Tag: The Chastening of the Lord

The Chastening of the LORD

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Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights. 

‘Despise not’ – Don’t shrink away from it. Quoted from Job 5:17 and in Hebrews 12:5-6 (cp. Job 34:31-32; Ps. 94:12; Rev. 3:19). Some Christians do not think of chastening any other way except by sickness and disease. They believe they are being chastened when sick and yet they know nothing in particular that they have done. The facts below prove that when God allows plagues there is a reason which will be known to the individual or nation. God never allows drastic means except as a last resort, when all other methods of getting men to obey have been exhausted. Leviticus 26:1-46 and Deuteronomium 28:1-68 are clear chapters on this point. In Job 33:14-29 we have the cause of sickness in many cases.

If a child of God wants to claim he is being chastened by God, then let him acknowledge also that he has repeatedly refused to listen to God or obey Him (Job 33:1-33). Let him acknowledge his sins, for God does not allow plagues upon obedient children. They are given promises of healing and protection from plagues if they will but appropriate them (Ex. 15:26; Ps. 91:1-16; 103:3; Matt. 7:9-11; 17:20; 21:22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; John 14:12-15; 15:7, 16; 1Pet. 2:24; 2Jn. 1:2; Jas. 5:14-16). Only those who sow will reap and only those who rebel will be cursed (Gal. 6:7-8; Job 33:14-29; Lev. 26:1-46; Deut. 28:1-68).

One thing is certain, God is not to blame for sicknesses upon His obedient children and to claim such is to cooperate with satan and not God (John 10:10; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38). If people use Job as an excuse for unbelief, let them realize that Job did not know the gospel. He had no written revelation, covenant, or promise, and yet he was healed by God. Let people likewise fight as Job did until they get an answer and healing (Job 42:10; Jas. 5:10-11).

‘Chastening of the LORD.’ Three illustrations of chastening: David (2 Samuel 15-16; 23:5); Hezekiah (Isa. 39:5-8); Israel (Deut. 11:2; 2Chr. 6:24).

The Chastening of the Lord – Part 3

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Hebrews 12:5-7 And you have forgotten the exhortation which spoke unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?

Eight reasons when and why God chastises – allow consequences: When people refuse to hear (Job 33:1-33). When they commit iniquity (2Sam. 7:14). When people provoke God (Ps. 6:1; 38:1). When they forsake God (Ps. 89:30-32). When people refuse to judge themselves (1Cor. 11:32). When they stubbornly rebel (Deut. 11:2-6; Lev. 26:14-31; Num. 14:1-45). When people sow to the flesh (Gal. 6:7-8). When His children need instruction and correction (Heb. 12:5-10; Rev. 3:19).

Two kinds of chastening: [1] Child correction and training. The Greek word paideuo means child training. It is used of: (1) Instruction to rebels (2Tim. 2:25). (2) Rebels learning not to blaspheme by being turned over to satan (1Tim. 1:20; cp. 1Cor. 5:5). (3) People being educated in school or by private instructors (Acts 7:22; 22:3). (4) Grace teaching people (Tit. 2:12). (5) Christians being trained in the way of righteousness (Heb. 12:5-11; 1Cor. 11:32; Rev. 3:19). (6) Persecutions for the gospel through which Christians learn much (2Cor. 6:9). (7) Punishment of Christ who was accused of being a criminal (Luke 23:16, 22). [2] Punishments upon rebels. It is simply the law of sowing and reaping in operation. For rebellion, God promised certain curses and did allow certain plagues in Leviticus 26: (1) Terror, consumption, burning ague, and material loss (Heb. 12:16). (2) Death, oppression and fear (Heb. 12:17). (3) Humbling and poverty (Heb. 12:18). (4) Weakness and crop failures (Heb. 12:20). (5) Human beings and stock killed by wild beasts (Heb. 12:22). (6) Wars, pestilences, defeat in war, and famines (Heb. 12:25-26). (7) Cannibalism and destruction of cities (Heb. 12:29-31; Deut. 11:2-6; 28:1-64). 

