My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline . . . Proverbs 3:11
This chapter of Hebrews elaborates on the wisdom writings of Proverbs 3, telling us that as God's children, we have to respect and submit to His discipline, even more than we respected our earthly fathers when they disciplined us. If we are not subject to any discipline at all, verse 8 says, then we are like illegitimate children!
For the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. Prov 3:12
Of course, discipline is painful and unpleasant, verse 11 goes on to acknowledge. However, it will subsequently the "peaceful fruit of righteousness" to those who have been trained by it.
Although I have read this passage, and its associated source in Proverbs 3 many times before, I realise for the first time today that we should look at episodes of painful discipline from the Lord as a course of training. It is meant to strengthen us and to keep us spiritually fit, eventually to bear the fruit of righteousness in our character. And verse 12 goes on to say that we should strengthen our hands and knees, and press on in the race (refer verse 1).
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, and fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. he will come and save you." Isaiah 35: 3
This reminds me of some Saturday mornings when I bring my mother to a physiotherapy centre near my home for rehabilitation. Over the last couple of months, with the expert advice and gentle persuasion of the physiotherapist, my mother has been able to recover considerable mobility to her knees and hip joints. In the course of the treatment, she has had to endure a lot of pain when trying to regain some range of movements to "feeble knees" which had not been moved for a long time because of the pain she suffered from osteoarthritis. Ironically, by moving those parts that hurt, under the physio's supervision, eventually they don't hurt so much anymore!
. . . lift your drooping hands, and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed v 13
Dear Christians, are there among us who are going through episodes of painful discipline from the Lord? Let us take it as a course of training for righteousness. Like physio rehab, we must work those limbs that are lame, so that they will not be put out of joint altogether.
