Living in the Shadow of His Hand

I Stand Corrected

 

“I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.” – Habakkuk 2:1

A few days ago I was out shopping with my daughter.  I don’t remember the full conversation but I was trying to explain something to her and her reply is “I know, I know, I know EVERYTHING!” At the time, that statement went all over me like cold water after a warm bath!  I didn’t know why, but it really ticked me off!  This morning God showed me why it was so troubling.  She reminded me of me!

Growing up, I was hard to teach.  Was I independent to a fault?  Friends, I was trying to tie my own shoes at two years old, and by age three, I was doing it.  When corrected, I often gave the same response of “I know! I know!”  And when corrective criticism came I turned a deaf ear or got defensive and just refused to listen.  I did not want or accept correction.  I liked “me” and “me” was the boss of “me”.  Woe is “me”! 

When we shut out all correction and refuse to listen, Proverbs 12:1 says we are “stupid”.  God has worked a great change in me in that He has humbled me.  Through many hard knocks of failure, I now see that I cannot be the boss of “me” because I don’t have all the instructions and knowledge that I need.  Now that I don’t think I am all-knowing, I can accept correction without feeling as if I’m being criticized. 

Correction can come from two different places.  It can come from a place of condemnation, or a place of love.  God’s correction is always from a place of love.  He loved us in our sinful state enough to send a ransom for us through His Son Jesus Christ.  But He continues to show His love for us in that He will correct us, and correct us, and continue that good work in which He has started in us until Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6).  But to be corrected by God, we have to listen for His still small voice.

Habakkuk 2:1 is one of the most beautiful visions of a strong Christian and a sound relationship with God.  The prophet says “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.”  A rampart is a tall wall, a fortress of protection.  He’s willing to stand on top of the wall, making himself vulnerable, risking being hurt, to watch for God.  He will risk the pain of knowing more of himself to know more of God, and what God will say to him.  And then the prophet says “I will answer when I am corrected”.  Think about that.  Visualize yourself standing on top of the wall having this intimate conversation with God.  What does He point out?  What do you answer?

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights” – Proverbs 3:11-12

“Therefore hear me now, my children,
And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
Remove your way far from her,
And do not go near the door of her house,
Lest you give your honor to others,
And your years to the cruel one;
Lest aliens be filled with your wealth,
And your labors go to the house of a foreigner;
 And you mourn at last,
When your flesh and your body are consumed,
 And say:
“How I have hated instruction,
And my heart despised correction!
 I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,
Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!” – Proverbs 5:7-13

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