9/24/2010 6:59:01 AM
SPIRITUAL DIARY
My Worship Time Focus: The chastening
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: 2Sam. 12:15-23
Message of the verses: “15 ¶ So Nathan went to his house. Then the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s widow bore to David, so that he was very sick. 16 David therefore inquired of God for the child; and David fasted and went and lay all night on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him in order to raise him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them. 18 Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Behold, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm!" 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead." 20 So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food." 22 He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ’Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ 23 "But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.’”
I want to begin this portion of my SD by quoting from Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary on 2Samuel: “Chastening is not punishment meted out by and angry judge who wants to uphold the law; rather, it’s difficulty permitted by a loving Father who wants His children to submit to His will and develop godly character. Chastening is an expression of God’s love: ‘11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights’ (Proverbs 3:11-12).”
The death of Bathsheba’s son brings about a question that must be asked, but difficult to answer and the question is “Why does a loving God permit evil in the world?” Dr. Wiersbe writes “There are no easy answers to settle our minds, but there are plenty of dependable promises to heal our hearts, and faith is nurtured on promises, not explanations.” I like that last part of the quote speaking of promises that nurture us and not explanations. Abraham said in Genesis 18:25 “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?’”
Some have said that what David meant in verse twenty three means that David was speaking of him going to his son in death, but this would not be a good promise, for I believe that David is speaking of going to see his son, whom he will recognize, in glory.
One more thing and that is something that I have gone over in earlier SD’s and that is the part where David learned of his son’s death and then the Scripture says “So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes.” “In Scripture, washing oneself and changing clothes symbolizes making a new beginning.”
Spiritual meaning for my life today: David had been away from the Lord for a long time before Nathan confronted him with his sins, and now David has returned to fellowship with the Lord and this is seen by what David is doing in this section and this shows that he truly is a man after God’s own heart. What I can learn from this is it is important how I handle problems, how I handle chastening from the Lord, and it does not always mean that I have sinned in order to be chastened by the Lord. The word in Hebrews 12:5-13 that is translated in the KJV as chastening and in the NASB as discipline speaks of the discipline that a Greek son were taught when they were little as they went to the gym to learn how to be prepared for life. “AV-chastening 3, nurture 1, instruction 1, chastisement 1; 6
1) the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment) It also includes the training and care of the body
2) whatever in adults also cultivates the soul, esp. by correcting mistakes and curbing passions.
2a) instruction which aims at increasing virtue
2b) chastisement, chastening, (of the evils with which God visits men for their amendment)”
This explanation comes from the Greek English dictionary that is on the Online Bible program that I have on my computer.
My Steps of Faith for Today:
1. Learn to handle discipline in a godly mater so that I will grow in the Lord from that experience.
2. Give myself to the Lord for worship and service.
3. Trust the Lord to direct my path today.
9/24/2010 7:41:19 AM
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