January 18 ▪ Day 18

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 5:23
Genesis 35–36
Matthew 18
Psalms 18

Verse Focus (Proverbs 5:23)

He will die for lack of discipline,
     led astray by his own great folly.

Meditation

Our verse focus today says, in the NIV of 1984, “He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.” The NIV of 2021 says, “For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.” The translation I read this morning, the NRSV, says, “They die for lack of discipline, and because of their great folly they are lost.”

I understand the move to make the language of the Bible more inclusive. Although I personally don’t have a problem with the pronoun “he” as referring to all people, I do have friends who find that a stumbling block. And so I understand why the modern translations have switched to a plural form. But to my mind, the plural form lacks the punch of the singular. “They” — some unspecified group that will die — versus “he” will die (meaning me! ).

Every time I read this proverb, I feel a bit of a sting from the Holy Spirit. Self-discipline is always one of my biggest struggles. In a very literal sense, I think of dying because I failed to exercise and take care of my body. But the metaphorical “deaths” are just as compelling — failing an exam because you didn’t have the discipline to study and prepare, failing to achieve a dream because you couldn’t discipline yourself to do the work necessary for success, or perhaps falling into heartache and trouble because you failed to train yourself for godliness.

We all understand the importance of discipline, but we don’t always realize how severe the consequences may be for those who remain undisciplined. This makes me a little more understanding of the trials God allows into our lives as He loves us too much to allow us to go astray for long. Just remember the Scripture from Hebrews 12:11: “No discipline is pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

The story of God working through human history continues in Genesis 35. Just after the massacre at Shechem, God directs Jacob to go to Bethel where He had appeared to him the very first time. God protects them, throwing “a terror” upon the other Canaanite cities and communities so that no one pursues Jacob and his family.

Verses 2 through 4 are interesting, as Jacob tells his family to set aside their foreign gods and to purify themselves since they are going to worship the God who has been “with me wherever I have gone.” Partly I find it interesting because the language reminds me of Joshua’s call to the Israelites in Joshua 24; partly it’s because I hadn’t thought that the family would have so many other gods with them (other than what Rachel had stolen); and partly it’s interesting because of the priestly role that Jacob takes on. What’s curious, though, is that Jacob buries these household gods under an oak tree near Shechem. Perhaps he couldn’t destroy them, or feared destroying them, but I wondered if burying the household gods was a bit of holding back from their commitment to the Lord. Was it meant as a failsafe? A way that they could always find them again if they wanted to? Or was it simply a way to avoid open conflict with some of the wives of Shechem, by hiding rather than destroying their gods?

After Jacob built an altar at Bethel, God appears to him “again” and re-confirms the name change from Jacob to Israel. God also reveals himself as El-Shaddai, God Almighty, and he blesses Israel. He tells them to be fruitful and multiply, and He speaks of what He will do for Israel and his descendants. I was struck by this encounter because God didn’t ask Jacob to do anything in particular; He simply blesses him and tells Jacob what God will do for him and his descendants. It seems that this is often the way it is when God interacts with his chosen line.

We learn that Jacob’s eldest son Reuben sleeps with his father’s concubine, Bilhah, servant of Rachel. Although there is not much commentary on it in this chapter, it is a lapse that will have serious consequences later on. Also, even though there is not a blood relationship between Reuben and Bilhah, this type of relationship is condemned when the Law is given because of the close relationship between Bilhah and Reuben’s father.

In this chapter there are three deaths — Deborah, nurse to Jacob’s mother, dies. Rachel dies immediately after childbirth, and Isaac also dies. I had forgotten that Isaac got to meet all of Jacob’s 12 sons, so that was a nice gift that God gave to Isaac. Isaac was buried in Hebron by both his sons, just as Abraham had been buried there by both his sons.

