Despising the Shame

"I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting."

Isaiah 50:6

Everyone has experienced feelings of shame when we felt exposed or humiliated for our failure or due to the mockery of others.  It is natural when feeling shame to try to hide from it and work to cover our faults.  Some feel ashamed of what they have said or done; others are ashamed of aspects of their appearance.  A person can feel shame about what they are personally responsible for or shame on behalf of seeing others mistreated.

For reasons known by the LORD during the past day or two I have been reminded of past events of my life when I said and did things I look upon with great shame.  There are things embarrassing to speak about, and there are things shameful to think about even though the events occurred years ago.  Most of the things I find deeply regrettable I seemed to be carefree about and justified easily at the time, but later my heart smote me as David after cutting Saul's garment.  For a long time we can shrug off shame, yet it proves more persistent than the most steely resolve.  Like Hannah's adversary, shame provokes us sore until we are made to despair in our wretched past we are powerless to change.

How grateful we should be that Jesus did not hide His face from shame and spitting.  He endured the most shameful humiliation for the sins of mankind which are shameful beyond description.  The scriptures teach us Jesus took our sins upon Him on Calvary, and He did not hide from the shame associated with them.  Praise be to God!  Though it may seem justifiable to our flesh to live in shame because of our sins, what Jesus accomplished on the cross gives us eternal hope no power of sin or Satan can frustrate.  Jesus took our sin and shame so we could rejoice in His forgiveness, redemption and salvation.  The shameful things I have done and said will forever be etched in history, yet by His grace through the Gospel I am not doomed to repeat them but can learn from them.

My friend, do you allow shame for your past or present failures dictate your feelings rather than knowing what Jesus has done for you on the cross?  Even now He stands ready to save, forgive and intercede on our behalf as it is written in Hebrews 4:16:  "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  The blood of our LORD Jesus covers our sin and shame in the past and for the future according to the riches of His grace.  Jesus did not hide from shame and humiliation for our sake, and thus we should not justify living in shame.  For the joy before Him Jesus endured the cross and despised (or thought little of) the shame and is seated at the right hand of the Father, His work accomplished.  Let us glory in Jesus Christ rather than hiding in shame.

The Author of Peace

Today a new insight came to mind:  without Babel there would not have been Pentecost as we know it.  When everyone spoke the same language, there was no need for translation or interpretation.  After the LORD came down and confounded the builders in Shinar they scattered according to their families, languages and nations.  It was a common language that united people after the flood rather than borders controlled by rulers or government.  Babel was the antithesis of peace, for people proudly stood in opposition to God.  According to His grace and mercy God intervened so people could have peace with God by faith in the Saviour He would send.

After Jesus ascended to the Father in the sight of hundreds of people after He rose from the dead, followers of Jesus gathered in one accord to pray on the Day of Pentecost.  Suddenly the Holy Spirit came upon the 120 people who assembled and praised the LORD in a variety of languages.  This grabbed the attention of the amazed devout Jews who had assembled in Jerusalem to observe the feast.  Acts 2:6-11:  "And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. ⁷ Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."

In light of Babel, this is an amazing contrast.  God confused the languages from one to many so the people could not understand each other, but when the Holy Spirit came upon the believers their fellow Jews were confused how Galilean Jews spoke their own languages fluently with praises to God!  The builders in Shinar were confused and departed, and the Jews in Jerusalem were confused and gathered together for an explanation.  Through the teaching of Peter who was filled with the Holy Spirit 3,000 believers were added to the kingdom of God, born again by faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul later revealed guidance concerning the appropriate use of tongues and prophecy in an assembly, and urged them to do all to edify one another.  1 Corinthians 14:27-33 says, "If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. ³⁰ But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³² And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³ For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."  Though God confused the builders at Babel, He is not the author of confusion:  there was a perfectly clear and rational reason He does all that He does in mercy, grace and love.  He knows all languages having birthed them at Babel, and He knew all the people who were in Jerusalem to hear of the wonderful works of God in their own language.  He who gifts with tongues also can enable them to be interpreted for the benefit of all so those in the church will be edified.

Isn't God amazing how He works His wonders in wisdom?  Praise the LORD He has given us tongues we can use to praise and glorify Him, putting our thoughts into words for His honour and exaltation.  Envy and strife lead to confusion, and God is not the author of these.  One of God's wonderful works is clearing up our confusion and bringing clarity and understanding by faith in Him.  Jesus is the author of peace in all the churches and may we be filled with His Spirit to speak forth His praise.

