INSTRUCTED HEARTS ARE BLESSED (1)

“BLESSED is the man whom You INSTRUCT, O Lord, and teach out of Your Law” – Psalm 94:12

INSTRUCTED HEARTS are BLESSED with Divine Rest: “BLESSED is the man whom You INSTRUCT, O Lord, and teach out of Your Law, that You may give him REST from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast off His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance” (Psa.94:12-13). No one qualifies to instruct Man than his Maker; He who “planted the ear” and “formed the eye” (v.9). It is “He who instructs the nations” that is capable of correcting and teaching humanity (v.10). God’s Wisdom is so great that He knows “the thoughts of man, that they are futile” (v.11). Paul quoted this in 1Corinthians 3:20, speaking of God’s triumph over defiant human wisdom and knowledge, and the futility of human intellect against God (Rom.1:21).

Psalm 1 begins with blessing – Blessed is the one who walks with God. Psalm 2 ends with blessing – Blessed are those who find refuge in God. Here in Psalm 94, the blessing shows up in the middle. Life sometimes begins with blessings; sometimes ends with blessings; and sometimes the blessings are found in the middle of life’s mess. The word used for ‘instruct’ or ‘discipline’ in verses 10 and 12 is the same word used in Psalm 2.4 when God addressed the kings of the earth to be “warned” or be “disciplined.” It carried the idea of correction or instruction, as also reflected in Psalm 16:7, “I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons.” The Blessed Believer is disciplined and taught from the law or instructions of God. His Word is our instruction manual.

Psalm 94 centres around a suffering community. The psalmist, tired of the oppression caused by the proud and the wicked, called for a fitting divine retribution on all those who opposed God and His ways (vv.1-3). God’s people were assaulted by the wicked, who seemed to get away with it: “Lord, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked triumph?” They utter speech and speak insolent things; all the workers of iniquity boast in themselves” (vv.3-4).These people were evil beyond anticipation, plundering widows and murdering orphans (v.6). They brutally crushed the poor and the helpless, thinking that God didn’t see them: “The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob understand” (v.7).  How foolish of them. They forgot that God is the One who made them. He knew what they were and what they did. He controlled their destinies and would punish them for their wrongdoing (vv.8-11).

The New International Version of our meditation verse says: “BLESSED is the man you DISCIPLINE, O LORD, the man you TEACH from your law” (vv.12). These words reveal one great basic principle: There can be no real teaching without discipline. If a teacher cannot exercise discipline, he cannot really teach. God is wiser than that; He never tries to teach those who refuse His discipline. And then there’s a wonderful promise to those who come under God’s discipline and accept His teaching: “You grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked.” (v.13). God is preparing a season of judgment and retribution on the wicked. He’s digging a pit for the wicked! In that time of trouble and retribution of the wicked, the Instructed person will be preserved from the judgment of God on the ungodly.

It surely pays to accept God’s discipline and come under His teaching. God does not desert the godly in their troubles, but often turns the troubles into lessons of patience and love. Ultimately, He’ll intervene to punish the tormentors and give relief to the righteous (vv.12-15). Until then, God remains the Believer’s Defence and Source of comfort (vv16-19). God blesses His people with instructions, comfort, and care. While the senseless and fools may never listen to God, we His people must, as He instructs and teaches us from His Word. Those who receive the teaching from God’s Word are promised REST from the inevitable days of adversity.