A Boat Of Grace

2 Samuel 11-12 tells the story of David’s scandalous sin and God’s great mercy toward him. David committed adultery and murder. In the Lord’s mercy, God sent Nathan to confront David. David repented but his sins brought temporal judgments upon him.

When Nathan confronted David, he told David that God was going to take his son. In the time leading up to his son’s death, David fasted and prayed. But when David’s son died, according to the word of the Lord, scripture tells us:

Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” 2 Samuel 12:20-23

David understood that this chastening was from the hand of the Lord. He accepted it and went to worship the Holy One who had forgiven his trespasses. He was content to submit to God’s gracious and holy will.

Although not all chastening is a result of serious sin, (see Job,) all believers are disciplined by the Lord’s hand as they are conformed into the image of Christ. Fires come that keep us from being burned by the flames of sinful desires kindling in our hearts. He puts us through trials that melt off our dross. Storms come that drive us to shelter under his wings. He beckons us to himself and tells of his amazing grace toward us:

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:1-2

But we can have a tendency to balk at such things, desiring more comfortable circumstances. In Psalm 73, Asaph repents of his desire for comfort and his envy of the wicked who seemed to have lives of ease.

 Asaph spends several verses confessing his envious thoughts, I have only included a small portion of the Psalm below:

Behold, these are the wicked;
    always at ease, they increase in riches.
 All in vain have I kept my heart clean
    and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken
    and rebuked every morning. (vs. 13-14)

By God’s grace, Asaph turned from his sin. He looked upon his God of grace and learned to heed what Proverbs 3:11-12 instructs:

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

In verses 22 and 23, Asaph says “I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.” He goes on to praise and glory in his heavenly treasure.

Asaph learned that although the wicked may appear to have lives of ease, they are under the wrath of God. Unless they turn to Christ by grace, through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9,) they will one day perish. 

Asaph had received the unspeakable riches of Christ. He learned to embrace God’s discipline, doled out by his loving hand.

Hebrews 12: 6-12 encourages us:   

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 

In a short Welsh hymn titled “Kissing The Rod,” the author prays:

Teach me Aaron's thoughtful silence

When corrected by thy rod;

Teach me Eli's acquiescence,

Saying, "Do thy will, my God:"

Teach me Job's confiding patience,

Dreading words from pride that flow;

For Thou, Lord, alone exaltest,

And Thou only layest low.

God faithfully gives the help we need. In the midst of a very painful chastening, the Lord gave David “godliness with contentment which is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6.) God gives this grace to all of his children. In Philippians 4:12, Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes: I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”

God’s grace shines as he disciplines us. He loves us. He is sanctifying us. We are his children.

Although there may be moments of discontent or unbelief when we are disciplined, the beauty of God’s grace shines as he washes our feet and gives us joy.

His grace shines when I see brothers and sisters in Christ rejoicing in the Lord amidst sorrowful providences.

In his hymn, it is well with my soul, Horatio Spafford did just this. This past week, I learned the story behind this hymn. Spafford penned this after his four daughters died in a ship wreck; his son had also died two years prior to this tragedy. As he passed through the waters of grief, Spafford clung to his Lord and wrote this beautiful song.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul;
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And has shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin—O the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
"Even so"—it is well with my soul.

In closing, I would like to share a poem:

Sight says I'll drown

Faith knows I'm in a boat of grace

Guided by the Lord

At his word, I’ve been smooth sailing

At his command, tumultuous waters rise

Cold waves gush in, assaulting me

Drenched and weak

I pour buckets of icy water

Out of a boat that cannot sink

Weary of futility

Grieved of my idolatry

I toss the flimsy bucket

Waves swallow it out of sight

This is the Lord's storm 

I row with all my might

His victory is mine