Theological Commentary: Click Here
At first,
this psalm seems to be about vengeance. To
read the opening lines of this psalm is to strap oneself in for yet another
psalm that seeks to bring God out of His complacency and into action against
the enemies of the psalmist. It feels
like another, “I’m right, so avenge me, God” kind of psalm.
However,
that isn’t really what’s going on. That
may be the context, but that isn’t the point of the psalm. Yes, God rules over the world. Yes, God can vindicate His people. Yes, God can deliver the oppressed.
Look at the
heart of the psalm, though. Blessed is
the one whom the Lord disciplines.
Blessed is the one to whom God points out their errors and encourages to
go through the tough process of change.
When put
that way, it doesn’t sound very blessed, does it? Who likes reprimand? Who likes correction? Who likes to be told they’re wrong? Who likes to have growth areas
illustrated? Growth, change, and reprimand
is never fun.
On the other
hand, who ever wants to be the same?
Does any of us really wish we had the same wisdom as when we were
fourteen? Would any of us like to go
back to the maturity of a sixteen-year-old?
Would any of us like to go back to the lack of genuine confidence felt
in one’s early twenties? I’m sure ten or
twenty years from now I’ll look back on myself and say that I’m glad I’m not
the same person that I am now. Life is
about growth. Life is about change. Life is about bettering oneself and becoming
a new person.
That’s why
the discipline of the Lord is a blessing.
God causes us to growth and mature.
He causes us to change. In Him we
find our true rock and stronghold. Yes,
relationship with God is tough. It’s
difficult to look in the mirror and see flaws and faults. But I’d rather look in the mirror and see the
flaws and faults than to pretend they aren’t really there.
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