“…so do stripes…”

Proverbs 20.30

Recently I read about how David cried (and made quite a scene) when his wicked son Absalom died while committing treason!  Then I read in Proverbs, “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.” (“belly” in the Bible is referring to man’s core being). Then, the next day I read about how Joab “sorts David out” with some pretty hash words… (Joab was David’s general and nephew.)

You see, in that day and time everyone understood that severe punishment could fix things.  It was a harsh and brutal world where there weren’t many “second chances”.  So, punishment was harsh, and words were cutting!

Today there is still an application for us:  When God helps us, by dealing with us and our sin, then we must understand that… God is helping us!  Rather than letting us be overtaken by an evil thing!

Besides, Jesus suffered for all of our sin.  With HIS stripes we are healed!  He took our harsh and brutal punishment! (Isaiah 53.5)

So, when God corrects us in kindness, grace, love, and mercy, then may we decide to accept it, repent of sin, escape the evil, and say “Thank You Lord!”

The passage I referred to, including Joab’s cutting words to King David: 2 Samuel 18.33-19:1-7

”And the king… wept… O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!  And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom. And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people… and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life… thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends… if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well. Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night…”