Divine Chastening 2
By J.P. Thackway
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. Job 5:17.
Divine Chastening is one of the most important and blessed truths that we can consider. This is so for these reasons.
a] It is often found in Scripture.
What appears regularly in the Bible is for us to profit from. In addition to our text above, we also find it in Proverbs 3:12, and more fully in Hebrews 12:5-11.
Moreover, Scripture contains numerous examples of divine chastening, including Israel in the wilderness:
Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him (Deuteronomy 8:5,6).
The people were out of Egypt, but Egypt needed to be out of them. In leading Israel through the trying experiences of their journeys, the Lord was weaning them from idolatry and teaching them to cleave to Him alone. An easier time would not have helped them. As August Tholuck put it: “Were the pious freed from every trouble and affliction, motives to piety would become impure, faith would grow faint, prayer cease, and carnal security abound.”
Their future exile in Babylon and their return after 70 years was a further case of fatherly discipline that bore fruit. The remnant returned under Zerubbabel, and their first priority was to restore the true worship of the Lord (Ezra 3). They never worshipped heathen gods again.
In the New Testament, Paul’s pastoral ministry to the Thessalonians was of this character:
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:11,12).
This reminds us that “able ministers of the New Testament” must preach in an applicatory way so that the Word exercises the hearts and lives of Christians. The
Pastor is like the father of a family, whose calling, under God, is to bring Christians to maturity in Christ, and help them toward heaven. Sometimes it will be reproof and admonition, sometimes encouragement, but always comfort (Isaiah 40:1,2).
Also, there are numerous people in the Bible who became better saints through the process of divine chastening: believers like Job, Joseph, Joseph’s brothers, Jacob, Naomi, David, Paul, the church members at Corinth, and many more.
b] It reminds us of a precious relationship.
By grace, God has become our Father, and we are His children. Strangely, the truth of adoption leads some Christians to question that God would chasten His children. “God loves us, He would surely not do these things to us,” they protest. However, this fails to realise that God’s love is faithful and tough. Even in the severest form, His chastening, far from contradicting His love, wonderfully confirms it (Hebrews 12:6,7). As someone has said, “Afflictions are the proofs of love; stripes are the marks of sonship.”
Thomas Goodwin expressed this helpfully: “God has made a covenant, not with our works but with our persons. Consequently, He can hate our sin while loving our persons. Therefore, He will destroy the sin and preserve us. If He smites with one hand, He supports and comforts us with the other.”
c] Chastening tests and exhibits our sincerity.
Amid his sufferings, Job could say: “he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” and “For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him“ (Job 23:10,14). Such sincere acknowledgement of God shows that Job loved the Lord more than his comforts. This meek submission belongs to God’s true children (Matthew 5:5). This is always the reaction of those in His family. And it will lead to our only being spiritually profited by these divine dealings (cf Psalm 66:10-12).
d] This defines what Romans 8:28 really means.
We instinctively quote this verse when things go wrong, as if it means that the worst is always for the best: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” However, while in providence this is true, we need to proceed to verse 29 for what is the good intended: “to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Divine chastening is with a view to making us more like the Lord Jesus in character and ways, that He might be seen in our lives (John 17:10). This is the “good” in view, and is the highest possible good.
e] It is an integral part of sanctification.
This is the will of God for us (1 Thessalonians 4:3). How does God our Father accomplish it? Not without the process of divine chastening. Every true believer, when the heart is right, longs for this. We echo the words of George Whitefield:
This remaining body of sin … how hard, how slow, he dies! Oh, for a heart gladly to embrace every cross, every trying dispensation that may have a tendency to poison, or starve, or nip the buddings of the old – and cherish, promote, or cause to bloom and blossom the graces and tempers of the new man in my soul.
This explains why Christians usually go through more trials and troubles than unbelievers do (Psalm 73:14,24). They are being fitted for closer fellowship with God, which the world knows nothing of, and for glory with Him in heaven. The process is life-long. There is so much that hinders this. It is the problem of remaining sin (Romans 7:17,20). We are so rebellious, selfish, worldly, disobedient, wayward, weak, and foolish. Therefore, all our Father’s dealings with us are to correct our faults and develop our graces; to subdue sin and promote holiness. There can be no sanctification without chastening.
