DECEMBER 20 1 Kings 8:46-50

PRAYING IN TIMES OF CHASTISEMENT

To be chastised means to be punished or scolded for doing something wrong. Nobody likes to be scolded and punished. But more often than not, we cannot deny that it is only those who love us who will bother telling us off. Others would not care to do so.

The people of Israel had sinned against God many times before, and were severely chastised. For murmuring and complaining against God in Moses’ time, the people had to wander forty years in the wilderness. A whole generation died in the wilderness and could not enter the Promised Land.
During the time of the Judges, Israel did much evil against God and worshipped idols. For that, God delivered them into the hands of the surrounding nations. Each time Israel turned away from God, He punished them because He loved them. It was to make them realise their sins and to turn them back to Himself.

Solomon prayed for God’s mercy during these times of chastisement. He acknowledged that when Israel sinned, Israel deserved to suffer the anger and punishment of God. The punishment was hard – to be held as captives in a foreign land. But if Israel confessed and repented of their sins, and returned to God with all their heart and soul, Solomon prayed for God to have compassion to forgive Israel. He didn’t ask for Israel to be delivered, but humbly prayed that their foreign masters would show compassion to them during their time of captivity.

Have you sinned against God recently and are suffering the consequences of your sin? Have you told a lie, cheated, stole, or made God angry with filthy conversation or disobedient behavior? Were you proud in your own ways or lazy and idle with your time? If you are experiencing the consequence of your sin, be grateful that God is chastising you. Why? Because it means that you are His child and He loves you. If you were not His child, He would not bother to correct you.

Even though it is a hard lesson, may Solomon’s prayer instruct and comfort you. The more you don’t feel like praying, the more you must pray and repent with your whole heart and soul. The consequences may remain, but you will experience the peace and forgiveness of your Heavenly Father.

Thought: “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth” (Hebrews 12:6).
Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for loving me enough to correct and chasten me. Forgive me of my sins and have compassion upon me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that that I will not sin against You again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.