Devotionals
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
Prov 1:2-4
Dare to Discipline. Ring a bell? It will to many parents. Even if they haven’t read the book, the concept reverberates within us … maybe with fear … maybe in expectation. Nonetheless, somewhere from a deep reservoir of our being we know discipline to be soul-stuff.
Dare to Discipline. I love the title. It reflects God’s heart … a heartbeat of love … a willingness to be inconvenienced, to be poured out, on the behalf of the beloved … because to do less would be … to lack love.
A far cry from Advice to the Lovelorn, Solomon reveals the very foundation for Wisdom’s discourse. Because of love, Wisdom must speak.
The NIV opens Proverbs gently.
I like to think of myself as basically a disciplined person; doing pretty well at that self-control thing now that I’m a grownup, now that I'm no longer in need of a parental guiding hand.
I don’t think that’s God’s perspective, though, not when I view Solomon’s opening lines in the KJV. Take a peek:
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
It becomes clearer once I let the Hebrew language speak for itself:
Instruction to the Hebrew mindset means: chastisement, restraint, rebuke
I think I like it better in the NIV, its easier for my ‘grownup’ self to swallow … but God knows self for what it is … that unrestrained part of my being that plucks the Edenic tree, brutally gorging on desire. Self, left to follow its own ways, may gorge away on what it perceives as sweetness, but the only taste self would really know is death.
Here in the book of Proverbs, Solomon, king of Israel, may be wielding the pen, but the ink with which Wisdom writes flows scarlet. The King of kings dares to discipline this wayward heart. Wisdom knows that as grownup as I may choose to think myself, I’m ever a child before Him. A child needing Love’s restraint, needing Mercy’s chastisement.
To a much-treasured steed chomping at the bit, the bit may seem heartless and restrictive, but to arrive at the desired destination safe and sound, the noble steed’s heart must willingly submit to the Master’s hand.
Solomon asked God for wisdom … wisdom to govern his people … wisdom to govern himself. And Wisdom replied. May God grant me the grace to embrace the bit, recognizing Wisdom’s restraining Voice as the very road to abundant life in Him.
© DeAnna Brooks
11 September 2007
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
Reader Count & Comments
Date
A really lovely devotional with deep spiritual undertones in regards to the nature of loving discipline and its motive. I too am a denizen of the rocks and hills of Texas.
So timely! One of the biggest problem in the church today is failure to discipline in love or discipline at all.. Chastisement brings correction and correction can save souls. Bless you dear one.
The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1389 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by DeAnna Brooks or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1389 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.