|
"If his children forsake my law
and do not walk according to my rules,
if they violate my statutes
and do not keep my commandments,
then I will punish their transgression with the rod
and their iniquity with stripes,
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
or be false to my faithfulness."
(Psalm 89:30-33)
In Psalm 89, Ethan the Ezrahite speaks of God's covenant with David and his descendants, mostly in verses 19-37. A covenant is a promise, and when God makes a promise, he keeps it. God always makes good on his promises, and nothing can keep Him from following through.
God made a covenant with David, and though many of David's descendants were unfaithful to the Lord at various times, God remained faithful to His covenant. However, God being faithful to His covenant did not mean that he overlooked the disobedience of David's descendants just because of the covenant made with David. God does not let sin go unpunished, but furthermore, it is actually kind of the Lord to discipline us when we go astray so that we may not continue in the wayward path we are taking.
God's discipline is not an indication of Him voiding His promises. Rather, the fact that he disciplines us is proof of His love for us. It is proof of our sonship.
When I see another child disobeying his mother in public, I do not go over and discipline that child. However, when my little Ethan grows up and inevitably disobeys, I will absolutely correct and discipline him. This is not because I love the other child more and so I chose to not discipline him. No, it is our own children, whom we know and love, whom we discipline. We are responsible for them and love them, and that is why we discipline them. We want what is best for them, and that is what leads us to act. The fact that God disciplines those with whom He is in covenant is evidence of His love for them, not His disdain.
Reread Psalm 89:30-33 above. We may have a false perception that God's discipline is separate from His love. If God is disciplining you, He still loves you. God is disciplining you because He loves you.
Do you feel like you are being disciplined by the Lord? Take heart that God is not far from you because He is disciplining you. He is not casting you out. Quite the opposite is in fact true. God's discipline in your life is one way that He draws you near. Hebrews 12:5-6 says, "And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.'"
|
Apple
Spotify
Deezer
YouTube
