This chapter continues Solomon’s preface on wisdom, pleading with the reader to embrace his knowledge and experience of it.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” (v5-8, 11-12)
This culture has added so many connotations to words such as ‘surrender’ and ‘discipline’. The first is seen as ‘quitting’ or ‘giving up’ (weakness), the second as ‘accepting abuse’ (also a sign of weakness), because both behaviors have been misunderstood and misrepresented – they have become very bad things.
In the Bible, surrender is the act of relinquishing our fleshly / worldly will, and choosing to obey God’s divine will. The biblical definition of discipline is basically correcting sinful behavior, so righteous behaviors may become more dominant. These are both very good things.
Why do people fear that which makes us ‘appear weak’? My guess is the sin of pride blinds us – we don’t want to be seen as ‘weak’, because we want to be self-sufficient and self-reliant (more worldly ways). In reality, God wants us to ‘be weak’, because He is our Strength and Rock, our Fortress in Times of Trial, our Strong Right Arm – He wants us to be reliant on Him.
I encourage us to embrace ‘weakness’ and celebrate it. By humbling ourselves, surrendering to God’s will, and inviting His discipline, we will become more like Jesus – acting solely out of obedience to the Father. The world despised Jesus, and they will probably despise us too, but our primary goal is to seek God’s approval, not human approval (see Gal 1:10, 1 Ths 2:4, Col 3:23, etc).
Father God, our Wise, All-Knowing and All-powerful Lord, we praise Your holy and magnificent name. You have offered us the best way to live – a life with easy burdens and light loads, free of worry and anxiety. May we learn to shed our worldly ways, and embrace Your higher calling, surrendering to Your will and inviting Your discipline. Only then will we truly reflect Jesus to this world and be a testimony to Your glory. Spirit please guide us, moment by moment, day by day, from this moment onward, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training