Pondering Proverbs – Discipline (11)

 

“Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way; He who hates reproof will die.” Proverbs 15:10.

 

“A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, he will not go to the wise.” Proverbs 15:12.

 

Between these two verses we have, “Sheol [nether world] and Abaddon [place of destruction] lie open before Yahweh, how much more the hearts of men!” Proverbs 15:11.

 

What do you see in these verses? What are they saying to us?

 

Note that we again encounter the “scoffer.” We can’t seem to get away from the scoffer in Proverbs anymore than we can get away from scoffers in life – they come at us from the airwaves, from print, from fiber optics, and from conversations. Let us not be so foolish as to drink from their cup, to eat their bread, lest we become scoffers ourselves. And, if we discover that we ourselves are scoffers, if we look in the mirror or listen to ourselves, if we realize that we are listening to scoffers – then let us run to Jesus and repent and ask for help – for He will surely give it. I was once a scoffer, Jesus saved me from continued destruction.

 

The Scriptures speak to us of ways and paths, and that there are essentially but two ways and two paths, the Way of the Lord and the way of the enemy; the Way of the Lord has its Alpha and Omega in Jesus Christ, hence Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).

 

In Proverbs 15:24 we see, “The path of life leads upward for the wise that he may keep away from Sheol below.” He who forsakes this path for the “way of the wicked” (15:9), who hates reproof, will die (15:10), he will continue his downward spiral into Sheol and Abaddon.

 

Why is it that most of us will pay attention to warning signs on the highway but not pay attention to the warnings that God gives us? Would it be irresponsible for our highway departments to fail to post warning signs? Do we not want to be alerted to a sharp curve ahead, a curve that we cannot see, so that we can slow down and take the curve safely? Do we get upset when we see warning signs posted on our roadways? Do we take offense at roadcrews for installing warning signs?

 

Then why, O why, do we take offense at God and His Word and His servants for warning us of the eternal danger of forsaking His Way, of rejecting His correction? Does this make sense to you? And how foolish for ministers and churches to cater to the ways and whims of the culture when those whims and ways are not the Way of Christ. How irresponsible for churches and ministers not to tell the Biblical truth about the many roads before us, about those roads that lead us farther and farther away from God’s Way. When the professing church becomes the broad way perhaps there is a problem (Matthew 7:13 – 14).

 

“He who hates reproof will die” (15:10). Do we understand the truth of this statement? We cannot come to know Jesus Christ without accepting the reproof of God. Yes, God’s reproof is loving and merciful and compassion and abounding with grace – but nevertheless…and because of the foregoing…it is deep convicting reproof. Why? Because God’s reproof calls us to repentance and confession and to the Cross of Christ. There must be reproof, conviction of sin and of being a sinner, in our coming to follow and know Jesus Christ – this is a necessary element of repentance and confession. How can we confess our sins unless we are convicted of them? How can we repent, change our direction in life, turning from self and sin and toward Jesus Christ, unless we are reproved and convicted of sin and self?

 

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:27 – 38; see also Luke 24:46 – 47).

 

How can we be disciples and make disciples (Matt. 28:19) without discipline, and discipline includes reproof?

 

How have we come to so reject reproof that our schools no longer reprove children and our churches avoid it at pretty much all cost? When have we seen leadership in any sphere of life accept reproof from others, including from the facts and truth of a matter? It is a rare thing indeed to hear someone say, “I was wrong.”

 

How have we gotten so far away from a fundamental principle of a healthy life and society and church – the principle of giving and receiving instructive discipline and reproof, the principle of seeking wisdom and learning and growing in character? One reason discipline is so difficult to talk about and practice is that what should be a way of life has become alien to us, what should be natural has become unnatural.

 

Why will some of us train our bodies, but not train our souls? Why do we (hopefully) desire to eat what is healthy for our bodies, but do not care about eating healthy for our souls? Why do we put such emphasis on the way our bodies look, but care little for how our hearts, minds, and souls look? Let’s remember 15:11, God knows our hearts.

 

Why does Solomon emphasize the importance of discipline and instruction – again and again? What is the message he is giving to his son? What is the message the Father is giving to His sons and daughters?

 

Do I understand the life and death importance of this message?

 

Do you?