“Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Does he who disciplines nations not punish?
Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?
The Lord knows all human plans;
he knows that they are futile.“
Psalm 94:9-11
–
JULY 25, 2024
As we continue to behold our all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-hearing God, we may wonder what He does with His knowledge. Yesterday, we saw Him responding to the cries of His people with salvation. Today, we see that He also teaches and disciplines.
God doesn’t passively observe but is actively involved in creation. He chose Israel and taught them to reflect His righteousness and justice through His law. The Psalmist demonstrates the blessing of being under God’s teaching:
Show me your ways, Lord,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long…
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9
Jesus taught God’s words throughout His public ministry and promised that Holy Spirit would continue teaching His followers all things.
“Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” ”
John 14:23-26
God’s complete knowledge also makes Him the ideal disciplinarian. Our Heavenly Father alone knows when we need correction. He lovingly disciplines us by compassionately guiding us back to the right path.
“‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children… God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. ”
Hebrews 12:5b-7a, 10b-11
If we choose to deny God’s loving direction, however, He will certainly know. And He alone has the authority to punish.
“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.”
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
Let us commit today to trust our all-knowing God by submitting to His teaching and discipline. If we do, we will enjoy many blessings and escape the punishment due to those who do not believe.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- What are some things that God has taught you?
- When has God disciplined you in love?
- How can you share these teachings with others?
- Have you heeded God’s warning of punishment for those who do not believe Him and trust Jesus?
- Have you warned others?
Church Reading Plan: Jeremiah 21; Mark 7