Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 15:30-36.
“30 But the person who does anything defiantly, whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt will be on him.’”
32 Now while the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the sabbath day. 33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation; 34 and they put him in custody because it had not been declared what should be done to him. 35 Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” 36 So all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.” Numbers 15:30-36.
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As a quick introductory side note, although little is stated in the second paragraph of today’s Scripture about the man gathering wood on the Sabbath day, it seemed to me from the close proximity with the first paragraph and the severe punishment that this was a specific example of one who was doing something defiantly, blaspheming the LORD, and despising the word of the LORD. That is why I included this second paragraph in today’s Scripture and did not set it aside for a separate devotion.
But, whether or not there is that connection, there is discipline in today’s Scripture that is the theme of this devotion (although no one now would advocate church discipline to include putting anyone to death).
Discipline is so important that it is considered as one of the three marks by which the true Church is known.
“… The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these: if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin: in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church. …” Article 29 of the Belgic Confession.
In Lesson 24 (concerning “The Church”) of the Essentials of Reformed Doctrine by Rev. H. Hoeksema, there are also the following two points:
“7. What are the distinguishing marks of the church?
The pure preaching of the Word of God, the proper administration of the sacraments, and the exercise of Christian discipline. John 8:31, 47.
9. What are the keys of the kingdom?
The preaching of the Word and the exercise of Christian discipline, by which the kingdom is opened and shut to believers and unbelievers. John 20:23.”
We should not also forget the preceding Scripture of unintentional sin (Numbers 15:22-29) and the forgiveness readily and fully given. And, we also consider the separate classification of sin that received such severe punishment as being defiant, blasphemous, and despising the word of the LORD.
The purpose of this devotion is to generally and briefly cover the importance of discipline, particularly for those who are defiant, blasphemous, and despising the word of the LORD. The purpose of this devotion is to not specifically cover all the sins that should be disciplined or the appropriate punishment. I will close with only the following two specific examples in Scripture.
We see one reference to discipline in Galatians 1:9: “As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!’
Another reference to discipline is in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2: “It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 