September 2 ▪ Day 245

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 22:15
Judges 7–8
II Corinthians 1–2
Psalms 61

Verse Focus (Proverbs 22:15)

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
     but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.

Meditation

Proverbs 22:15 says, in the NIV, “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.” Obviously, this proverb holds a lot of meaning for parents. But as I look at the verse today, I can’t help but think of the individual believer’s walk with God. Our hearts are foolish, weak, and self-centered. But God disciplines us for our good. Difficulties enter our lives, and we learn — slowly, oh so slowly! — to cling closer to the Lord. The fruit of suffering gives us greater strength of character. We discern what things are truly important, and learn not to sweat about things that will pass.

All of the world is experiencing discipline right now as we endure the Covid-19 pandemic. Isolation and distancing only serves to remind us that people are what is important. Family is important. Fellowship is important. We must mend our relationships. Similarly, illness, suffering, and death remind us of the impermanence of life. More and more people have been touched by death. Before the pandemic, we could easily forget that life ends one day, but this pandemic will not allow us to be so carefree. We see the fragility of life. And our helplessness reminds us that we worship One who is sovereign. We may not fully understand why God allows the pandemic to continue, but there are still many lessons to be learned. In a society split by racial division and political controversy, we learn yet again the importance of compassion and love in all our interactions with each other.

No one enjoys discipline. Even the Bible agrees with this. Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems 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.” I remember as a child being disciplined by my father — if I’d been particularly naughty, I might get spanked. A small wood scrap served as a paddle. I think the most any of us ever got was three light whacks. It stung a bit, but wasn’t really onerous. Still, the dread of being spanked would inspire better behavior.

Then there’s the discipline of exercise. Or consistent practice: making yourself do something, even when you don’t feel like doing it. If I hadn’t been so rebellious of the discipline of practicing, I might be a better piano player. On the other hand, I did develop the discipline of seeking God every day (by His grace). And I have been so grateful for building those spiritual disciplines — it has been my saving grace in times of turmoil.

This verse is particularly poignant for me as I consider the process of writing meditations. This past year has not been easy. It has been a discipline to write, and many times I had to force myself to do so. But it got easier, and I had developed a bit of rhythm. Then my brother died. An interruption. A minor earthquake. And I’ve been struggling to write meditations ever since. In my struggle, I’d forgotten the value of discipline. Of sitting down to write, even if I didn’t feel like doing so. Of giving it a bit of time. Saying, I’ll try for an hour, and if I don’t get anywhere, then I can do something else. But this verse reminds me that discipline is my friend. And with discipline, and God’s grace, I will continue until the year is complete.

Father God, help us to persevere under discipline. Help us to remember that a harvest of righteousness and peace is awaiting us. Help us in our roles as parents and supervisors to be good disciplinarians when necessary. But most of all, help us to find the good when you discipline us as your children. By your grace, in Jesus’ love, Amen.

Judges 7 tells one of the iconic stories of the Old Testament. Gideon saves Israel with just 300 men. Considering his fighting force began with 32,000 men, it is a remarkable story. But, of course, that is the whole point. It was not a human victory — it was God’s victory.

Chapter 8 verse 10 tells us that the army of the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the East numbered about 135,000 men. So even though Gideon was originally able to muster 32,000 men to fight against them, that was still slightly less than one quarter of the forces of their enemies. Yet God tells Gideon that he has too many men. He does not want Israel to think that they have been saved by their own strength. So He tells Gideon to dismiss any who are fearful. And 22,000 men leave — over two thirds of their company. With 10,000 men, Gideon’s forces have dropped from 24 per cent to 7.5 per cent of the size of their enemies. But God tells him that there are still too many men.

It’s a good thing that Gideon had previously been fortified by the signs of the fleeces! Otherwise his heart might have quailed as he saw more and more men leave.

In separating the men who “lapped” from the men who knelt to drink from the water, I once heard a Bible teacher point out that those who lapped were more cautious and alert to their surroundings. And while it’s true that the 300 men that Gideon ends up with may have been the “cream of the crop,” their final fighting force is still only 0.2 per cent the size of the armies of the East. But God knows that Gideon might be fearful, and so He encourages Gideon by having him witness a dream and its interpretation — that Gideon’s sword will demolish the Midianites for God has given them all into his hand.

And so, in a strategy reminiscent of the fall of Jericho, Gideon and his three small companies of men approach the camp. They blow their trumpets, smash the jars that were protecting the torches from the wind (and possibly keeping the lights concealed until that moment), and they shout. In Ellicott’s Bible commentary, he points out that the Midianites might have assumed that each trumpet represented an entire company of fighters — so instead of 300 men, the army thought they were about to fight 300 companies of men. Regardless, the sudden commotion startles the Midianite army so they end up fighting one another. After cannibalizing themselves, the army flees.

At this point, when the army of the East is already on the run, then Gideon calls out additional forces in pursuit. The men of Ephraim capture and kill two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. As chapter 8 begins, the men of Ephraim are angry at Gideon for not calling them to participate at the start of the offensive against Midian. But Gideon is able to mollify them when he points out that they had the honor of killing the Midianite princes.

