5 Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And
let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For
still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.

First let me say a thank you for your prayers these past
couple days as we traveled back and forth to Roanoke to speak at Shelby Leonard’s
home going celebration. It was a beautiful service honoring her godly life and
her wonderful witness for the LORD. I’m sure she received a “grand entrance”
into heaven this past Saturday night as she went from this earthly life to
her eternal abode. Peter spoke about this in 2 Peter 1:10-11, “So, dear
brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God
has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God
will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.” Thanks again for your prayers!

Psalm 141 is written by David as he is responding to being attacked
by ruthless and evil people. In this chapter we find at least five things that
David did. In verses 1-2, the first thing David does in his desperation is to seek
the LORD. He prays and cries out to the LORD in his desperation.  

Yesterday we noticed in verses 3-4, that the second thing
David did was he was determined and made the choice to keep himself from sin.
He was tempted to say and do things that he knew God would not be pleased with
and he asked the LORD to “set a guard over his mouth”.

Now in verse 5, the third thing David did was to accept God’s
rebuke and counsel. So often when we are attacked by someone, or we are facing
a desperate situation, we respond in all the wrong ways. We might run to a
friend or relative that we believe can bail us out of our trouble, or at least will
take our side and feel sorry for us. Some of us might turn to drugs or alcohol
to drown out our pain. David is determined to focus on the LORD and what He
might be doing in his life.

Actually, "the righteous" can also be
translated "the Righteous One," referring to the Lord. David recognized
that the LORD was involved in allowing this conflict or pain to come into his
life. When we yield to God's will, the difficulties of life are tools that God
uses to bring maturity to our lives. Often the Lord sends people to speak to us
with a message of rebuke.

Solomon would later instruct us with these words in Proverbs
1:23, “Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will
make my words known to you.” Paul told Timothy that the Word of God was
given for this purpose in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

The major difference between King Saul and David was that Saul
would not listen to rebuke and went from bad to worse. He made excuses, blamed
others, or even if he acknowledged that he was wrong, he kept right on doing
the same things. David was willing to turn at God’s rebuke and knew it was good
for him. David knew that God’s rebukes, however they came to him, were like fragrant
oil that cleansed him and brought healing to his soul and made him a better
man!  

As we face the problems and perils of the Christian life,
it is important that we listen to wise counsel and obey it. God’s reproofs,
however they might come to us, are a sign that we are God’s children and that
He loves us! (Hebrews 12:5-11)

God bless!