Genesis 36 tells of Esau’s descendants, the Edomites. It also tells the story of Seir the Horite and his descendants, the major clan in that area. There were two inter-marriages between Esau’s descendants and the Horite clan. I can’t explain why sometimes they are referred to as “Horites” and sometimes as “Hivites” or “Hittites.” Perhaps it relates to what the Israelites called them versus what they called themselves. The Hittites are descendants of Heth, son of Noah’s grandson Canaan. The Hivites are also said to be descendants of Canaan, although the Bible doesn’t tell us whether they got their name from a son or grandson (most assume a son named Hivi). A source outside the Bible refers to Horites as a subset of the Hivites. So the difference may be similar to the differences of being an American (Hittite), a Washingtonian (Hivite), and a Seattleite (Horite).

Also in chapter 36, we get a history of the kings that ruled in Seir, also known as Edom, before the Israelites themselves became a kingdom.

In Matthew chapter 18, the disciples ask Jesus who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’ reply probably shocks them, as he says that they need to change and become like a child to even enter the kingdom of God. Jesus clarifies that it is the quality of humility that will make one greatest in the kingdom.

Next Jesus talks about stumbling blocks and temptations that might prevent one from entering the kingdom of God. “Occasions for stumbling are bound to come,” says Jesus. But he cries “woe” on any person who might be the agent for such stumbling.

Jesus tells us to cut off a hand or a foot or to tear out an eye — for it is better to be “maimed or lame” than to let your hand, foot, or eye cause you to be thrown into the fires of hell. These are pretty radical statements. How are we supposed to interpret this? As I was reading this chapter today, I was thinking that no one really interprets these statements literally. Even in the Middle Ages where they had some pretty severe practices, I don’t think anyone actually chopped off their own hand or foot because they thought it was causing them to sin (although perhaps this text is behind the ancient practice of cutting off a thief’s hand). But it occurred to me today that perhaps this is metaphorically referring to the body of Christ. Paul talks about being a hand or a foot or an eye and how the body needs all of its members. Do you think Jesus is talking about church splits? I’m not sure that Jesus is talking metaphorically about the body of Christ; it was just something that I started wondering about…. So, how do you think Jesus means us to apply these words to our lives?

As the chapter continues, Jesus starts talking about how we are to handle conflict and sin in our relationships. There is a progression. Matters must first be addressed privately; after that, if it is not resolved, then it should be discussed with two or three other witnesses; again, if not resolved, it should be brought before the church. Most important, however, is that we must forgive one another our trespasses. Jesus tells the story of the servant whose debts were cancelled who then turned around and tried to call in debts from other servants. When the master learned of the servant’s lack of mercy, the servant was punished — sent off to be jailed and tortured. This will be our fate, too, should we not extend forgiveness and mercy to others when the Father has been so merciful to us.

David wrote Psalm 18 after the LORD had brought him victory from all his enemies and saved him from Saul. “I love you, LORD,” the psalm begins. This strikes me because I did not come from a verbally demonstrative family. We certainly love each other deeply — but saying “I love you” is difficult for us. Do you ever tell God that you love Him? As I start reading this psalm, I realize that I have not often told God that I love Him. (But I hope He knows that I do.)

It is a beautiful psalm with stunning imagery of the LORD, who has “smoke” from His nostrils, and who uses “darkness” as a covering but has “brightness” go before Him. With spectacular hail and lightning, the LORD routs the enemy and lays bare the foundations of the earth. He saves David from those who “were too mighty for me,” and delivers him to a spacious place. After saving him, God equips and trains David so that he is able to take on his enemies.

Today as I read the psalm, I find verses 25 and 26 particularly interesting. “To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.” It’s almost like we can only see in God what exists within ourselves. That makes sense to me in terms of God’s righteous attributes. But what about the wicked? They don’t see an exact reflection, but they do see something they respect.

The psalm wraps up with David’s praise for the One who gives him the victory and the One who shows “unfailing love to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.”

Father God, thank you that you are a very personal God. Thank you that you care about each one of us individually, and that you worked through David and his descendants to bring us Jesus. Thank you that you rescue us when we need it and that you do bring us out to a spacious place. Thank you that you give us light and equip and train us for the battles ahead. Thank you, that in Christ Jesus, we always have the victory. Help us to be merciful and forgiving to one another. Help us to pursue wisdom and discipline. Enable us to enter your kingdom with humility. In Christ’s name, Amen.