Let us consider now the blessing of divine chastening by looking more closely at Hebrews chapter 12.
1. Something conceded
In verse 11 we read: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous.” The apostle anticipates a complaint: “This discipline is hard and painful.” It certainly can be. “Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way” (Proverbs 15:10). The trial is described as fiery in 1 Peter 1:7. It must be like this, otherwise it cannot be effectual. And to achieve it, we sometimes find that not one trouble, but two or three happen together to have their God-intended effect upon us.
a] This is so, even when the chastening is through the Word.
In 2 Timothy 3:16 we read that God’s inspired Word is “for instruction in righteousness,” where “instruction” is the same Greek word translated “chastening” in Hebrews 12:11. Instruction and admonition are what good fathers do in bringing up their children. The youngsters growing up sometimes find it irksome, but are grateful in later life. Our heavenly Father does this through His Word, especially when it is preached. It can strike home uncomfortably sometimes. We need to ask ourselves, when we are convicted like this, do we seek grace to be “doers of the word” (James 1:22)?
Or, when the Word identifies something wrong in our lives and painfully exposes us – do we repent and put the matter right? David did this, “I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:59). This is only for our good (Psalm 94:12; 119:71). To strive against God will only bring His Word to us in longer and stronger admonition.
b] Sometimes chastening must be more vigorous.
If we do not respond to His Word, the Lord will go further and send troubles: outward or inward. These can be anything He chooses: illness, calamities, disappointment, sorrow in the family, heartache, a long-term problem, and more. The Lord has unlimited arrows in His quiver, and servants everywhere.
We sometimes find that these match the sins of which we are guilty. For instance, Jacob deceived his father by impersonation (Genesis 27:24), then he is deceived by Laban when Leah impersonated Rachel (Genesis 29:25). If are amused at and mimic mentally afflicted people, we may find that we are afflicted with depression in later life. Christian parents are proud of their converted children and judge other parents whose children are not Christians, only to find afterwards that some of their children go terribly wrong, bringing grief and shame. Ministers boast of increase in church membership, but then numbers decline. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). If such things happen to us, our wisdom is to humble ourselves before the Lord and confess: “as I have done, so God hath requited me” (Judges 1:7). This will be to profit from the discipline.
c] Sometimes it may be very serious.
If the Lord has an exceptional work to do in us, it may need an exceptional discipline. Someone once said: “I have learned more of experimental religion since my little boy died than in all my life before.” When so, it is comforting to know that such events come from the hand of our heavenly Father, and His heart is toward us in love and mercy. Thomas Watson expressed it this way:
It is one heart-quieting consideration in all the afflictions that befall us, that God has a special hand in them: “The Almighty hath afflicted me.” Instruments can no more stir till God gives them a commission, than the axe can cut of itself without a hand. Job eyed God in his affliction: therefore, as Augustine observes, he does not say, ‘The LORD gave, and the devil took away,’ but ‘the LORD hath taken away.’
True Christians will love a chastening God, because by this He shows us that He is our God. CH Spurgeon was an eminent example of this. It was said of him,
Mr Spurgeon used often to describe the encounter he had with one of his neighbours at Nightingale Lane. After a long and painful illness from gout, he was starting for a short drive, in the hope a gaining a little strength, when this gentleman came up to the carriage, and pointing to the dear sufferer’s bandaged hand and foot, said, with all the scorn and contempt he could compress into words, ‘Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth.’ I would not have such a God as that. In relating the story, Mr Spurgeon always said, ‘I felt my blood boil with indignation and I answered, ‘I rejoice that I have such a God as that; and if He were to chasten me a thousand times worse than this, I would still love Him; yea, though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.’
We acknowledge that, at such times, the Lord is kind and wise and faithful to us. We glorify Him when we “kiss the rod” and bow to a Father’s hand and heart.
2. Something described
Hebrews 12:11 depicts those undergoing chastening as being “exercised thereby.” This is what divine chastening produces when the Lord sanctifies it to us.
a] It makes us fitter Christians.
