Blows That Cleanse

For Friday, March 2, 2007
Proverbs 20:30

Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts.

Blows that come from one who loves you and hates the sin that binds you are essential for your welfare. It is right to be concerned with abuse, but it is as deadly to be denied the chastisement that awakens you to your sin and spurs you to action. It is deadly to be denied love that will not tolerate your sinking into the pit. So the loving parent will inflict punishment on his child to train him in the way of righteousness, however much pain the parent endures to do so.

So it is with our heavenly Father who loves us perfectly. Because he is good and because he loves us thoroughly, he will send the blows that cleanses away evil and makes clean our innermost parts. He will not be satisfied with our half-hearted righteousness and our superficiality. He will not tolerate our disease however contented we may be. He will carry to completion the good work he began in us, whether or not we want further progress.

If you should think that his blows are too hard, that it is bringing death instead of healing, remember the Cross where our Lord "was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).

Glory and Splendor

For Thursday, March 1, 2007
Proverbs 20:29

The glory of young men is their strength,
but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

There is glory and joy in being young. It is good to be young and strong, and the young should delight in what their youthfulness gives them strength to do. They have vitality; they are idealistic. They act with passion. They are able to move mountains by their strength.

And there is glory and joy in old age. It is good to be older and wise through experience, and the "old" should delight in what their knowledge gives them wisdom to do. They have calmness; they are discerning. They act with patience. They are able to move mountains by their wisdom.

Whatever your age, delight in it. Neither be anxious to grow older nor wistful to be young again. Your days are laid out by your Lord and now is the best time in which to live. Do not live waiting for tomorrow, nor live wishing for yesterday to return. Live today; use whatever gift your age has given you; and delight in the Lord for what he has given you now.

Good Protection

For Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Proverbs 20:28

Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.

This is certainly a different perspective from the world's understanding. What preserves a king or anyone else in a position of power is power. Also needed are shrewdness, the willingness to eliminate the competition, a large ego to fuel the drive for fame and power. Even if a kinder view is taken, it would be expected that wisdom and knowledge would be the protecting forces. Love and faithfulness are good but can be so easily taken advantage of.

Consider what this proverb presents. However powerful the wicked king may be, what must he always be concerned with? Protecting himself. But then so do good kings, King David being a case in point. Most of his psalms include some reference to his enemies who were out to get him. On the other hand, it was his steadfast love and faithfulness to his people that helped provide his protection. Even when his own son turned against him, many remained on his side and provided the help needed to win his battle.

Furthermore, he did not unnecessarily create enemies. The wicked king's greatest enemies are those he betrayed. It is broken love, broken trust that stirs up wrath. It is love that remains true and faithfulness that is steady through all circumstances that stirs up devotion. When it comes to battle, better to have soldiers fighting out of devotion to their ruler than those disillusioned by their ruler.

It is steadfast love and faithfulness by which our Lord rules and thus has won our devotion. Though we have stumbled and failed, he remains true to his word. All the more then we desire to please him. You start today knowing that whatever befalls, your King will love you with a steadfast love; he will remain faithful to his promises. Does not such knowledge stir in you a zeal to stand by him?

The Lord's Lamp

For Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Proverbs 20:27

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,
searching all his innermost parts.

This is our conscience which bears witness that the law of God is written on our hearts (Romans 2:15). God has placed within all of us - those inhabited by God's Spirit and those who are not - his inner moral compass, or, as this proverb notes, his inner moral lamp that searchs our thoughts and actions. This is why everyone is without excuse in their rejection of God's law. We all know better, however much we may protest to the contrary.

Such a truth puts into perspective those who are most "moral." Their very interest in doing what is right betrays the fact that they know there is a God who requires righteousness; and yet they cannot bring themselves to acknowledge his existence; or if they believe he exists, then to acknowledge his rights over them; or if they believe he has such rights, then to believe in him as he demands - through Jesus Christ; or if they profess to believe in Christ, they nevertheless do not acknowledge is true work on the cross - to save sinners like them who cannot save themselves.

And then there are those of us who profess all these things about God and about Christ; who acknowledge our dependence upon our Lord and love for him; who profess obedience to him, but will not expose our darkest corners to God's lamp. We fear too much what we will see. And so we will look at the sin we can "handle," and congratulate ourselves for being severe with our sin.

Use the lamp for its purpose - to fully examine yourself. And use your inner lamp with that greater lamp - the Word of God - so that you might examine all your innermost parts with the clearest light. Are you afraid of what you will see? You will nothing that God does not know already exists. He sees you completely and loves you completely. Your spirit will find nothing that his Spirit has not already exposed. And that same Spirit is already at work within you to bring cleansing and light and hope.

The Wise King

For Monday, February 26, 2007
Proverbs 20:26

A wise king winnows the wicked
and drives the wheel over them.

The wise king is able, first, to discern between the wicked and the righteous (or innocent). Secondly, he is able then to act against the wicked in judgment. Many rulers exercise power but do so indiscriminately, harming both wicked and righteous; indeed, many rulers are especially brutal against the righteous. And there are many who know who should be punish but lack the power or willingness to act. A wise king is able to do both - discern and act; for it takes wisdom to know how to act in such a way as to carry out due punishment and not be overthrown.

How wise are you in whatever authortiy capacity you might have - a job supervisor, teacher, parent, or other such position? Due you discern wisely? Do you discern how to act? A wise king does not bemoan how difficult his responsibility is. He uses his energy to consider how to act in wisdom. He studies wisdom. He gathers around him wise counsel. He turns to God and prays for wisdom. He studies the Scriptures for wisdom.

And he puts his own life under the Lordship of his wise King - Jesus Christ. He lays his heart before this wise king, willing to be chastened, zealous to please, and fully trusting for saving mercy. May the Lord grant you such wisdom today.