Gideon and his 300 men continue the pursuit of the army of the East and the two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. Two different groups of Israelites refuse to give aid to Gideon and his men, so he promises retribution once he returns. As verse 10 tells us, with the self-destructive rampage of the army when Gideon and his men first attacked and with what the additional forces were able to do, the army of the East had already lost 120,000 men. Only 15,000 remained with the two Midianite kings. Despite their massive losses, the two kings felt secure. But Gideon came through in an unexpected way, and he was able to capture the two kings of Midian.

Despite how powerfully God used Gideon in these battles, chapter 8 also holds some disturbing notes. Gideon punishes the officials and elders of Succoth for their refusal to help them by whipping them with thorns and briers. He tears down the tower of Penuel and kills the men of the city. The two Midianite kings had apparently killed Gideon’s brothers, so he determines that they must die. Gideon tries to get his young son to kill them, but he is too frightened. So Gideon kills the two kings of Midian. Each of these incidents make me question Gideon’s wisdom; I am divided as to whether I think what he did was good or bad.

Yet Gideon shows wisdom when he refuses to rule over the Israelites. In verse 23 Gideon says, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.”

Unfortunately, Gideon asks for some spoil from the Israelites and he is given earrings. The weight of the earrings adds up to 1,700 shekels — about 43 pounds — of gold, which, in today’s prices would be worth over a million dollars. Gideon uses the gold to make an ephod, and verse 27 tells us that this ephod becomes an idol in his hometown. It also “became a snare to Gideon and his household (v. 27).” It is especially unfortunate, because I think it was likely Gideon that meant to honor God by making the ephod (since the ephod was a piece of religious clothing, typically worn by a priest). But Gideon was from the tribe of Manasseh; he was not a Levite.

Despite Gideon’s shortcomings, verse 28 tells us that the land had peace for 40 years.

We begin reading 2 Corinthians today with chapters 1 and 2. As I’ve noted before, the opening passage in chapter 1 is one of my favorite passages in the entire Bible:

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. ⁶If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

I especially like how the ESV puts verse 7. “Our hope for you is unshaken.”

As Paul describes the gravity of the troubles and suffering they had experienced in Asia, he says that they “despaired of life itself (v. 8).” Yet he goes on in verse 9 to say, “But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” I can’t help but think of my earlier meditation on the value of God’s discipline. One of the reasons hardships occur is so that we might learn to depend on God.

Suffering is difficult, terrible, and painful. Yet, for the Christian, even as “we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings (v. 5),” that suffering is combined with God’s comfort. They are fused together. You cannot have one without — eventually — the other. And it is God Himself who is able to take the worst kind of pain and suffering and then redeem it into something hopeful and positive. Christ’s crucifixion becomes our salvation. As I suffer through heartache and pain and persevere into victory, my story will give comfort to others who go through similar events. So eventually we will see that the suffering is worth its redemption. The discipline is worth it. So keep persevering.

Chapter 2 verse 11 strikes me again, as it did six months ago. Paul writes, “We would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” This time I think beyond the need to forgive, and consider Satan’s role in the midst of our difficulties and our suffering. When we go through hardship, Satan would love it if we would just stay stuck there. If we are not able to turn to God, or if we become angry and bitter at God. Those are the devil’s schemes. That’s how Satan would like us to respond to suffering. Instead, we must see Christ and be encouraged. We must persevere. And one reason to persevere is so that the devil will not win.

Psalm 61 also strikes similar chords for me today. Verse 2 resonates, as it did six months ago. “When my heart is faint,” says the psalmist, “lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” The psalmist goes on in verse 3 to say, “For you have been my refuge.”

I suppose it’s not surprising that my heart still feels faint. There are many pressures. Besides the pandemic, my personal situation is still very similar to six months ago. Unemployed, with increasing financial concerns. Recent bereavement has put me on slightly uneven footing, yet there are many of same struggles I always seem to be fighting — to use my time wisely, to take better care of my health, to do what God calls me to do.

And yet despite these difficulties, there is also immense comfort. The women in my Bible Study rallied around me after my brother’s death. I was cared for — and fed! And for the first time in a long time, there are promising possibilities for employment. Every day I see evidence of God’s love for me. Scripture verses strengthen me.

When I think of “the rock that is higher than I,” it brings to mind an immensity and immovability — the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. I think of how much higher God is than humankind. But today as I think about this rock that is higher than me, it occurs to me that as I ask to be led to this higher rock, I am also asking to go higher. Take me out of the valley of difficulty and into the mountains of clarity and vision. Even though this verse has given me a lot of comfort over the years, it seems that at its heart the verse is asking for something bigger and better and even more challenging. And that’s a very odd thing for someone with a faint heart to ask for.

Perhaps the point is that the only way through difficulty is onward and upwards. Persevering. Stretching yourself. Going higher — so long as we make God our refuge.

Father God, I’m so grateful that you are my refuge and strength. Thank you that your comfort is always there, even when we are facing trials. Continue to help me to hold on to you and to persevere. Help me with the discipline — give me the resolve and the endurance. May I continue to grow in better and better habits. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.