February 4 ▪ Day 35

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 10:17
Isaiah 19–20
Romans 13–14
Psalms 35

Verse Focus (Proverbs 10:17)

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
     but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

Meditation

Today’s proverb is one of those that can be interpreted in different ways, so your view of what God is saying to you will differ depending on the translation you read. When I read the proverb this morning, I was reading the New Revised Standard Version. Proverbs 10:17 said, “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but one who rejects a rebuke goes astray.” Straight-forward enough. I spent time meditating on rejecting rebukes. But then when I sat down to start writing, I saw what the New International Version had to say: “Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.” Curious, I compared this verse using multiple translations. Although the basic idea is the same — instruction/discipline giving life, and ignoring/rejecting rebukes causing detours and drifting — the translations differ as to whether this affects only yourself or whether it also affects others. The Amplified Bible took the route of saying “both / and” — these behaviors not only affect yourself, they also affect others.

When I was meditating this morning, I was thinking about this impacting only myself. I was thinking about why someone might reject a rebuke. The obvious reason is because it stings. No one likes to be corrected or to find oneself in error. It’s worse when that error is being pointed out by someone else! But sometimes the person rebuking you is wrong in what they’re saying. They’ve misunderstood you. The log in their eye is so huge they see everyone else through that lens. Or perhaps they are simply applying an unusually harsh and high standard to your behavior. Regardless of whether the person is right or wrong in rebuking you, you have to move beyond the hurt to see what the truth is. And there is truth — even when the details are wrong. It may be only a kernel of truth regarding one of your flaws, but it will be there. And there’s truth, too, in what you’ll learn about relationships and about right ways and wrong ways to correct another person.

But it’s the other translation that I find really fascinating: the one where how you respond to instruction and correction affects those around you. By listening to instruction, you illustrate the right way to go. By your discipline, you show the way to life. Think about it: every person who has developed good habits in regards to eating and exercise is a beacon of wellness for those who still struggle in these areas. Those we deem to be spiritual giants became that way because they put in the time and the effort to grow. Martin Luther routinely prayed for three hours every day. Is it any wonder that God used his life to impact all of Christendom?

I want to show others the way to life and I don’t want to be someone who leads others astray. Oftentimes, I struggle to do the right things. Knowing now that my success or failure will help or hurt others gives me added motivation.

Father God, help me to remember that how I respond to discipline will affect not only myself, but those around me. I pray that you will give me your Spirit of power and discipline so that I will have the strength to do what is right. Keep me on the right path, and use me to show others the right way too. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Our chapters in Isaiah continue with God’s word for other nations. Today, God speaks to Egypt and Ethiopia (Cush). Isaiah 19 is a prophecy about the coming fall of Egypt before a “hard master” and “fierce king” — the King of Assyria. The chapter is filled with images — God rides on a “swift cloud,” the idols “tremble,” hearts “melt.” There is internal strife: God will “confound” their plans. The Nile dries up; vegetation rots. There is economic ruin: “all who work for wages will be grieved (v. 9).” The spirit of confusion that God sends will make the Egyptians stagger “as a drunkard staggers around in vomit (v. 14).”

I’m not sure why Isaiah’s word pictures seemed more vivid to me today. Perhaps because — except for being conquered by an alien king — I could see our nation in 2020 in this picture of Egypt’s demise. It certainly seemed like we had “Egyptians against Egyptians” and “neighbor against neighbor” in this past year. I could identify with the confusion and with plans that get confounded, with the workers in despair.

However, towards the end of the chapter, there’s a marked change in the prophecy. Isaiah speaks of five cities in Egypt that will speak “the language of Canaan” and who will also swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. There will be an altar to God in the middle of Egypt and God will send them “a savior” (v. 20). The chapter concludes with a striking verse, “Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage (v. 25).”

I don’t know about you, but I think my jaw dropped when I read verse 25 last year. Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands? I understand Israel my heritage — but have you ever really thought about God calling other nations to Himself? Not just using them as tools, but loving the people? Treasuring the unique identity of another country other than Israel?

We know that in the gospel God calls all people to Himself. There are chosen in every tribe and nation. But, somehow, in my mind, it was all one big happy church. A melting pot of mass Christian identity. I wasn’t thinking about God treasuring what is different about each tribe and nation. But of course He does treasure our uniqueness — He’s the one that gave it to us in the first place. My surprise was a function of the smallness of my mind — that’s why I was so shocked by “Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands.”

Isaiah chapter 20 also speaks about the upcoming deportation for Egypt and Ethiopia (Cush) when the King of Assyria conquers them. However, before God gives this very clear prophecy about the King of Assyria leading away Egyptian captives and Ethiopian exiles, Isaiah is first told to alter his behavior. For three years before the prophecy comes, Isaiah walks around naked and barefoot to be a sign for the upcoming prophecy. It’s almost like a kind of performance art. Except that it just goes on and on and on… for three years!

As we’ll see throughout this year, Isaiah is not the only one who does this type of performance prophecy. Sometimes the Israelites are told beforehand what it means; othertimes, they have to wait years until they are given an explanation. I have to confess: this type of prophecy makes me very uncomfortable. I can’t imagine being told to walk around barefoot and naked for three years. Barefoot I might be able to do. Naked? Not so much. But as we’ll see in other Old Testament passages, God sometimes asks His prophets to do things that are humiliating or just plain strange.

Romans chapter 13 tells us that authorities have been instituted by God. Paul argues that civil authorities have been put in place to do us good. We should submit to them.

