JOB 5:17-19 – “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal. 19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.”
THEME OF THE DAY: HAPPY ARE THE CHASTENED. The theme we read of in today’s scripture is not isolated in the wisdom book of Job. We find it in another Old Testament wisdom book; Proverbs – My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights (Proverbs 3:11-12).
The theme also carries over into the New Testament in two places. First, it is implied in the Gospel of John and the Parable of the Vine and branches – Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit (John 15:2). Purging is chastening. The other portion of New Testament scripture where we encounter today’s theme, and the most extensive description, is found in the letter to the Hebrews – Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:3-11).
Now, today’s theme. It may seem to be a contradiction. Happy when chastened and corrected by the Lord? Really? Doesn’t feel like it. The Hebrew passage affirms it hurts. So does our experience with the Lord. If it hurts and it does, how do we come to the point of embracing “Happy are the chastened?” Simple, not easy, but simple and found in one truth, and oh, what a truth! It is found in the Proverbs and Hebrews passages. Go ahead and look them up in the opening two paragraphs. Did you find it? Here it is . . . the ones chastened by the Lord, painfully chastened at that, are those He loves. When God brings correction and discipline into our lives, He is not hurting us to destroy us, but is displaying His love to develop us. It is through chastening we are purged from self, sin, and the world, making us more like Jesus! Cling to this when the rod of chastening is heavy upon our hearts.
God so loves His children that He brings chastisement in their lives, and because He so loves us enough to do such work, yes, we can be happy as the work unfolds!
PRAYER: “Father, help me not to respond with a rebellious attitude when You bring painful discipline into my life.”
QUOTE: “No child of God goes through life with being severely tried, painfully disciplined, and comforted in both.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim