12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD,
and whom you teach out of your law,
13 to give him rest from days of trouble,
until a pit is dug for the wicked.
14 For the LORD will not forsake his people;
he will not abandon his heritage;
15 for justice will return to the righteous,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.
16 Who rises up for me against the wicked?
Who stands up for me against evildoers?
17 If the LORD had not been my help,
my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.
18 When I thought, “My foot slips,”
your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.
19 When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
20 Can wicked rulers be allied with you,
those who frame injustice by statute?
21 They band together against the life of the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the LORD has become my stronghold,
and my God the rock of my refuge.
23 He will bring back on them their iniquity
and wipe them out for their wickedness;
the LORD our God will wipe them out.
Comment: I will attempt to index this very powerful Psalm!
- 12-13 – The blessings of discipline – instruction and mind rest. Avoidance of final judgement!
- 14- God’s faithfulness.
- 15-16 – A call for followers based on a promise of justice!
- 17-19 – Temptation to faithless silence & a testimony to God’s help.
- 20-21 – Corrupt leaders and their ways.
- 22-23 Two different endings – safety or written off in stern judgement.
Hebrews 12: 5b-6 – “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Prayer: Thank You Father for disciplining me. Help me to learn quickly!