Divine Discipline
“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.” Daniel 1.1, 2
Doesn’t the word “discipline” only mean the actions parents take trying to control their children? I mean, after all, it certainly couldn’t be a word I should apply to myself – and, certainly not something that I would consider being of divine origin.
When I was a child I could hardly wait to grow up so that I could get past all of the rules and regulations imposed upon us kids by the big folk. Of course, all of you who are grown up have realized, or should have realized, long ago, that rules and regulations apply at least as tenaciously to us as it ever did to us as children. The disciplinary processes that have rained down upon us old people often cause us to long for the good old days that probably weren’t nearly as good as our memories try to recall.
I suppose the point is this: no matter what is our station in life, we will be held accountable to some standard by various rules and regulations under which we serve. And, overreaching those standards brings about discipline from a variety of sources. Should we fail to study for a test, we would come under the disciplinary action of our instructors. Should we break the speed limit, we would come under the disciplinary action of the Law. Should we misinterpret a part of God’s Word, we would come under God’s diving discipline.
To the continually rebellious child of God, the disciplinary force may come harshly from someone outside the household of faith. Israel (especially Judah) had strayed from the godly standards established by the child king, Josiah. Josiah’s son (Jehoiakim) and grandson (Jehoiachin) had become so wicked that God sent a ruthless king, Nebuchadnezzar, to bring Israel to her knees. Having deposed Johoiachin, Nebuchadnezzar put Zedekiah, Jehoiachin’s brother in the throne at Jerusalem and set him as ruler over all of Judah.
Nebuchadnezzar, a brilliantly sadistic ruler, enslaved God’s people and took much of the temple vessels to Shinar (Babylon) and placed them in his storage facility as a trophy of his accomplishments over God’s people. All of this resulted from the fact that God’s people left putting God first. They had profaned God’s Sabbath and God actively required His Sabbaths from His people. God’s people “owed” God seventy years of Sabbaths. They had become so busy with living that they forgot the One who gave them life.
Please notice a most valuable phrase in our text verses: “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand.” Nebuchadnezzar would never have had the power to overcome God’s people had God not given them into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand.
This truth remains. Satan has no power but what he is allowed by God. The powers of this world can never overcome the true believer – the one walking in close relationship with his/her Savior. Should we fall into difficult circumstances, we can rest assured that God is either trying to teach us something, correct something in us, or to help us in being a blessing to someone else. We can know for certain that God is in control and that He has a plan for us. And, we can rejoice in tribulations knowing it is all under the watchful eye of our great God and King.
Copyright © 2023 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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