The Chastisement of the Lord

God loves us and he delights in us. His affection for us is immeasurable and hard to comprehend. He is pleased with those whom have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior.

His love and delight was revealed to us when He sent His Son to die for the sins of the world.

For God so loved the world that he gave his onlybegotten son that whosoever believes in him shouldnot perish but receive eternal life.

John 3:16

 God also reveals his love for us through chastisement. Proverbs tells us that a father who loves his child will correct (chastise) him.

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

We are told not to despise ( to refuse or reject) the chastening of the Lord nor become weary (To sever oneself, be disgusted or anxious) of His correction because God loves us and this is why chastening and correction come to the believer. God deals with the world (Those who do not trust in Christ for salvation) through judgment, but he deals with his children through chastisement. If we continually refuse the chastening of the Lord, we put ourselves at risk of judgment.

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Pro 29:1

 And 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: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Hebrews 12:5-8

 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten:be zealous therefore, and repent. Rev 3:19

 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. Job 5:17-18

The Hebrew definitions for the words “chastening” and “correction” carry the same meaning. There are four definitions for these words: 1) reproof, 2) warning 3) Instruction 4) Restraint.

How does chastening come to the believer?

Reproof (Blame expressed to the face; reprehend for a fault, rebuke)

• God uses His Word to rebuke us for our attitudes, motives, thoughts, behaviors, and conversations that displease him and to bring conviction through the Holy Spirit

Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalms 119:11

 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: Pro 6:20-23

God uses others to rebuke us or to tell us our faults

 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Mat 18:15

 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. Gal 2:11 

Warning  (To give notice of approaching or probable danger or evil, that it may be avoided; to caution against any thing that may prove injurious. To caution against evil practices)

• God warns us through His Word

Moreover by them (The word of God) is thy servant warned and in keeping of them there is great reward.Psa 19:11

 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Heb 11:7

God warns us through others

Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin,  he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul. Eze 3:21

 God may warn us through dreams and visions

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Mat 2:12 

 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: Mat 2:22 

Instruction (The act of teaching or informing the understanding in that of which it was before ignorant)

• God instructs us through His word so that we may avoid error due to our ignorance

But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Joh 16:6 -7

 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? Gal 4:16

 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32

 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. John 7:16-17

Restraint (The act or operation of holding back or hindering from motion, in any manner; hinderance of the will, or of any action, physical, moral or mental; Abridgment of liberty; as the restraint of a man by imprisonment or by duress. Prohibition.)

• God will use circumstances and whatever it takes to hold us back from venturing out of his will

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,This is the way, walk ye in it,when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.Isaiah 30:21

 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.Act 16:6-7 

 Now it was in the heart of David my fatherto build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel. But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart: Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name. 2 Ch 6:7-9

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Psa 19:13

This is in no way inclusive of all the various methods that God will use to chastise us and keep us in a right relationship with him and in the center of His will. After all, He is God, He can do anything He pleases at any time!

He loves us so much that he will interrupt our lives, our schedules, our plans….whatever it takes!!