July 20 ▪ Day 201

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 19:18
Daniel 3–4
Matthew 20
Psalms 17

Verse Focus (Proverbs 19:18)

Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
     do not be a willing party to their death.

Meditation

Today’s verse focus, Proverbs 19:18 says, in the ESV, “Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.”

There are several proverbs that speak of the need to discipline children. Some even suggest using physical discipline, such as Proverbs 13:24, which we looked at on March 23rd (Day 82). But today’s proverb is an interesting take on the need for discipline in raising children. “Do not be a willing party to their death,” says the NIV in the second half of this proverb. “There is hope,” the proverb reminds us.

Other proverbs have said that lack of discipline leads to death. In many instances, it is a metaphorical death — ruin. But the proverbs, particularly this one, also speak of literal death. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 records the punishment for a stubborn and rebellious son. If the parents are unable to discipline him, the alternative is to bring him before the town elders and the son will be sentenced to death by stoning.

It is this law in particular that the proverb references when it says, “Do not set your heart on putting him to death.” By not disciplining your child, you are allowing him to go down a path that will lead to death. But I think this proverb is also speaking about not giving up on your child. Don’t even begin to think that it will be easier and simpler if the child were just to die. And I’m sure many a parent has felt that way — temporarily! — when dealing with a stubborn and rebellious child. It’s one thing when the child is a toddler if he or she has a tantrum; much more problematic when your child is a teen or even an adult.

That’s why the proverb tells you, “There is hope.” The hope comes from the discipline. So much of our hope does come through discipline. When you struggle through a dark valley, or struggle to maintain consistent devotional times, or struggle to establish patterns of healthy living — it is the discipline and the perseverance that gives you hope for the future. A future of joy, a future a walking closely with God, a future of well-being. And, in the case of this particular proverb, a future where your children are godly people of character.

Father God, thank you for disciplining us for our good. Please help us to discipline the children in our lives with love, wisdom, and hope. By your grace, may we all respond to discipline with improved character and strength. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Daniel 3 tells one of the iconic Bible stories for children — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are thrown into a fiery furnace for their refusal to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. But God miraculously rescues them.

The portrait we get of Nebuchadnezzar in this chapter is one of excess. He builds a large statue — 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide (the height of a ten-story building) — and then commands that everyone must worship this image. There is a sound that will signal when people are to bow down to the image — but it’s not just a trumpet call, no, it’s the sound of an orchestra: “the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music (v. 5).” Just as Nebuchadnezzar wants all people to bow down, so he wants all music to join together to declare the time to bow down to his statue. And those who do not do this will be punished. When God shows Himself able to rescue His servants, Nebuchadnezzar praises Him and then makes another one of his extravagant decrees: “Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way (v. 29).” Verse 29 amuses me because it shows me that — even as he gives lip-service to God — Nebuchadnezzar has not really changed at all.

The other verse that always strikes me is verse 18. Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego tell Nebuchadnezzar that God is able to rescue them. But, they say in verse 18, even if God chooses not to rescue them, they will “not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

As a child, learning this Bible story, the teachers would emphasize how Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego’s faith was rewarded. They believed in God. God saved them. Simple. But, as an adult, the story is actually more powerful. They believed in God. They knew God could save them if He chose to do so. They knew He might not save them, but they were prepared to die rather than dishonor God. Now that’s faith! And God did reward them in this life, saving them from the fiery furnace — and letting them be promoted by Nebuchadnezzar afterward. But my heart yearns to have a faith that trusts in God like Daniel’s three friends did — a faith that sees the goodness of God, regardless of the outcome of our circumstances.

Daniel 4 tells another instance of Daniel interpreting a dream for Nebuchadnezzar. In this case, the dream is foretells a time when Nebuchadnezzar will live with and like the beasts of the field for a period of seven “times” (days? weeks? months? years?) until he comes to acknowledge and honor God. Daniel counsels Nebuchadnezzar in verse 27, “Break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Perhaps Nebuchadnezzar heeded Daniel’s warning — for a while, at least. But a year later, in a moment of great pride, he is reminded of the dream’s prophecy and it is fulfilled. The chapter is bracketed by Nebuchadnezzar’s praise to God and his recounting of these events.