Ten ways of chastening: Wars (2Sam. 7:14; Lev. 26:28-40; Hos. 10:10; Jer. 30:14). Whipping (Deut. 8:5; 21:18; Pro. 13:24; 19:18). Fasting (Ps. 69:10; Dan. 10:2-12). Persecutions (2Cor. 6:9; 11:23-30). Famine (Lev. 26:28-29). Fines (Deut. 22:18-19). Captivity (Hos. 7:12). Scourging (Luke 23:16, 22; 1Kin. 12:11, 12:14; 2Chron. 10:11, 10:14). Judgments (Deut. 11:2; Isa. 53:5). Sickness on sinners (Job 33:14-30).

‘Scourge’ [Greek: mastigoo] means to whip, flog or beat. Always translated as “scourge” (Matt. 10:17; 20:19; 23:34; Mark 10:34; Luke 18:33; John 19:1; Heb. 12:6).

The Chastening of the Lord – Part 2

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Hebrews 12:5-7 And you have forgotten the exhortation which spoke unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?

One thing is certain, God is not to blame for sicknesses upon His obedient children and to claim such is to cooperate with satan and not God (John 10:10; Luke 13:16; Acts 10:38). If people use Job as an excuse for unbelief, let them realize that Job did not know the gospel. He had no written revelation, covenant, or promise, and yet he was healed by God. Let people likewise fight as Job did until they get an answer and healing (Job 42:10; Jas. 5:10-11).

Would any earthly father chasten or train a child through cancers, tumours, or innumerable sicknesses and diseases? Would this demonstrate true fatherhood, as Jesus taught of God in Matthew 7:7-11 and Luke 11:9-13? What earthly parent would allow a child to suffer physically if he could help it? Shall we say that God is the only Father who loves to see His children sick? How could He love them much more than earthly parents if He were this kind of being? Are sicknesses the only method God has for training His children?

We have to carry our consequences so that we can learn from them and also to enable us to be done with sin and its destruction – by our own free will (Isa. 26:9-10).

The wise man sees clearly and weighs carefully the consequences of all he does; whereas the fool has no guide to his reason and no check on his passions as he blindly walks, groping in unbridled lusts (Eccl. 2:14). Our moral nature affirms in many ways that there is a future life and that we must prepare to get the good out of it or we will suffer the consequences of sin forever (Ps. 9:17; Rev. 14:9-14; 20:11-15).

Two ways of repentance are described in God’s Word: The Greek word metamellomai means to regret the consequences of sin, not the cause (Matt. 27:3; 2Cor. 7:8) and stands in contrast with the Greek word metanoia which means a real change of mind and attitude toward sin and its cause, not merely the consequences of it (Matt. 3:8, 11; 9:13; Luke 24:47). We all choose one or the other, and this decision will determine our eternal destination.

To be continued…

The Chastening of the Lord – Part 1

~ iolaHC ~ Leave a comment

Hebrews 12:5-7 And you have forgotten the exhortation which spoke unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? 

‘My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou are rebuked of him. Quoted from Proverbs 3:11-12. We are not to shrink away from chastening.

Some Christians do not think of chastening any other way except by sickness and disease. They believe they are being chastened when sick and yet they know nothing in particular that they have done. The facts below prove that when God actually allows plagues there is a reason which will be known to the individual or nation (satan still delivers them because of access given through sin – John 8:44; 10:10; Isa. 59:1-3; Job 2:7). God never uses drastic means except as a last resort, when all other methods of getting men to obey have been exhausted. Leviticus 26:1-46 and Deuteronomy 28:1-68 are clear chapters on this point. In Job 3:25; 33:14-29 we have the cause of sickness in many cases.

If a child of God wants to claim he is being chastened by God, then let him acknowledge also that he has repeatedly refused to listen to God or obey Him (Job 33:1-33). Let him acknowledge his sins, for God does not send plagues upon obedient children. They are given promises of healing and protection from plagues if they will but appropriate them (Ex. 15:26; Ps. 91:1-16; 103:3; Matt. 7:9-11; 17:20; 21:22; Mark 9:23; 11:22-24; John 14:12-15; 15:7, 16; 1Pet. 2:24; 2Jn. 1:2; Jas. 5:14-16). Only those who sow will reap and only those who rebel will be cursed (Gal. 6:7-8; Job 33:14-29; Lev. 26:1-46; Deut. 28:1-68).

To be continued…