The Rod and Rebuke

"Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul."

Proverbs 29:17

This is one of many proverbs that provide wise instruction for parents in raising their children.  Children need correction, it is true parents at times need correction as well.  Correction is not only being aware of making a mistake or expressing displeasure, but taking action to instruct and guide to do what is right.

Marking and correcting papers at school are two different things.  To mark a paper or exam is to point out the faults and provide the final grade.  Correcting requires an additional step to marking errors but providing the correct answer and even an explanation if necessary.  I believe a lot of the frustration parents experience with misbehaving children is marking without correction or disciplinary action.  Complaining or venting about bad behaviour is not discipline, but a disciplined parent will take loving action to correct according to guidance they have received from God and His word.

Warnings are wise when followed up by prompt, appropriate consequences determined before the offence occurred.  Reproof using words is important, and at times there is need for a rod.  A couple verses earlier Solomon said in Proverbs 29:15, "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."  The rod and rebuke are two different things.  We might imagine our rebuke can be employed as a rod to avoid taking physical disciplinary action.  Speaking with someone is not the same as taking corrective action, and Paul made this clear in his letter to the church in 1 Corinthians 4:21:  "What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?"  We know from God's dealings with His people the rod and love are not opposed to one another, and Paul was willing to wield a whip to drive out the abhorrent sin from the church even as Jesus purified the temple.

While it was common among the Romans and even Jews to whip those who transgressed the law, it is not so in many cultures today.  For the protection of children and parents there are laws in place to deter abusive practices.  The principle remains true that the rod and rebuke are two different things:  words to warn and direct, and the rod to discipline and correct.  Correcting children means proactive and consequential action must take place beyond scolding, complaining, whining or venting.  It is doing more than putting the foot down but taking responsible action with authority given by God to parents that is best for the health and well-being of that child even if it is difficult, costly and painful.

I say to parents using Paul's words, "What do you want?"  Do you want to continue feeling exasperated, frustrated and powerless in the light of foolish behaviour in your child, or will you take action to correct him by doing more than complaining?  Having children is a delightful gift of God, and when we are willing to receive correction from God in our parenting we will experience rest by faith and obedience to Him.  Rebuke and the rod go together like a two-part adhesive, and attempts to employ one without the other will not perform as God intends.

Look to the LORD

"Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. ² Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him."

Isaiah 51:1-2

God bid His people to remember Who He was to them, and how He established and blessed them.  The children of Israel were descendants of Abraham and Sarah who were called by God and with whom God made a covenant.  God caused them to miraculously bring forth a son Isaac in their old age and through them all the earth would be blessed.  Jews who looked to the Law and the LORD were also called to remember the faith of Abraham who believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness.

The cliche "chip off the old block" conveys the chip is made of the same original material it was hewn from.  A hickory tree chopped into pieces remains hickory, and the God of Abraham was the God of Israel and his descendants forever.  Abraham did not earn the favour of God by his efforts, but God graciously called Abraham out of idolatry and led him on a journey of faith in God based on God's sovereignty, power and goodness.  Abraham did not always look to God for help in trouble, and neither did the children of Israel or people to this day.

Isaiah 22:8-11 describes how God's people looked to many things rather than Him when He allowed them to suffer affliction:  "He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armour of the House of the Forest; ⁹ you also saw the damage to the city of David, that it was great; and you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. ¹⁰ You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses you broke down to fortify the wall. ¹¹ You also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago."  Ironic, isn't it?  God's people saw the damage done to the city of David and forgot to seek God who chose and anointed David.  They were concerned about the breaches of the wall, tore apart homes to fill the gaps,  stopped up the spring to deter invaders, dug a trench to collect water and yet did not look to God who dwelt among them.  They were more moved by the threat of a siege by their enemies than respecting God who had always protected and provided for them.

It is a good question to consider:  am I looking to the LORD by faith in Him?  Am I looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of my faith?  Am I considerate of those deemed heirs of righteousness by faith in God, those who by faith subdued kingdoms, in weakness were made strong, escaped the sword, who were tortured and tempted, people who were destitute and tormented who obtained a good report by faith (Heb. 11:32-40)?  They endured because they looked to the LORD Jesus Christ, the Rock of Salvation, the One upon Whom our lives are built by grace through faith.  Let us look to Him Who saves, delivers and provides all good things, for He is most blessed.  Rejoice and trust in our Saviour who said in Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."  By the Living Bread sent from heaven and the Living Water of the Holy Spirit, we find satisfaction and rest for our souls.