Several times in Jeremiah, the LORD refers to Nebuchadnezzar as “my servant.” Here, in Daniel 4, we see a peek behind the scenes of how God deals with the most powerful man in the Near East. This was the man that was ruling over Judah. And this chapter shows that God spoke with him, disciplined him, and used him as He saw fit. It likely gave the Israelites comfort to see evidence of how God rules over other people and nations. And it shows us, too, that God may be working with people in ways that we cannot imagine — and also in ways that we are just not privy to seeing.

As we read through Matthew 20 again, I am drawn to some of the same verses that hit me when we read this six months ago. Likely, these are verses that always speak to me (although I might not have been so aware of it if I had not been writing these meditations).

In verse 15, Jesus — as the vineyard owner — asks, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?” The second question is an English interpretation of what might be an idiom. Literally, the second question is, “Is your eye bad [evil, wicked, envious, grievous, malicious, slothful] because I am good [intrinsically good, generous, kind]?” Does seeing goodness reveal our badness?

I think this particular verse must resonate with me because I recognize that I am envious of how God is good to others. It seems crazy, and ludicrous, because God is very good to me. And I know it. But somehow I fail to see the things that other people might be envious of me for having — kind parents, a good family, a great education, and a comfortable life — and I only see the things that others have that I don’t: financial stability, luxury, children, and grandchildren. Oh, the heart is devious and sinful! And Jesus’ words are true. My eyes are bad. I’m looking at the wrong things. And when I read this verse, and Jesus’ questions, I see the need to repent. And I realize that I’ve been taking my blessings for granted. Forgive me, Father, for my ingratitude.

We share the disciples’ indignation in verse 24 — the audacity of asking to be granted seats at Jesus’ left and right hands! And yet Jesus did not rebuke James, John, or their mother for wanting greatness. He merely clarified for them — and for us — what greatness in God’s kingdom really means. As Jesus says in verse 28, “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

In the story of how Jesus heals the two blind men, we again see that audacity pays off. When the blind men heard that Jesus was passing by, they started crying out loudly. “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebukes them, and tells them to be quiet. Verse 31 tells us, “But they cried out all the more, ‘Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!’ ” They couldn’t see Jesus. They couldn’t follow him. They were blind. But they used their voices to call out to Jesus. They made a ruckus. They were audacious. They asked for what they wanted.

Sometimes we need to be audacious. We need to ask God for what we want. One time when I was meditating on this story, and visualizing myself on the road outside Jericho, I saw — to my surprise — that even as I imagined being a blind man looking for healing, I also saw myself in the crowd. I was also the one telling myself to be quiet, to not make noise, to shush. And I wonder if that’s true for any of you. Are you afraid to ask Jesus for what you want? Does part of you think it’s not right for you to beg Jesus for mercy? Perhaps you feel you don’t deserve God’s mercy. Perhaps you just don’t want to be in the spotlight, or to have God’s laser eyes looking at you too closely. But we may not receive unless we ask. I think many times God waits to give us things until we actually ask Him for them. So, be audacious. Cry out to Jesus. Tell him what you need.

Today as I read Psalm 17 in a different translation, I noticed a verse that had never really stood out to me before. David is praying for protection from wicked men. In verse 13, he prays, “Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword.” He adds in verse 14, “from men of the world whose portion is in this life.” Verse 14 continues, “You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.”

It was startling to see that David was equating wickedness with people who have goodness in this world and this life. They may have children and abundance, and they may leave a legacy, but because they have no portion in heaven, they are wicked. The Hebrew in verse 14 must be a bit obscure, because translations will read differently on the second half of verse 14 (some see the children and abundance as being given to godly people). But the first half of the verse — where it describes men who only live for this life as the wicked men that David needs saving from — is not obscure.

When I think of the wicked, I think of people who are truly evil and horrific. Murderers. Gangsters. Those greedy for monetary gain, who will do anything or hurt anyone to get ahead. I don’t think of people who are happy with families as being wicked. But perhaps I should. Perhaps, I, too, should be praying that God would save me from those who are so satisfied with this life that they see no benefit in reaching out for God. Because if they help me to forget that being with God is what truly satisfies, then they are my enemies.

Father God, I long to see your face. I know that life on this earth is just a foretaste of the goodness to come. And there are many, many things to thank you for in the here and now. Thank you for blessing me with a wonderful family. Thank you for my friends. Thank you for equipping me with a good education and tools to work. Thank you for providing for me financially. Please remove envy from my heart. Give me eyes to see your goodness. And develop within me the kind of faith that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had. Thank you most of all for sending us Jesus Christ and giving us the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.