Heb. 12:12-17, Principles of Godly Discipline
12:12 “Wherefore” – dio – because of all that has been mentioned about the chastening of the Lord, we are to listen carefully. lift up the hands - anorqwsate – Aor Act Imp – to set someone upright again as in a person who is deformed, build up again, renew. This word also describes the setting of bones, the healing of a paralytic. “Hands” is a special word, showing how men reach forward, straining to find help, grasping, pleading.
which hang down, - pareimenaV – Pf Pass Ptc – neglect, relax, loose, weakened, exhausted. Picture how you used be able to lift your hands in worship and praise, but now your spiritually weakened, unable by discouragement.
and the feeble knees; - paralelumena - Pf Pass Ptc - Notice that he challenges them to be active continuously to lift up their hands, but the hands that hang down and the feeble knees are described in the passive voice. The failure to focus on Christ, lifting holy hands to Him for help and trust, brought about their hands hanging down and their feeble knees. The natural outgrowth of failure to trust and focus on the one true God, is discouragement and a weak spiritual condition.
Their feeble knees (sick of the palsy, loose on one side or the other, weakened, tottering) have not bowed to their Creator. Their hands were limp and not pleading, their knees were weak but unyielding. The Lord challenges them to walk again and be spiritually healed.
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Isa. 35:3-4
Do not be in a state of despondency when confronted with God’s discipline. His discipline is not to crush your weak knees, but to allow you to stand in His strength and become more mature and respond correctly to Him. That is why the Lord challenges again in verse 13 to make straight paths for your feet.
12:13 And make straight paths for your feet, - poihsate – Aor Act Imp – make necessary corrections in your life so that healing can occur. That is, recover from God’s discipline, learning the lessons quickly. If not, there are consequences. Make a switch from the wrong path to the correct path (the will of God, not the will of man).
It is a personal matter, lest that which is lame (the one being disciplined) can be turned out of the way; - ektraph - Aor Pass Subj - (continue to be lame, dislocated, spiritually disrupted and discouraged). Why let this continue
in our lives when our situation of discouragement can be restored to strength?
A limping Christian moves more slowly, often in constant pain and distress, loses his balance more easily, focus’ on himself, becomes angry more quickly, and looks down on others because they do not help him.
but let it rather be healed. – iaqh de mallon - Aor Pass Subj – this is the best option. Notice once more that the Lord gives two commands (lift up the hands and make straight paths for your feet. These commands are both followed by passive verbs describing what occurs in the spiritual realm: hang down, feeble knees, turned out of the way or rather be healed). Be totally recovered – get over it! Learn to live before the Judge of all the earth without anger or bitterness.
The commands are for us to follow, but there are always spiritual laws, which are the consequence of our actions and responses to God’s directions and commands. Just as we cannot escape the universal physical laws, which govern the physical world, neither can we escape the universal spiritual laws, which govern the spiritual world.
How long will we follow our own wisdom, remain discouraged, be weakened spiritually, or strive for physical strength to solve our problems. When the Lord disciplines His children, He continues to discipline them until their focus changes to absolute trust. Have you ever wondered why Israel wandered in the wilderness, was continually falling into difficulty with foreign nations, or disciplined constantly with plagues and hardships?
We read about the failures of Bible characters to follow the commandments of the Lord and ask ourselves, “Why could they not see the real problem?” After all, we can read it for ourselves in the Bible. However, when it comes to our own problems of receiving discipline, the issues seem more difficult to discern. Come now, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.
Ex 10:3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.
Ex 10:7 And Pharaoh’s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us?
Ex 16:28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments?
1Sa 1:14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
Ps 4:2 …how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?
Ps 94:3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?
Pr 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?
Jer 4:14 …How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
Num. 14:11 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
Conclusion: Think it through. Make sense of it as soon as possible. End the spiritual draught and walk into the light of God’s goodness, grace and power. There is no need to walk on weak spiritual legs, with our hands hanging limply at our side. You don’t want to be Mr. Limpet spiritually. You can receive spiritual strength for weakened hands, develop powerful legs to bow more easily to your Lord, and walk in the presence and power of Christ with our faces turned toward Heaven’s Throne.
1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.