Although Romans was written before Paul’s lengthy incarceration by the Roman legal system, that would not have changed his position regarding submission to governmental authorities. In fact, a book on prayer that I read recently pointed out that Paul never prayed for God to change circumstances for believers. He could have asked for a new emperor to come to power, for changes in the civil law so that Christians wouldn’t be persecuted — any number of things. But Paul consistently focused on the main prayer that believers should come to know God’s love and goodness more deeply. The point wasn’t that it’s wrong to pray for a change in our circumstances so much as that it’s far more important to pray that we change. And a changed believer has greater impact on the world than most changes in government.

This passage in Romans about submitting to government is a fairly short section. It is not meant to be an exhaustive commentary on the role of government in our lives; it does not cover every possibility. That our rulers are corrupt is a given since Paul has already talked about how every person is evil — no one is righteous. The passage doesn’t specifically talk about when rulers misuse their authority and when they are downright vile. So civil disobedience and how Christians should treat truly evil leaders are beyond the scope of today’s discussion. Dietrich Bonhoeffer came to the conclusion that he should actively work against Hitler. Doubtless there were Christians who felt that they should resist some of the evil and actually insane emperors of ancient Rome. But for our purposes — as a default strategy for Christians — we should consider obedience and submission to governmental authorities our primary duty and responsibility.

I was struck today by the beginning of verse 8. “Owe no one anything.” As the paragraph continues, Paul talks about the debt of love and how love fulfills the law. And, granted, to love one another is one of Jesus’ main commandments. So it’s understandable if we overlook that first part: owe no one anything. I think, when I struggled with finances and short-term debt, it was easy to just skip on past this instruction to owe nothing. But now that I am — by the grace of God — debt-free, I am struck by how important this little instruction is. Especially for our consumer-driven free-credit society!

I should point out, however, that Paul doesn’t say, “Don’t get in debt.” (Although that’s one of the easiest ways to stay debt-free!) Rather, he says, “Let no debt remain outstanding.” In other words, if you are in debt, work your hardest to repay and get out of debt as soon as you can. 🙂

The final thing that struck me as I was reading Romans 9 today, was from verse 11. “It is now the moment for you to wake from long sleep,” Paul says. For our salvation is “nearer” now than when we first believed. It’s easy to have a ho-hum attitude about end times, especially since it’s been nearly 2,000 years since Paul wrote these words. But the Holy Spirit urges me today, Wake up! Be alert! Be ready.

Romans 14 teaches us to accept the differences that may occur between believers, and urges us not to judge. The specific example Paul uses, that of eating meat sacrificed to idols, is not something that bothers us today at all. And perhaps it’s better that it’s not a hot-button topic because it allows us to view what he’s saying more dispassionately. The other topic Paul mentions, of whether or not you hold certain days as sacred or special, still does affect some believers today. My brother and sister-in-law attend a church that believes all days should be treated the same. This occasionally caused some tension as our family celebrations at Thanksgiving and Christmas would come into conflict with what their church planned for its members. But, fortunately, the difference in opinion on the issue of special days has not been an area of great contention.

Paul speaks quite plainly. “Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another?” he asks (v. 4). And, again, in verse 10: “Why do you pass judgment on your brother of sister?”

I recently read a blog where someone was condemning a popular Christian pastor for a number of “false teachings.” Even though a number of the “false teachings” were misrepresentations of what this person actually teaches, what disturbed me most was the attitude of judgment displayed by this author. We all want to be orthodox in our beliefs. But thinking that any one person or church holds the “key” to genuine orthodoxy is just pride. We all have wrong attitudes and beliefs, just as we all have some things that we’re completely spot on about.

Paul admonishes us to treat others with grace. In areas where there is difference of opinion — one may actually be correct and the other incorrect — but the issue is not right and wrong but strength and weakness. One of the believers is “weak.” And the strong believer needs to take special care not to cause the weak believer to stumble. “Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died,” Paul tells us (v. 15). There are two issues here: one has to do with judgment, and whether or not you communicate that judgment; the second has to do with what you practice, particularly if that practice conflicts with the practice of another believer. Regarding the first, Paul says that we should not be judging other believers. As for the second, we should take care not to jeopardize the faith of someone else by what we do. The kicker is in verse 23: “for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” If we cause someone to alter their behavior because of what we believe and not what they believe, that ends up being sinful for them.

That is why Paul’s summation in verse 19 is so important: “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” More important than my freedom to eat meat — or to dance or to read fiction or to play cards or to drink alcohol — is my obligation to love others and to help them grow in Christ. Which will I choose? My freedom of behavior in Christ? Or self-denial to help another believer?

Psalm 35 is yet another psalm that was written by David. We are not told the circumstances behind this psalm, but as I read it I was reminded of that time in his life when he was on the run because of his son Absalom’s attempted coup. People have turned against David. He has enemies “without cause.” Verse 13 talks about how David mourned and fasted for these same people when they were ill. But David’s goodwill for them was repaid with slander and false accusations. I found verse 3 particularly poignant as David prays for God to encourage him: “Say to me, ‛I am your salvation.’ ”

David pleads for God to contend for him, to awake and be near him. He cries out for vindication. “Let all those who rejoice at my calamity be put to shame and confusion,” he prays in verse 26. But David also prays for those who support him: “Let those who desire my vindication shout for joy and be glad.” He ends the psalm simply with a declaration of future praise.

Father God, if ever I am in the position of needing vindication, I pray that I will turn to you. If people return evil for my good, may I not be tempted to evil myself. Thank you that you are my salvation. You are my praise.

Help me to build up and encourage other believers. Help me to do and say what leads to peace. Keep me from insisting upon my own rights and freedoms at the cost of another’s wellbeing. Give me discernment, but keep me from a spirit of condemnation. Help me to be disciplined and to show the path to life by how I live. I pray in Christ’s name, Amen.