by Diana Durrill
Fear not Be not dismayed
You will have Quiet and Ease
Fear not I am with you
These are all words that bring comfort. They communicate care. They calm fears. You can hear these words in the loving, gentle voice of a mother as she consoles her child after a nightmare or in the calming voice of a father as he teaches his little one to ride a bike. These words might be heard as a friend provides company for another during chemo treatments, or from the mouth of a surgical nurse as she holds your hand in the operating room.
And at various times and in various ways, we each have had these spoken into our lives by the Holy Spirit of God. They breathe indescribable, incomparable peace into the depths of our hearts.
But what about these words?
I will discipline you in just measure,
and I will by no means leave you unpunished.
Cold, chilling words. Surely you remember the stern warnings as mom and dad left you home, tending to your brothers and sisters. You remember hearing the teacher or principal of your school caution students to follow the rules, or else. All of us have felt the adrenaline rush that comes when we realize the car behind us just turned on his flashing lights.
But don't miss the important four letter word in this passage: Just.
God promises to discipline us in just measure. He is fair. He is balanced. Unlike mankind, He will not over punish nor will He under-discipline. God knows exactly what the people of Israel needed as they head straight into captivity. And yet, all the while, He promises to be with them so they don't have to fear. He knows their end from their beginning and though He brings discipline into their lives at this time, His promises and plans for their future remain established and full of hope.
The good news is this: The just God of Israel is still the God of today. He will discipline us in loving, just measure. He will be balanced and fair. But He will remain with us, ridding us of fear, bringing quiet into our noisy souls, and keeping us full of hope as we look to our established end.
I have found after growing up with abuse that God's discipline comes with the first words. Such as "I know you sinned but I love you and don't be afraid you are not worthless, I paid for your punishment. You are forgiven. I am here to help you while you bear the natural consequences of your sin."
ReplyDeleteI do not believe God punishes His children because Jesus took our punishment. He allows us to face the consequences of our sin, which is often enough to make us change our ways. He shows us the right way to live, and gives us strength and courage to do it.
To say that the bad things that happen to us are God's punishment is to be one of Job's comforters. Bad things happen to all people as sure "as sparks fly upward". To blame God for the bad things that happen makes a very evil picture of God. This is what is used to spiritually abuse people.
Is God just? Absolutely and His justice demanded punishment and Jesus paid it. There is no way I could pay a just punishment for my sin, except to spend forever in Hell.
Shary,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment and interaction on this post. You bring up a very important point.
In the context of the day's Bible reading (Jeremiah 46-48 - and I apologize for not posting the reading assignment), it is important to understand that the word here in 46:28 is the verb "yacar". It means to chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish. It is the same word you will find in Psalm 94:12 which says, "Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law."
I believe that the Bible is clear in its teaching that our loving heavenly Fathers does discipline us. We learn through discipline. If we see it for what it is - training, correction, protection, education - His loving, perfect discipline will yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Hebrews 12:6-11)
Other passages for your consideration: Matthew 18; Proverbs 3:11,12; Acts 5; Proverbs 10:13, 24; Proverbs 19:18; 22:15; 23:13; Hebrews 12:4-11; Ephesians 5; Revelation 3:19
Hope this helps and again, thank you!
DSD