OT discipline vs. NT discipline

Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done, but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, and he made offerings in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree. Therefore the Lord his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force. For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 from Judah in one day, all of them men of valor, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king’s son and Azrikam the commander of the palace and Elkanah the next in authority to the king. The men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters. They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria. (2 Chronicles 28:1–8)

Since then, the people who claim to follow Jesus Christ do not always do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. I sometimes am motivated by selfish desires as do others. We make an idol out of paper bills, silver and gold. Our children are ignored just as those who do not know God often put their family low on their priority list. Goodness is motivated by the hope of personal gain.

Therefore, God disciplines us too. He foils those worldly desires, prevents our idols from satisfying our hearts, allows good or harmful consequences to our families, and blocks the personal gain from our bucket lists. We may not wind up in captivity and be physically abused, but nevertheless given up to the forces of evil that rob our love, peace, joy and other spiritual fruit, replacing it with ruined relationships, worry, unrest and lack of concern for anyone else, even those we would normally care about. All of this is to wake us up to our need to rely on and obey the Lord.

The Lord may use others to confront us, such as Hezekiah who “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord; 

“Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves and the house of the Lord. . . . carry out the filth from the Holy Place. For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs. . . . Therefore the wrath of the Lord came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror. . . . our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord. . . . that his fierce anger may turn away from us. My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.” (2 Chronicles 29:1–11)

As the NT also says, we are to hold to our faith and a good conscience. Otherwise we are in danger of a similar discipline of being held captive by our enemy. 

By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom (Paul) handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:19–20)
When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 5:4–5)

Such discipline is extreme, even shocking. However, God will work in ways to free us from all sin, willful or committed in ignorance.

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? . . . . He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. (Hebrews 12:6–10)

Oh Lord, my parents didn’t discipline me very much, but You have and I am aware of its value, both times of mild rebuke and times I felt a strong kick in my stubborn and selfish attitudes and actions. Without You, I shudder thinking where I would otherwise be.

 

The power of God to overcome stress with peace

Yesterday, our pastor began his message by listing many things that give people stress. Several pointed to current events, particularly in the Middle East. He then took us to Philippians 4:6-9, giving strong encouragement that Christians can have peace in the midst of life’s storms. Instead of worrying, we can pray. Last night, my hubby took his first of several planned trips to the Middle East.

God always amazes me with His timing. This sermon was just right for our situation. The pastor had no idea about my husband’s trip, but obviously listened to the Holy Spirit when he planned his sermon.

God also amazes me with how He uses Spirit-filled leaders and other Christians to be a blessing to one another. What if we had skipped church to spend time together before the flight? We would have missed a message heard by 400 people but seemed directly spoken to us.

After the service, our congregation gathered for our usual Sunday brunch. With friends, we often discuss the sermon and the effect it has on our lives. One of those friends repeated the encouragement several times. Two who live close to us said if I need anything, call them. They will watch out for me.

The early church was like that. They blessed each other. Their leaders blessed them as “many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.” The people esteemed these leaders and those who were Christians, resulting in “more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.” (Acts 5:12–16)  

Today, many congregations don’t reverence their leaders and could take lessons from the early church in that regard. We also could take lessons in how to care for one another and for our unchurched friends. How often do we bring needy friends to hear messages that would heal their souls?

In those days, the believers also deeply cared for each another. If some were caught up in some sin, they gathered together “in the name of the Lord Jesus” and as the Spirit directed, to deal with the person “for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 5:4–5) These were acts of deep love and unselfish concern for their eternal well-being.

Those early Christians also had their priorities in order. They were told to “Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” They did “not get drunk with wine” but gave more attention to being “filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with the heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:15–21)

Even though today’s church does not always fit this pattern, I am thankful for the people who bless each other in our congregation. They care. They pray. They encourage. They pay attention to what God says. They “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Many of them are “holding fast to the confession of their hope without wavering” and often remind each other that God who promises is also faithful to keep his promises. They also constantly “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together . . .  but encouraging one another . . . .” (Hebrews 10:19–25)

So many times, our pastor gives a message that seems perfect for that day and perfect for our needs. I’m not anxious about my husband’s safety and well-being on this journey. I know that he is in God’s hands, but should fear become an issue, God will use that sermon and the encouragement of our Christian friends to remind me that I can take my worries to Him, with thanksgiving. When I do, the Lord will give me His perfect peace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)