"Kept in Reach"

"If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgressions with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes." (Psalms 89:30-32)
You might read these three verses and go away thinking that God is talking about punishment or judgment; that's really not hard to do, after all, most people put God in that light, judging us for every little thing that we do. There are multiple ways we can look at these verses; from the point of our children and grandchildren, from the point of David's children, or from the point of the children of God who become that way through the blood of Jesus Christ. Any of those ways can work, but for the sake of time, I think it best to view this from the children of God aspect, seeing that it follows a verse which speaks about the "seed" which shall "endure for ever." Those other two categories have absolutely no guarantees of making it into heaven, but the third category does! From this perspective, God's "rod" is simply a tool that He uses for correction. It can basically be viewed as a staff, much like that used by a Shepherd for controlling a flock of sheep. You might know this, but I will touch upon it anyway; but the picture of the Shepherd with the lamb upon his shoulders has a story behind it. The reason that the Shepherd is carrying that lamb, is because the Shepherd has broken one of his legs with his staff; his he does when a lamb becomes unruly and will not listen. The point is quite simple really, and it usually works very well. While that lamb's leg is mending, the Shepherd will carry that lamb upon his shoulders and will keep that lamb close to him; by the time the lamb is ready to walk on its own, the lamb and the Shepherd have bonded, and the lamb is now willing to listen and obey the Shepherd's voice. When it comes to "stripes," stripes are something which are deeper, more profound, and are prioritized to the individual. Stripes can simply mean a mark, something that is a mark that defines who we are in relationship with our Heavenly Father. I would not want you to think of these stripes as something you might receive from a sever spanking, because that's not what God is trying to say. Besides, the stripes we are talking about is more like sores or scabs, spots if you will; something that needs to be healed, like leprosy. I guess you could say, You really don't realize that you need a doctor till something becomes obviously wrong! It's more personal than anything else...
"And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the LORD'S discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening -it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way." (Hebrews 12:5-11) NLT