Passage Read: Judges 2-5
Meditation Verses: 2:1-3
Thought
The Lord promised that He would not break His covenant with Israel, but they broke it by turning to other gods. God then said He would not drive out the Canaanites from the land, but let them remain so as to become thorns and snares to them. He would withdraw His help and let them go their own way and suffer the consequences of their disobedience. Yet that was not breaking His covenant with them. That was part of the covenant, part of His promise to them, to train them and discipline them, so as to bring them back to Him. His covenant included even ejecting them from the land, but not entirely destroying them. That was all part of His unbreakable commitment to the descendants of Abraham, that at least a remnant would return and learn faithfulness to Him.
Application
It is hard to remember or recognize sometimes that God's discipline is as much a sign of love as His blessings. Backing off of His blessings and letting them suffer from their bad choices is a sign of His love for them. If there were no consequences when they dishonored Him, they would have no reason to repent, but would continue happily in their rebellion like all the other nations and peoples God didn't choose, which end up completely cut off. If I am not disciplined, that's when I should be afraid. If everything goes well or smoothly through I'm not careful to honor the Lord, then I should be afraid. But it seems to be very true that everyone undergoes discipline, in one way or another, but not all listen and learn from it. Discipline should comfort me, even though painful, because it means the Lord still takes me as His own. But I need to pay attention, find my wrong and make the corrections God desires.