Theme: Chastisement Builds
Character – Series 25
Psalm
94:12 KJV: “Blessed is the man whom Thou chasten, O Lord, and teach him out of
Thy law.” NCV: “Lord, those You correct
are happy; You teach them from Your law.”
To
give better idea what exactly is chasten? Chasten (verb) = to correct by
punishment or suffering. Chastise (verb) = 1. To punish severely (as by whipping)
2: to criticize harshly. Chastisement is a noun.
What
chastise is difference from discipline? I mentioned the meaning of discipline
from Series 5. Discipline means strict training that corrects or strengthens
mental ability or moral character while chastisement is more of a punishment to
correct. To discipline is also more of
control gained by enforcing obedience. It
would be good to know more about the chastisement so I used . . .
Holman
Bible Dictionary quotes:
Chasten or chastisement: Refers to an act of punishment intended to instruct and
change behavior. Two basic Hebrew words
express the idea—yakach, “to settle
a dispute, reprove”; yasar,” to
instruct, a discipline.”
King David
prayed this prayer: Psalm 6:1 Lord, don’t
correct me when you are angry; don’t punish me when you are very angry. [NCV] Commentary from The Full Life Study
Bible by Donald Stamps: Psalm 6:1-10 Rebuke Me Not in Thine Anger: This psalm
is one of the seven penitential (repent) psalm (i.e., psalms of sorrow for sin;
others are Psalm 32; 38; 51; 130; 143). The Holy Spirit inspired this prayer to
give encouragement to all who have suffered for a long time under the
chastisement of God and who need pardon and healing.
Commentary 6:2 O Lord, heal me: During a time of physical affliction and
divine chastisement that King David knows he deserves, the psalmist has lost his
sense of the presence of God (v.4) and spiritual peace (v.3). He has suffered
for a long time and is in intense grief.
King David’s prayer is not so much that God will remove all rebuke from
him as it is that God’s chastening might be mingled with mercy and not be so
severe that he dies. (Psalm 6:2-4 “Lord, have mercy on me
because I am weak. Heal me, Lord, because my bones aches. I am very upset. Lord, how long will it be? Lord, return and save me; save me because of
Your kindness” (NCV).
Commentary 6:4 Deliver my soul: Though the penitent (person who repent and sorrow for one’s sins) one is concerned
about the healing of his body (v.2), King David primary concern is for the
healing of his soul and the restoration of the presence and favor of God. King David longs for God to be near him and
appeals to His mercy and love (v.2,4).
Since love and mercy are a part of God’s character, believers may appeal
to Him to be true to His character.
Dorothy: What is the point of this research? I like to
know what King David went through and how he prayed to His God for mercy. How King David knew that He could trust God
for pardon and deliverance from chastisement. Eventually David was thankful for
chastisement that kept him close to God the Father who cares for King David.
We
can trust God in time of chastisement and this should makes us glad to know
that God intends that “Chastisement builds character.” So the verse that says, “Blessed
is the man whom Thou chasten, O Lord, and teach him out of Thy law.” I
interpret this to mean: Be glad that God continues to work (chasten) on our
lives however painful it might be and His Word teaches us His way. Like King David, we know that God will not
abandon us. Amen!
May
the Lord bless you!
Dorothy
PS. Deut. 8:5
Know in your heart that the Lord your God
corrects you as a parent corrects a child. [NCV]
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