“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: 'My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."(vs5-6)
Chastisement is part of Christianity, common to all sons of God, and never to discourage us (vs3-6). He says, “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives”. He gives us needful pain, in His love, to save us, and to do for us what we won't do for ourselves, which is purify the life, separating from sin. He stops us from worldly living, so be thankful you're loved and corrected, rather than allowed to rebel.
We must be chastened, or we must perish (vs7-8). He says again, “But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are bastards and not sons”. We can have God's painful help, or His unbearable wrath, but He's determined to lovingly correct His church. Receive it as CORRECTION. This is the way to go! Believe God's love always, believe His gospel, and receive His care. Never let pain or disappointment kill your joy in future grace, your hope of present help, or to disfigure the justness and goodness of God's ways.
Good things come from chastisement, even life eternal, love, joy, and peace (vs9-11). He says again, “Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?” Chastisement purges us from self-glorying unbelief, delivers us from disobedience and slavish fear, and returns us to the Lord from whom we've departed. Pain produces GAIN, when the Lord saves us from unbelief by touching us a little with its consequences. Thank God that He destroys your intentions rather than destroying you (2 Chron 20:35-37). Remember, look to the grace that's coming and never merely to the pain that you're enduring.
He says again, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it”. Chastisement reveals unbelief and sin, draws us near to God, and teaches us naked faith. We receive the fruit of love and obedience in the end. Like weight training, which involves pain... like exercise, which demands discomfort... we improve by what we go through. The end is WORTH the pain it takes to get there.
Look at your own experience. Look at your greatest chastisements, the pain you've experienced over sin and pride, and see the love for God, the boldness in Christ, and the comfort of the Spirit that you now enjoy. See how life is better, learning to believe at all times and love as He commands. Your family approves the end result of your sufferings, and your brethren are blessed by what you've become. Your own soul is nearer and clearer about heaven, your true home, and about God, your everything. You now see sin as your disgusting foe, and you trust God to conquer it. Chastisement has been for good, and it will always improve us and work for us!
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