Proverbs 17:10-11 

¹⁰A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool. ¹¹Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them.

Running

         Someone published a picture of a boy running away while his mother was running after him with stick. In another picture, a man won a marathon. The caption was, “Thank you, Mother!” It is interpreted that the winner of the marathon practiced running when as a young naughty boy, his mother trained him. The winner was thankful for his mother running after him.

         Can scolding or affliction teach us? Let’s reflect on Psalm 119:71,

         ⁷¹It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

         If we appreciate affliction it shows we learned the Lord’s decrees. To practically apply the decrees of God is favorable. But most often, we ignore God’s decrees, and that could be why God allows affliction to divert us to the right path he wants us to take. Affliction can be external or internal.

         External affliction could be trouble caused by outside circumstances. Internal affliction can be health issue or personal concern. Either internal or external struggle, we should reflect and pray for understanding. God allows affliction to redirects us to return to him. He often rebukes us, if necessary.

1.  Rebuke

           ¹⁰A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.

         Someone suggested that if you want to identify the discerning smart people, just rebuke them for their wrongdoing. If they appreciate you, they are smart to understand that rebukes are beneficial to them. But if they reject you and they dislike to be rebuked, probably, they’re fools. Will fools readily respond proactively, if they get a hundred lashes or beating?

         Before we believed in Jesus Christ, we also did what we think as best for us. We readily ignored anything from God. But after we put our faith in Christ, the Lord sent his Holy Spirit into our hearts. 1 Corinthians 2:14 declares, ¹⁴The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 

         Smart believers come to worship without persuasion. Believers who are spiritually matured return the amount that belongs to God and do not delay. The Spirit of God inspires us to respond proactively to his rebuke.

         Others may received the Spirit of God, but maybe, they’re still infants spiritually. Believers who are spiritually infants continue to resist rebukes from the Lord. Spiritual maturity is not instantaneous. We grow spiritually mature when we diligently follow the Lord’s instructions. How is that?

         Together, let’s learn from what Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:5-7.

⁵I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. ⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 

         Perhaps, Timothy was timid, shy because he was still a young person (possibly less than 30 years old). So, Apostle Paul advised him to fan into flame and practice his spiritual gift. The spiritual growth of Timothy started in their home. He attentively learned from his grandmother and mother.

         Timothy was very blessed to learn from his faithful grandmother and mother. He also had Apostle Paul who discipled him. Moreover, Timothy may have desired to grow spiritually mature, so that, he attentively listened to advice, whether from his mother or his grandmother or Apostle Paul.

         We can grow spiritually mature too. Reflect on Philippians 2:12-15.

            ¹²Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. ¹⁴Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. 

         Generation in the past until now had been warped and crooked. Each generation has problems different from the past. No era is exempted from unscrupulous lawlessness. But we have the Holy Spirit to guide. He gives us wisdom how we may behave as blameless children of God. Amen!

         Instinctively, everyone is rebellious against God. But God is gracious. He reconciled us to himself even when we’re rebellious to him. Surely, God wants everyone to explore his love and grace in Christ, rebellious or not.

2.  Rebellion

       ¹¹Evildoers foster rebellion against God: the messenger of death will be sent against them.

         The term “rebellion” evolved from Hebrew word “Marah” or bitter. So, rebellion against God is like bitterness or resentment against the Lord.

         It’s no secret that young children resist bitter medicine. When children are sick and give them bitter medicine, they cannot easily appreciate it.

         Similarly when we are spiritually sick, the natural sinful self will readily resist God’s word like bitter medicine. When we appreciate God’s rebuke as bitter medicine, will our spiritual sickness be healed? We need the Holy Spirit to help us gladly take to heart and swallow the word of God.

         Reflect on what the Psalmist declared in Psalm 119:103-104, ¹⁰³How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

         May all of us reach the level of spiritual maturity of King David and his devotion to the Lord. May we taste the sweetness of the word of God so that we follow him devotedly. Practically, we gained understanding from the Lord when we sense hatred to every wrong path. The term wrong path can be properly translated as fraudulent ways or deceitful schemes.

         Famous or not, rich or not, leader or not, anyone can be deceived. Reflect on 1 Samuel 15:23-26, ²³For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” ²⁴Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. ²⁵Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.” ²⁶But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”

         King Saul was very popular in his generation. He was a head taller that anybody. He came from the smallest tribe of Israel, Benjamin. He was the very first king of Israel. Sadly, he was indecisive. He listened to the suggestions of his soldiers without minding the command of the Lord.

         God commanded King Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites. But, his soldiers suggested to save the best cattle and sheep from Amalek. Saul may have considered that saving the best sheep and cattle could have been the Lord’s way to prosper him and grow richer overnight.

         Traditional accounts say that King Saul reigned in Israel for 40 years. He may have become wealthy eventually. But after he died, the wealth he accumulated did not sustain his descendants to continue the kingship. With rebellious attitude before the Lord, his wealth were wasted subsequently.

         Christ may return sooner. May the Lord give us discernment to use material things and store up treasures for ourselves in heaven. May we continue to behave righteously as proof of our transformation in Christ.

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