Psalm 89:30-52 (KJV): Then I will visit their transgression with the rod

From Psalms

Psalm 32:29-52

³⁰If his children forsake my law,
      and walk not in my judgments;
³¹If they break my statutes,
      and keep not my commandments;
³²Then will I visit their transgression with the rod,
      and their iniquity with stripes.
³³Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him,
      nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
³⁴My covenant will I not break,
      nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
³⁵Once have I sworn by my holiness
      that I will not lie unto David.
³⁶His seed shall endure for ever,
      and his throne as the sun before me.
³⁷It shall be established for ever as the moon,
      and as a faithful witness in heaven.
                                    Selah.

³⁸But thou hast cast off and abhorred,
      thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.
³⁹Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant:
      thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.
⁴⁰Thou hast broken down all his hedges;
      thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.
⁴¹All that pass by the way spoil him:
      he is a reproach to his neighbours.
⁴²Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries;
      thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.
⁴³Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword,
      and hast not made him to stand in the battle.
⁴⁴Thou hast made his glory to cease,
      and cast his throne down to the ground.
⁴⁵The days of his youth hast thou shortened:
      thou hast covered him with shame.
                                    Selah.

⁴⁶How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever?
      shall thy wrath burn like fire?
⁴⁷Remember how short my time is:
      wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?
⁴⁸What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?
      shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?
                                    Selah.
⁴⁹Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses,
      which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?
⁵⁰Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants;
      how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;
⁵¹Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD;
      wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

⁵²Blessed be the LORD for evermore.
      Amen, and Amen.

With that I have completed book 3 of the 5 books of psalms.  There is a bit of a sense of achievement knowing that this is still a "one day at a time" journey.  This, although i haven't looked at how many more entries I have, is likely pretty close to halfway.

Nevertheless, I do want to talk more about psalm 89, because with verse 30 the mood changes considerably from the first 29 verses that I discussed yesterday.  The mood yesterday, was joyous, declaring love to God, who in the skies above can compare to the Lord, and He would maintain His love forever.  Today, though, it's about the wrath God, God hiding his face, and renouncing His covenant.  So, what gives?

So this last section of the psalm requires some honesty on our part.  The fact is as humans we are quite easily drawn to sin, and in my case addiction.  And in coming to God and Jesus does not eliminate that tendency.  That is still part of our nature.  So it is that we are in need of some correction.  In these instances God finds it necessary to use his rod.  The use of a rod is important because a rod is for teaching or correction, unlike a sword which is used to destroy.  So, God uses his rod to teach us difficult lessons that we do not, and cannot, forget for this lifetime.

At the time these lessons may seem difficult and they may seem like they will destroy us.  However, as long as we stay close to God he will continue to show his mercy.  We need to believe in that and have faith in that.  There is a brighter day I promise you that...and I will close as Psalm 89 does...Praise be to the Lord forevermore - Amen and Amen.

Thanks for letting me share.