August 14, 2011

“Despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.” Hebrews 7:5

The reference given for the verse quoted at the top of the page of the devotional was Hebrews 7:5. But the reference did not ring true so I looked it up. I knew that verse was in chapter 12 and I didn’t think it was in chapter 7 as well.

Sure enough, 7:5 is in a discussion about Melchizedek and the priesthood he represents as opposed to the priesthood of Levi. Fascinating stuff; a mystery to us, this Melchizedek. But the writer was not here in chapter 7 talking about the discipline of the Lord; that is for chapter 12.

The book of Hebrews is my favorite book of the Bible (I’ve confessed this before), if I may claim a favorite. I’m not one to choose favorites in anything since it can be prejudicial, or perceived that way. But I love this book, and so an exception. I figured out one time reading through it, why I love it so much. No other book of the Bible, in my opinion, speaks of the superiority of Jesus in such a point by point way, going into the far reaches of history, revealing so much yet making you hunger for more. So much there; so much to ponder and grow on.

So here is the author of Hebrews, as he starts chapter 12, pointing us to Jesus, admonishing us to “fix” our eyes on him as we go through life, especially in the difficult times of our lives. And to hark back to all those he had just enumerated in chapter 11, those who lived by faith in the One they couldn’t see and what He had promised but was not yet accomplished in their lifetimes…but has come to pass in ours: the revelation of Jesus the promised Savior of mankind and his ultimate rule over all, his kingdom come.

I reread the chapter, because I have so much to learn and it is so rich in truths hard to grasp, on the one hand, yet, on the other hand, simple enough to get a grip on, and hang onto (the truth is profound yet, as one has said, “near us”, accessible, “graspable”, yet we can never fully grasp it!). The author speaks of looking to Jesus as we live in a hard world, remembering those who lived by faith before us, giving us examples to follow, and who even now surround us. Then he speaks of not fainting when our heavenly Father treats us like sons by instructing, disciplining us, for a much greater purpose than the discipline we received from our earthly parents. God’s purpose is holiness and the peaceful fruit of righteousness. As I read I thought of Job.

Job was declared a righteous man by God; it wasn’t a made up idea of Job’s. But Job knew God and lived with all his might in the way he understood God wanted and required men to live (Job 27-31), and he knew he was in right standing before God. So when the calamities blasted into his life, he clung to his rightness and his understanding of God. But like us all, Job’s understanding of God and His ways was limited. Job’s world began to shrink, enclosed by walls of pain and accusation.

Pain and suffering are powerful inducements to inward looking, to a focus on only oneself. We see only a tiny part of the whole of reality when we focus on ourselves. We unknowingly close off ourselves to the bigger picture. And life is in reality lived in that bigger picture, of which most of us for most of our lives live in oblivion. We see through a glass darkly, so darkly.

This shrinking of our world leads to accusing the only one we believe can make a difference in our pain: God. We believe God is all powerful, as the scripture teaches us, but we have somehow skewed that to mean He will be all powerful for us whenever we want Him to be, according to our concept of the world, our very small world, enclosed by our problems and pain and suffering. We lose perspective living in that small world. And as with Job, God has to teach us about Himself.

Are we listening?

Job saw only his problems and pain and knowing he had lived right in the world, he couldn’t understand why God didn’t justify him before others, especially his accusing friends. Friends indeed. They all had the same theology, the same understanding of God; who He is and what He does. So when the fingers of accusation pointed at Job, Job pointed his finger at God, accusing Him of injustice.

God had to teach him. I say “had to”; He didn’t have to but He did for God is gracious and compassionate and very, very patient with us. Even though in our small worlds it doesn’t always feel like He is.

God had to teach Job.

Are we listening? He is teaching us through His instruction to Job. That is why He had it all written down! God let Job know Who He really is (Job 38-41).

And Job got it (Job 42). He had nothing to say in response to God. He was humbled before the living God. There was no more self-justification, only humility and repentance.

Are…we…listening. Do we get it?

When God speaks…we must listen, and with keen ears, ears that “hear”, as Jesus said, which meant ears that take in what is said with the determination to do, to obey.

Our response to pain and suffering, to the hard times of life, should be the same as Job’s response to God. Speechlessness and humility. “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.” (Job 40:4).

But God is not finished. “Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you and you instruct Me. Will you really annul my judgment?”

“Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?”(Job 40:7).

Are we listening?

“Then Job answered the Lord and said, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask you and you instruct me.’

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.”(Job 42:1-6).

I do not understand the ‘why’ of much of what happens to us. But I am coming to know the 'Who’ and I continue to give myself to His Sovereignty, hard as it is sometimes, at least initially. He is the only One with the right to say what is what, not me. Light comes only from Him, His words. My response, our response should be repentance.

We must always go back to the scripture. God caused His words to be written down for our instruction. If we are not taking these words in, and submitting ourselves to them, is it any wonder we end up as drifting boats on a vast ocean of troubles, crying out to a heaven which seems brass?

The text in the devotional may have been mistakenly attributed to Hebrews chapter 7, verse 5, but the admonition, which is actually in Hebrews 12:5 (a quote from Proverbs 3:11), we do well to listen to, with “ears that hear”, ready to obey: “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him; for those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.” God only instructs, disciplines and chastens sons, that is, His blood bought, born twice children, male and female. He has a purpose in it. Believe it. Humble yourself under His hand.

I only know this because I’ve been walking this pathway, learning these things. I have tested the truth of God’s words. I pray I do not soon forget.

I’ve written this for my dear friends who are yet making their way to that truth. Please keep moving in the direction of His light. “The entrance of Your words gives light.”

I love you.

Jacque