As I mentioned, I'm reading some of these books that are in the OT of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, but not in our OT. I've been reading through the Psalms of Solomon, and it's a bit surprising just how much of it is all about God's discipline.
I think in our culture we've been desensitized to, or talked out of, the idea that God disciplines those whom he loves. But it's all over the OT, and it is not contradicted in the NT. I used to believe that God does not "punish" people in this life, but I now realize that this was based on 1) wishful thinking, and 2) the problem of confusing punishment with discipline. Also, I think there is a real sense in which our culture has an aversion to the idea of redemptive suffering, but that's a conversation for another day.
For now, I'll just note that I was reading Psalms of Solomon number 13, and there it's very clear that, not only does God discipline (you know, as a loving parent disciplines a child), but in this Psalm it's made very clear that God's discipline IS two things: guidance, and purification. God's discipline can be for course correction in life, or for sanctification, or both, but there is nothing in Scripture that would support the idea that God does not discipline us.
Unless anyone can think of something I'm missing?
This was for March 24th, recorded for the Ascension App
Thanks for your patience - here is our next installment of The Journey - it's session # 96, but I'm also calling it PART 1 of a "miniseries" on John chapter 6.
Whoever watches it first, please let me know if it looks good or if there are any problems with it - I get through the first two sections of the text on the feeding of the 5,000.
Enjoy!
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
As I'm going through all my belongings as part of our move, I have come across some audio CDs of my old music, from when I had my band, Remember Rome - if any of you still have a CD player, and you would like me to send you some of what I have, send me the address to send them to at this email address: [email protected]
Some of these CDs are in their original cases, and some were demo samples, but either way, it's all original music written by me, and performed by me and my band back in the late 90s and early 2000s.
I'll be happy to find a good home for these CDs in case you might enjoy them, and because you all have been supporting me (and I haven't produced much content in the last month or so) I'll send you one or more CDs for free. Just give me an address.
Thanks!
Here's the link to the new edition of my Rome book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Rome-Second-Pilgrims-Guide-Eternal/dp/B0F8TGTWZX
