Self-Discipline

What does it mean to disciple one's self?

It is an interesting relationship.

Few people confess that they need to be brighter or more full of common sense, but there are very few who don't confess a need for greater self-discipline.

David really messed up with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11 - 12:22). But what an example of self-discipline in how he dealt with Saul (1 Samuel 24 and 26)!

This shows us that, even in a man after God's own heart, self-discipline is an issue.

We should practice hearing God's voice in silence and solitude, training ourselves to hear Him clearly in a noisy crowd. But there is another strategy.

Demosthenes (a contemporary of Aristotle) is said to have practiced speaking with pebbles in his mouth and when out-of-breath from exercise in order to overcome his limitations as an orator. His desire alone wasn't enough. He had to discipline himself at a level higher than his desired goal in order to master his craft.

We can learn from this. In our silence, solitude, worship, study, meditation, prayer, and love we can also practice under conditions that are much more challenging than the ideal so that we can achieve our best for God.

We can discipline ourselves to be alone with God no matter what the size of the crowd, and quiet before Him no matter the noise.

In this we are being prepared to be disciplined by The Great Discipler.

Strength and Wisdom

David’s army at Hebron was growing in leaps in bounds as the tribes sent men of war “…to turn over the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD" (1 Chronicles 12:23).

Thousands of men described in terms such as, “armed with bows, using both the left hand and the right hand in hurling stones and shooting arrows with the bow”, “whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains”, “valiant”, “mighty men of valor, famous men”, “fit for war”, “loyal”, “expert in war”, “stouthearted men who could keep ranks”, “who could keep battle formation”, and “with shield and spear”.

I can picture these thousands – tens of thousands – gritty, scarred, and battle-ready men converging on Hebron to make David king. Zeal, angst, expectation - a hair-trigger powderkeg gathering of men looking for a reason to demonstrate their allegiance. Wound up tight like a spring and compressed into a geographic area not fit for their numbers or mettle.

What - or who - could tame such a gathering?

In the midst of this crowd we find, “…the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command…” (1 Chronicles 12:32).

These men were knowledgeable in interpreting the weather, the signs, the seasons, the political climate - and their understanding and experience with the interplay of these elements made them critical to David's cause. He would need both the bruteness of the warrior and the diplomacy of understanding men in order to secure the kingdom.

These elements are not exclusive, but complementary. And they live in us.

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12) and, "therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).

To lay claim to what God has set before us we must be prepared to be both strong and wise. To honor God with these traits requires David-like devotion.

Is There Not a Cause?

The lines were drawn.

The Philistines were encroaching on Judean lands, encamped between Sochoh and Azekah. Attack was impending but delayed, perhaps because of the difficulty of moving their war chariots through the steep ravine that runs through the middle of the Valley of Elah.

Saul and the men of Israel gathered in the Valley, waiting for the inevitable.

The Philistines' giant-champion, Goliath, presented himself 40 days, morning and evening - looking for a fight.

The Israelites cowered.

David, sent to the lines by his father to bring supplies to his brothers who were engaged in the stand-off, began to ask what would be done for the man who accepted the giant's challenge.

This brought a response from his brother,

^"'Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.'
And David said, 'What have I done now? Is there not a cause?'" (1 Samuel 17:28-30).

You know the rest of the story. David triumphed over the giant.

In the midst of our busy lives, to which we are over-involved but under-committed, it would serve us well to carry that question in our heart.

The enemy has mastered discouragement and fear, using them as effectively today as he did against Saul and his men. But the right question asked with the right motive ignites our courage, disperses our fears and prepares us for the victory.

There IS a cause. It DOES matter. We MUST pursue, with the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, the giants in our lives.

Worship Sets Us Free - remix

David discovered something for himself...

The same worship that calmed an anxious lamb soothed the tormented spirit of a king.

"And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him" (1 Samuel 16:23).

Paul and Silas understood this too (Acts 16:16-31), and the chains that bound them fell away.

Worship changes our perspective and reminds us of Who God is and, in that, we remember who we are - God is Love and we are the objects of His love.

Our challenges can't get in the way of our worship of Him. Our worship is the echo of His love for us.