Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth" .... 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 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.
This passage of scripture teaches us the sacred truth that there are various disciplines we must all pass through in order that the gold of a Christ-like character may shine forth from within in steady, brilliant rays. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and this fundamental fact tells us that there is work to be done in restoring the original image of God in us. The above passage tells us how this is accomplished by God, through chastening or corrective measures and experiences He allows to come our way, so that we may learn righteousness in very practical ways. "No pain, no gain" is a maxim that is often used in the gym, in order to remind those who exercise to gain strength, that development comes at a price, and therefore very stern and concentrated effort will be needed in order to achieve the desired results.
The same is true of the christian experience, where a variety of negative experiences are sometimes used by God to produce positive results in us, and therefore we should understand that this process is necessary to our spiritual ant physical advancement, thus being enabled to cooperate intelligently with God in the salvation of our souls.
Before David was called to the throne he was permitted to pass through some very harrowing experiences which taught him the most valuable lesson of trusting in God for everything. During those dark days of his experiences, he was hunted like a wild beast by king Saul, who was bent on his destruction. David had to be constantly on the run, and was always looking over his shoulder, lest Saul and his servants should come upon him suddenly to take his life. At one time he even resorted to stratagem in order to save his own life, something he should not have done, but which taught him another essential lesson of never trusting to the arm of flesh.
In this instance, David went to the philistines seeking asylum from Israel because of the death threats of king Saul, and he had hoped that with the passage of time, and with his beard now grown, that the philistines would have forgotten that he had slain their champion Goliath, and also that they would not have recognized him. But to his utter dismay and surprise, he was detected in his guise, and when he now realized that he had jumped from the frying pan into the fire, he pretended to be insane, fearing that the king of the philistines would seek revenge that was long overdue. Let's read:
1st Samuel 21:10 And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? 12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. 14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? 15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
In the valley of the shadow of death David learned to trust in God alone, and it was during these experiences that he wrote some of the most beautiful Psalms, speaking of God's guidance and protection over His people, when enemies from without and within threaten our very existence and sanity. One such Psalm has become a rallying cry for God's people down through the ages, who were hunted and threatened by forces of evil bent on their destruction. And the same Psalm has relevance today, for us who are facing daunting challenges and dire situations which sometimes cause us to despair.
It all has to do with the maxim, "No pain, no gain" and as our passage for today states, if we endure these experiences patiently, they will yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness in those who are exercised thereby. The trial of our faith indeed causes us to sing as did David, and the 46th Psalm should be remembered and repeated when when we are hedged in with difficulties and dangerous circumstances. Let's read:
Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
In order to grow strong physically we must subject ourselves to negative resistance, and in order for us to grow spiritually the same principle must of necessity be applied. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which teaches us how to survive during the times of negative resistance, and if we do, our experience and trust in God will deepen to the point where our lives are hid with Christ in God. Let's read:
2nd Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!