Psalm 94. Blessed is the one you discipline.
In todayamprsquos psalm it is so easy for me to be judgemental like the psalmist seems to be. Avenge, he says to the Lord (v. 1). ampldquoRise up ... pay back to the proud what they deserveamprdquo (v. 2).
When I read the list of the evildoersamprsquo sins (vv. 4-7) I thought of the evildoers around me, especially the small group member who came to our meeting drunk and then sneaked drinks of alcohol throughout our meeting, becoming drunker and more abusive as our meeting went on. Heamprsquos an alcoholic, a jobless slave to alcohol, powerless to control that which he proudly claims he can, all the while spewing insults on those who pray for him, accept him in the group, and urge him to restraint.
He says he believes in God but mocks the Bible, claiming superior knowledge of how it was written and where edited parts are secretly kept, cynically claiming that twenty years ago he believed in the authorized version but now he knows better. Heamprsquos an alcoholic and a sinner who admits to neither and like the psalmist of todayamprsquos psalm I wonder about Godamprsquos silence regarding him: ampldquoDoes he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?amprdquo (v. 9).
Then I read, ampldquoBlessed is the one you discipline, Lordamprdquo (v. 12) and knew that person was me. Except for the alcoholism, I am a lot like that small group member at his age: proud, superior, and judgemental. In fact, Iamprsquom not a great deal different even now. That memberamprsquos presence in my small group for the past three years is a part of Godamprsquos discipline that I undergo, part of Godamprsquos blessing to me. Heamprsquos showing me myself, the part I donamprsquot want to see, but for which Jesus died on the cross, as the psalmist knows and states, ampldquoWhen I said, My foot is slipping,amprsquo your unfailing love, Lord, supported meamprdquo (v.18).
Last winter at my motheramprsquos funeral my wife confessed that she had determined to divorce me but changed her mind because of the example of my motheramprsquos 50 year marriage commitment to my stepfather. I am a hard man to live with and I didnamprsquot blame my wife because I have a difficult time accepting people for who they are. I want to change them to meet my standard instead of seeking to know and apply Godamprsquos standard to my own life. I canamprsquot change people and itamprsquos not my business to anyway. Iamprsquom called to love them which I cannot do with my own strength or effort. I need a refuge from a wicked world and my own sinfulness, which todayamprsquos psalmist understands well: ampldquothe Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refugeamprdquo (v. 22). I need to live in the fortress of God even as I live in this world.
Application: Seek the path of loving acceptance not judgement tomorrow when my small group helps cleans the chairs of the church.
