Proverbs 23:13 KJV
Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
It is our job as parents to discipline our children. It is up to us to correct bad behavior. Sometimes that may mean spanking, but it does not mean to cause harm. When we do it, it is our goal to turn them from the bad road they are on. We want them to experience God's best for them.
In his commentary of Psalm 23, Matthew Henry wrote of verse one:
I shall be supplied with whatever I need, and if I have not every thing I desire, I may conclude it is either not fit for me or not good for me, or I shall have it in due time.
Oh, that I would have this perspective! Many times I have acted as a spoiled brat when I didn't get what I wanted, when I wanted it. Oh, Father, forgive me for all those times!
I should rest in knowing that God is a good shepherd and will take care of all I need, when I need it. I can rest in His perfect timing and perfect provisions. I can have peace that when I don't get something I desire, that there is good reason for it.
Psalms 23:1 KJV
<<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
At first read, one would see this as not wanting a shepherd-a guide, a protector, a provider. This understanding fits how people usually are. We want to be in control. We want to be independent. We want to say we did something on our own.
Another rendering is that with the Lord as our Shepherd, we shall never be in want of anything because He provides and takes care of all. This understanding also fits as it follows God's character.
No matter which way you choose to understand this scripture, both are true.
For far too long, I have lived believing the first and fighting against God wanting to protect me, provide for me, and take care of me.
God led me to Psalm 23 at the beginning of this month and although I have read it every day and am working on memorizing it, I have decided to dig in and look closely at each verse. I know there is much here that I miss with just reading it and not studying it.
Ephesians 4:1-6 KJV
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
As I read this passage, I was struck by how much Christians are not living this way. My biggest stressors during all this covid mess is the disunity among the nation and how Christians are treating one another.
We are to walk worthy of being called Christ followers. This means we are to walk as Chirst would have walked.
We are to humble ourselves, be gentle and have patience as we endure (and help others endure) these hard times.
We are called to be in unity and peace. Yet, it doesn't seem like God's people are even striving for unity. Have we forgotten what we are called to do?
