Day 874: Psalm 141- The Kindness Of Rebuke

 O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
    Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
    and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    keep watch over the door of my lips!
4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
    and let me not eat of their delicacies!
5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
    let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
    then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
    so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol
8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
    in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless![c]
9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    while I pass by safely.
 
Meditation
Gospel security is evidenced in strength to welcome rebuke from a brother or sister in Christ. A wise man understands that a righteous rebuke restores.  Peter was rebuked by Paul (Galatians 2:11-14) for his personal repentance and the restoration of gospel community.
 
Embedded in David’s pure prayer of worship (1-2 is a jewel of wisdom. While turning to the Lord for personal piety (3-4) and protection (5-10) David helps us discover a cornerstone for character development, namely welcoming the rebuke of a righteous person. Righteous rebuke is kindness, an anointing that must be welcomed by our head to shape our heart (5).
 
Righteous rebuke moves us towards restoration in the image of God, wisdom poured out on us from above (Proverbs 1:23). Wisdom literature celebrates the kindness of rebuke as a path of life (Proverbs 10:17) we walk to learn knowledge (Proverbs 12:1). Receiving rebuke is an honor (Proverbs 13:18) whereby we gain intelligence (Proverbs 15:32) and dwell with the wise (Proverbs 15:31). Rebuke is a loving reorientation towards God’s design for restoration of uprightness, a returning to Him.
 
To receive rebuke is a catalyst of sanctification whereby we are renewed in our new man after the image of God. The gospel secures us to welcome rebuke because we know we are secure in Christ’s work. With an unshakable identity we can examine our hearts, consider our sin, and turn to our Savior for strength to become more like Him.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which description of rebuke resonates most deeply with you, kindness or anointing? Why?
 
-Why is it difficult to receive rebuke? Why must we be secure in God’s steadfast love to be sanctified in rebuke?
 
-How does the finished work of Christ give us ground to stand on, not only to receive rebuke but to welcome it? What does it look like for you to welcome rebuke?
 
Key Verse
5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.