Michael E. Wood
June 23, 2016
Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and
whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of
trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will
not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice
will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Psalm 94:12-15
There is a brand of so called Christianity in our current culture
which promotes everything as positive and encouraging rather than Biblical and
balanced. The writer to the Hebrews tells us not to 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. He
disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. While in the
process of being disciplined it seems painful rather than pleasant, but later
it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by
it.
The psalmist being carried along by the same Holy Spirit records
for our learning, the blessedness of the one whom the LORD disciplines. Though
He has various means by which He can bring about discipline in our lives the
context of the passage seems to point to God’s use of the wicked to bring about
this discipline, and thus displays His Sovereign power and providential use of
all things for the good of His people and the praise of His glory.
Let us continually be learning and putting into practice the
habit of giving Him thanks in all things while trusting Him with all our
hearts, and not leaning on our own understanding.
Do we now build our lives on our comfort and ease
Imagining somehow that God is well pleased?
But then in a moment when things are all changed
Through circumstance, turmoil, and lives rearranged;
We question His goodness, and kindness, and love,
Not seeing that all things are sent from above
To mold us and make us like a Potter the clay.
Are we hardened or nimble for shaping that day?
For He in His mercy sees better than we,
Designing each detail to drive to the knee,
*Accepting correction to know and commune
With Him in His sweetness like finest perfume
Perfecting His praise in a life offered up
Through Jesus who drank of the bitterest cup.
Oh, none can imagine the extent of His pain
That He bore to remove our gross sin and our shame,
But not only that, to present without fault
The church as His bride, one with Him to exalt
The glory and praise God alone has, as due.
Oh, Help us, Dear Father, to magnify You!*Footnote: In printing this out for a hard copy distribution, Dianna pointed out to me that I had originally used EXCEPTING ( a preposition - used in the sense of apart from or excluding, also used as a conjunction at times) instead of ACCEPTING ( a verb - used in the sense of agree to or receiving something without saying no). The two words sound similar and can be easily confused, but my, what a difference a single word can make. Thus, it seems appropriate to receive correction even in the writing of this poem.
