Grateful For Those Who Rebuke

“Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.” (Ps 141:5 AV)

 

The righteous above does not necessarily mean those that walk with God.  In my study, I am inclined to think the righteous here is anyone who may be in a position of authority and able to render righteous judgment.  The last part of the verse and the following one lend themselves to this understanding.  The oil above that might break the head is about the custom of pouring oil on the head that was stored in a breakable container.  Like an alabaster box.  It was broken on the head and the oil would run on the head.  The writer is saying even though it might hurt a bit, it will not break his head.  Our writer is showing a great deal of maturity here.  Regardless of one’s standing before God, if he is rendering righteous judgment, then it is a good thing.  It should be appreciated.  It should be welcomed.  And the judgment should change the life.

How many of us have accused a teacher of an unfair grade?  The unfair grade may have come after a pop quiz.  Or, it may have come at the grading of a test that was replete with trick questions.  Or, it may have come when we received an exam in the narrative form.  We did our research, wrote the paper, and checked it for errors.  Yet, in the end, we received a grade far lower than we anticipated.  It’s that second example that riled this writer.  There are tests with fair questions.  They there are tests written for the sole purpose of tripping up the student.  As a teacher, I will admit I wrote an exam or two like that.  But to be fair, I gave the answers to those who earned them.  These tests were written punitively for students who were completely out of control in the classroom.  However, there are times when a teacher or professor will write an exam that is very difficult only because we did not heed his advice closely enough.  We did not read the material, take classroom notes, or ask the appropriate questions beforehand.  The grade we got was the grade we deserved regardless of how we felt about it.  The grade may have smarted a bit, but it was a lesson in hard work and being prepared.

The LORD sends all sorts of people or circumstances our way to correct wrong behavior.  Our response to that correction will tell us a lot of how maturity level.  Do we appreciate being told we are wrong?  Do we appreciate having to fix what we did wrong?  Are we grateful for the corrective measures this judgment rendered on a heart that was in error?  The psalmist is truly appreciative of the rebuke and promises to pray for the authority figure when his or her life isn’t what they desire it to be.  He is grateful to the point that he can empathize with those who rebuked him when it is their turn to be rebuked.  This is true spiritual maturity and the best way in which we can grow unto Christlikeness.