Who Is the One Whom the Lord Teaches?

“Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O LORD, And whom You teach out of Your law,” Psalm 94:12.

Who is the one whom the Lord will teach out of His law?  Who is this blessed man?

The law of God can be known by any man who walks upon the earth.  The Bible is available to every man to pick up, to read, and to be instructed out of.  There is no man on the earth who cannot do this (it’s availability may be limited in some places, due to various reasons, but there is no man who may not find it if he is so inclined).

The explanation the Lord gives for the parable of the sower is this: “’Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is he who received seed by the wayside.  But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while.  For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.  Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.  But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.’”

The man who comes to the word of God, his reaction to it comes from his own heart; if he is inclined to believe it, then believe it he does, if he is inclined to reject it, then reject it he does.  But the one who comes to it from belief is then willing to be instructed out of it, and is then taught by the Lord how he ought to live.  And as we draw near to God, He draws near to us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded,” James 4:8.  And he chastens His sons, that they might draw nearer still, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit,” John 15:2.

Speaking of the rebellious, the Lord says, “She heeded no voice, She accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the LORD, She did not draw near to her God. Her princes within her are roaring lions, Her judges are wolves at evening; They leave nothing for the morning. Her prophets are reckless, treacherous men; Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law. The LORD is righteous within her; He will do no injustice. Every morning He brings His justice to light; He does not fail. But the unjust knows no shame,” Zephaniah 3:2-5.