Rods and Stripes nevertheless Lovingkindness – Psalm 89:31-33

Psalm 89:31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless, my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

Every so often, a verse jumps out from God’s word. It seems like you have never seen it before. Psalm 89 has been encouraging my heart to the point that I am trying to memorize it because it presents such a balanced view of God. In today’s preaching, you rarely hear anyone talking about God judging us for our sin; the focus is on His forgiving our sin and on the fact that we are His children. In this verse, we see that judgment, rather harsh judgment, rods, and stripes, not just a timeout or taking away our toys. Immediately following, God reassures the offender that his lovingkindness is still available, and his promises to help are still valid, even though they have been severely punished.

Today, if you are feeling like a failure and that the correction of God is upon you, take heart and remember this is just for a season. His lovingkindness and his faithfulness are still available to those who are willing to repent and call upon his name again. Don’t lose heart, look to the Lord, He is waiting.