Achor

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 4
 
Discipline.- Hos. 2:14,1514Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. 15And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt. (Hosea 2:14‑15); Heb. 12:1-131Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. (Hebrews 12:1‑13); Psa. 23
“The reproofs of instruction are the way of life.”-Pro. 6: 23.
“Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way.” Prov. 15: 10.
“Blessed is the man in whose heart are the ways.”- Psa. 84.
“The Father Himself loveth you.”-John 16: 27.
Down in Achor’s trial-scenes
Self is judged, and guilty found-
Faithful there the Father makes
Achor His correction-ground.
“Vale of trouble,” “door of hope,”
Through the valley drawn by Thee,
Learning from Thy pleadings there
Love’s alluring ministry.
Chastened, Father, and restored,
Oh, what joy on Thee to wait!
Ent’ring into Thy blest ways,
Ent’ring by the Shepherd’s gate.
Shepherd “ways” of grace and truth,
Secrets of Thy staff and rod,
“Waters still, and pastures green,”
Abba, Father -Abba, God.
Father thus each son received,
Profits by Thy jealous care;
Each partakes Thy holiness,
Each Thy faithful scourgings share.
Achor-valley, “open door,”
Scene of One from God who died;
Dying, living, “Door of hope,”
Opened by His riven side.
Without sorrow, none below;
Without sin but One alone;
“Man of sorrows” -His the cross,
Winning thence the Father’s throne.
Achor’s loved ones “sing,” “rejoice,”
Sing of Jesus’ precious blood;
Praise the Father’s “Door of hope,”
Magnify the Lamb of God.
C. F. C.