There are several places in the Bible where there are these little back-handed insults that condemn without a lot of elaboration. Like where Jesus comments on Solomon, who was regarded as the height of Jewish riches and splendor:
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?- Matthew 6:28-30
Do you hear that back-handed comeuppance? "Glorious Solomon... yeah, almost as glorious as God's grass."
Smack!
But there's one place in the Bible that has what I suspect is the insult to end all insults. If it were written by man it would be a throw-away line. Just a single sentence tacked onto the end of the book of Judges:
"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit."- Judges 21:25
After 21 chapters of describing the struggles of the Israelites best efforts and failures...
"...everyone did as he saw fit."
Smack!
Where do I go from here? Talk about how my spiritual walk has been characterized by my willfulness? Talk about how modern American's worship self-will? Talk about how pop culture has changed "right" from a code of conduct set out by God into a "feeling"? Let's just let God speak to the topic about our ideas of what's right...
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."- Proverbs 16:25
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.- Proverbs 3:5-8
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."- Proverbs 1:7
"...everyone did as he saw fit."
Foolishness like that would be funny if it weren't so tragic. And it is just as tragic today in broken America... Broken Arizona... Broken [where you live]...
Broken homes... Smack!
broken economy... Smack!
broken lives... Smack!
broken schools... Smack!
broken government... Smack!
broken churches... Smack!
broken witnesses... Smack!
And we honestly believe that we can make ourselves happier than God can make us?
Well, if we believe that, it certainly isn't based on the evidence.
"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.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace."- Proverbs 3:11-17
I love the way God disciplines us. I don't know if your experience is like mine, but it seems that He disciplines in waves. He'll teach me a truth, compel me to learn to walk in that truth tripping and being picked back up as I go, and then once I get to walking pretty good, He lets go and watches me for a while. I get to thinking, because I am walking pretty steady in all the light I know, that I must have arrived at maturity, when, bam!, another discipline cycle begins and I feel like a toddler again in the faith.
ReplyDeleteThe "smacks" you culled from Scripture are needed in the discipline process. The invitation is to cooperate with God in His quest to perfect holiness in us ---both individually and corporately. But so often, the smacks just make people mad. I think the Old Testament prophets encountered this all the time.
Great post. Thanks.