“Unto them which are exercised thereby.” The word ‘exercised’ in the original is gumnazo, which gives the English word “gymnasium.” So, this is about spiritual fitness training, like the physical equivalent (1 Timothy 4:8). For an illustration of this, consider the great Baptist divine Robert Hall (1764–1831). He was admitted to membership of his father’s church in Leicester at 14 years of age after a “very distinct account of his being the subject of divine grace.” However, he believed that much more grace came later through the discipline of pain which interrupted his ministry, and for a time unhinged his reason. It is said,
There can be no question that from this period he seemed to live under the prevailing recollection of his entire dependence upon God, that his habits were more devotional than they had ever before been, his spiritual exercises more frequent and more elevated.
b] This discipline brightens our Christian evidences.
It is sometimes illustrated by precious metal in the crucible, for example, “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts” (Proverbs 17:3). On this verse, Spurgeon aptly said,
Gold is put into the furnace because it is gold. It is useless to try to refine rubbish there … You often think that Jesus does not care because He has not interposed with a great miracle. Gradually, you are getting poorer or becoming more afflicted in body. You had hoped for a miracle. My dear friend, sometimes God works a greater wonder when He sustains people in trouble than by delivering them. To let the bush burn with fire and not be consumed (Exodus 3:2) is a greater thing than quenching the flame and saving the bush.
What a mercy that you can never sink lower than grace! When you come to your lowest point, God interposes. The tide turns when you reach the full ebb. The darkest part of the night is nearest the rising of the sun. Believer, be of good courage.
c] The Lord Himself superintends this process.
In Malachi 3:3 we read of the Lord Jesus, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” The Lord sits at the crucible to ensure that it goes exactly right. There can be no mistake. When we are in the furnace of affliction, the intensity is what He ordains, and the outcome is as He expects: we are refined and pure; the dross goes, and the precious metal reflects the image of the Refiner. Job could say, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).
3. Something promised
“Nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” Here is the benefit and blessing that the Lord produces when His dealings are sanctified to us. “Fruit of righteousness” is a significant term. Divine chastening upon living children of God, will be fruitful, like a good tree bringing forth good fruit (Matthew 7:17).
a] We can identify these “righteous fruits.”
They are produced by the Holy Spirit in us. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22,23). They are the same as the “fruit” … “more fruit” … “much fruit” of staying near to Christ in union and communion (John 15:2,5). These are the Christlike graces of the Spirit.
b] They have a calm and quiet quality about them.
“The peaceable fruit.” James expresses it this way: “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:18). An apple or pear tree makes no noise; their branches quietly become laden with fruit. They refresh others without any fuss. Exercised believers know the peace of God, and are in turn peacemakers, doing untold good. This is not only in Christian character. It will translate into quiet and trustful service for the Lord. Without drawing attention to ourselves, we must ‘keep on keeping on’ in the work the Master has given us to do. Some words of the late Fred Mitchell are telling:
The Spirit of God does not crush us with responsibilities and weigh us down with duties, but gently leads us in fruitful paths of service, and has a wonderful way of accomplishing the best results with the least fuss.
c] We must wait for the “afterward.”
No fruit springs up overnight. The Lord brings it forth in us in His time. More is happening than we think. He will perfect the work in us and through us (Psalm 138:8).
d] We must avoid obstacles to this.
Hebrews 12:5 warns us against wrong reactions to the Lord’s dealings. On the one hand, we can “despise … the chastening of the Lord,” which means we refuse to acknowledge that the Lord is doing it, putting it down to second causes, “Just one of those things” instead of “It is the LORD, let him do what seemeth him good” (1 Samuel 3:18). On the other hand, we can “faint when thou art rebuked of him,” meaning we feel worn down by the discipline and become discouraged. With the first reaction, we need our eyes opened, with the other we need our heart strengthened. If we ask Him, the Lord will do both.
e] They are to the glory of God.
“Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:11). What could be more important or wonderful than that? Therefore, all God’s children are subject to His gracious, all-wise discipline of chastening. Our chief end is to glorify God, and chastening is often the chief means.
In whatever way the Lord deals with us, let us gratefully acknowledge Him, and humble ourselves under His mighty hand (1 Peter 5:6). We are safe and blessed there. The words of John Angell James (1785–1859) can fittingly conclude our study:
To bear adversity with meek submission to the will of God; to endure chastisement with all long-suffering and joyfulness; to appear cheerful amid surrounding gloom, hopeful amidst desponding circumstances, happy in God when there is nothing else to make us happy; he who does this has indeed made great advances in the divine life.