Psalm 38 Continued…
Psalm 38:1-4 O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me. Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.
I want to continue the idea of the Lord’s discipline in today’s devotion. In this psalm, David admits his guilt and thus acknowledges that God’s punishment is just; at the same time, the sharp and crushing nature of the discipline seems more than he can bear, and he asks for help.
Charles Spurgeon’s note on Psalm 38 includes a paraphrase of David’s appeal: “Rebuked I must be, for I am an erring child and thou a careful Father, but throw not too much anger into the tones of thy voice; deal gently although I have sinned grievously. The anger of others I can bear, but not thine. . . . Chasten me if thou wilt, it is a Father’s prerogative, and to endure it obediently is a child’s duty; but, O turn not the rod into a sword, smite not so as to kill. True, my sins might well inflame thee, but let thy mercy and long-suffering quench the glowing coals of thy wrath. O let me not be treated as an enemy or dealt with as a rebel. Bring to remembrance thy covenant, thy fatherhood, and my feebleness, and spare thy servant” (Treasury of David, Volume II, Funk & Wagnalls, 1885, p. 220).
How does God discipline us? God can and does use various methods of discipline. He may use trouble at work, hardship at home, or travail in the ministry; Paul had many difficulties in life (2 Corinthians 11:23–29). God may allow us to experience loss, as David did (2 Samuel 12:13–18). God may send physical ailments or even death, as the church of Corinth learned (1 Corinthians 11:17–22, 30–32). Often, God will simply allow the natural consequences of our sin to run their course. We are forgiven, but we are corrected “so that we will not be finally condemned with the world” (1 Corinthians 11:32).
Why does God discipline us? He is a good Father who wants what’s best for His children. Humanly speaking, no child will reach his or her full potential without training and discipline. The virtuoso violinist would never have reached the concert hall without discipline. The record-setting athlete would never have excelled in any sport without discipline. Following that principle, here are some reasons that we experience God’s discipline:
• God disciplines His children because He loves them.
• God disciplines His children to make them more mature.
• God disciplines His children to increase their capacity for virtue.
• God disciplines His children to keep them on the right path.
• God disciplines His children to grow their faith.
• God disciplines His children to purify them from sin.
The result of God’s discipline is holiness and maturity: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2–4). The Lord continues to work with us, as a potter does the clay, and His discipline is for our good and His glory.
PRAY
Father mold me into the image of Your Son.