only now that as I look back on my life, I can see how his correction that albeit at times I felt was unnecessary, was actually for my benefit. It also prepared me for when God discipline’s me and has made me very receptive at acknowledging and accepting the wrong of my ways and seeking His forgiveness.
”God must do everything for us. Our part is to yield and trust Him” …. Quotation by A.W. Tower from his book ‘The Pursuit of God’.
PS: Great picture Karen! Clearly illustrates how we should be when…