The Blessing Of Correction Series

“The Blessing Of Correction”

Psalm 94:12-23

One might believe that after you become a “new born child of God,” that all the hardship of life would come to an end.

That is the furthest of any truth.

When we trust Christ as our Saviour we are not exempt from troubles and trials but we have the sweet Holy Spirit to guild us through our new journey in life.

I was reading about the first expedition of the, now called “Pilgrims,” who started out with 102 passengers on the Mayflower.

They arrived latter than they wanted and in the worst possible time of the year, winter.

November 21, 1620 they arrived and were unable to continue south to their planned destination due to winter storms.

They spent the first winter on board the Mayflower where 53 out of the original 102 survived.

Of the 19 women who began the journey only 5 survived the first winter.

One might come to the conclusion that they had made a terrible mistake and the Lord was judging them; again this was proven to be the right action because we have a government based on the foundation that they set.

So here we are in our text this morning wondering what we can learn from this prayer.

It is thought that this psalm dates from the Assyrian invasion in Hezekiah’s time.

This Psalm and the six Psalms which follow have always been applied by the Jews to the days of the Messiah.

Surely, then, we may apply them to our own time.

It is great comfort to know that above and beyond all that distresses and hindering of the Church or our individual lives, there exists the great fact of our Lord’s sovereignty.

This encourages us in conflict and makes us steadfast and unmovable.

The entire Psalm is a prayer but for time sake we will look at the second part starting in verse 12

I. When Correction Is Good

Psalm 94:12-13 “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; 13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.”

Blessed – happy, to go straight, walk, go on, advance, make progress.

Chastenest - discipline, instruct, admonish (to caution, advise, or counsel against something)

Teachest – instruct, to learn, exercise in

Thy law - torah (to-raw’) The Word of God, or “doctrine”

And teachest him out of thy law - Cause him, from thy word, to understand the great principles of thy government.

In life there are ways to learn; I often say there are two (2) ways: you can learn on your own or you can learn from others who have already learned.

One is less painful than the other.

Matthew Henry says; “When he chastens them he will teach them, and blessed is the man who is thus taken under a divine discipline, for none teaches like God.”

Psalm 94:13 “That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.”

Hebrews 12:11 “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

Days of adversity - wickedness, wicked, mischief, hurt

Until the pit be digged for the wicked - There will be a time of rest from persecution against God’s children, but not here; it will be in the 1000 years when the Lord will rule.

There is a Day of Judgment with Justice and it is not our job to carry out any judgment on this world.

II. Sweet Promises From God

Psalm 94:14-16 “For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. 15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?”

For the LORD will not cast off his people - God does and will continue to intervene for His people even though the wicked seem to triumph.

This is not a time of sorrow, but a time of rejoicing.

I believe it was Bob Jones Sr. who said, “Do right till the stars fall, do right.”

Matthew Henry said concerning Psalm 94:15 “Judgment shall return unto righteousness;”

“That, bad as things are, they shall mend, and, though they are now out of course, yet they shall return to their due and ancient channel.”

III. I Cannot Do It Myself

Psalm 94:17-21 “Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. 18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. 19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. 20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? 21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.