Oral Hygiene and Discipline

And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father’s house. But do not let the plague be on your people.” 1 Chronicles 21:17

As far as I remember, I was a pretty good kid who didn’t cause my parents a lot of grief while growing up. The most I remember vexing them was when we got home from a weeklong vacation and I let it slip that I’d not brought my toothbrush along. Oral hygiene was important in our family and when they realized I’d gone a whole week without brushing, I was in trouble. I don’t think it was the forgetting of the toothbrush that vexed them. Rather, it was the fact that I didn’t say something on day one of our vacation, when I realized my error. I’d knowingly and willingly done something disgusting, and I was in trouble, being grounded for a few days.

Still, in the grand scheme of life, it was a short amount of time that we lived in that place of conflict. I was contrite. I returned to brushing my teeth. And soon, all was forgiven. My parents’ anger and discipline didn’t last forever. Their correction came from a place of love, designed to guide me into who they hoped I’d become. If I’d have remained defiant, refusing to resume brushing my teeth, perhaps we’d still live in conflict today, but I repented and they welcomed me back into a normal loving relationship with open arms.

It’s the same with God. If we desire to live in a right relationship with him, we must be willing to show remorse and repent of our sinful behavior. This is illustrated in today’s passage in which King David offended God by relying on the numbers of his army instead of God’s strength. God was displeased and sent a pestilence upon Israel, threatening to destroy Jerusalem itself. David admitted his sin though, repented, and appealed to God’s mercy. God saw David’s contrition and relented of his discipline, returning he and David to a normal relationship.

When we sin, we often make ourselves miserable. If we want out of the misery, we must choose contrition and repentance. This isn’t necessarily easy, as it will mean leaving behind the destructive behavior. If, however, we desire to know the life, joy, and peace found only in a relationship with God, we must do what it takes to repent. When we do so, we’ll always find God waiting with open arms, welcoming us back to a loving relationship with him.