THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD.
By John G. Matteson
TEXT: “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.” Heb. 12:5. The Lord chastens his children to educate them and to prepare them for the eternal kingdom. Every Christian ought to understand what this chastening is, and how it can benefit him; for those who are without chastisements are bastards and not sons. Verse 8. A great “cloud of witnesses” are introduced in the preceding chapter. They lived for the Lord, and died in faith. They finished their course with joy, and have the promise of “a better resurrection,” and a heavenly country. This is written to encourage us to follow their example, and to run our race with patience as they did. In order to do this, lest we be wearied and faint, our eye of faith is directed unto Jesus. Trusting in him and following in his footsteps we can overcome; but in no other way is this possible. Are we called upon to endure much contradiction of sinners in Zion? He endured much more. Is our cross heavy and are we despised for the truth’s sake by those who ought to love us? Christ bore a cross that was much heavier. How bitter was his cup when the sins of the world were laid upon him! And what terrible shame fell upon him when he became a curse for us and was numbered with transgressors! Yet he “endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 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.” Verses 4–6. The great problem for every Christian to solve is, to strive against sin, and to resist unto blood—unto death. Thousands of noble martyrs have been faithful unto death. We must also purify our souls in obeying the truth. And the truth is valuable to us only in proportion as it purifies us, increasing our faith and love, teaching us to crucify the flesh with the lusts and affections thereof, and preparing146us to dwell with Christ in the kingdom of glory. In order to advance this work the Lord chastises us, and this is a proof of his fatherly love, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten,” be zealous therefore, and repent.” Rev. 3:19. “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.” Prov. 3:11, 12. When the Lord corrects us, and thus endeavors to lead us in the way of life, we are immediately exposed to temptation. Satan desires to hinder our growth in grace. He tries to turn our feet away from the narrow path either to the right or to the left. We may be tempted to despise the chastening of the Lord, or, as the original also means, to neglect it or regard it slightly. Then it does not improve the heart, and the object of God is not reached. His chastisement brings forth no fruit of righteousness. Others receive the correction. They are much grieved on account of their mistakes. They despond when convinced of error. Then Satan tries hard to push them over unto the other side—into discouragement and despair. The way of life is like a narrow path with deep ditches on both sides. If we lean too much to the left, the enemy of our souls is quickly ready to push us down into the ditch on that side. And if we try to avoid this, and go too far to the right, he is just as willing to push us into the ditch on the right side. For this reason we should always keep in the middle of the road, and this is no small task. Therefore, we need light and help from God daily. It is wrong to be trifling, and receive the correction of God lightly. But it is also wrong to be discouraged and give up. The golden mean is the way of life. The word chastening is translated from paideia, and means training, instruction, discipline, correction. It is rendered “nurture” in Eph. 6:4, and “correction” in 2 Tim. 3:16. The corresponding verb paideuo is translated chasteneth, Heb. 12:6; learned, Acts. 7:22; taught, 22:3; instructing, 2 Tim. 2:25; teaching, Titus 2:12. Moses was learned or trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. And Paul was taught or trained according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers. This shows clearly that the chastening of the Lord is performed when the Lord instructs and trains his children, as he warns and corrects them by his word, his Spirit, and the kind direction of his providence. He discovers unto us our spiritual poverty—how blind and naked we are. He warns us most earnestly to repent, as in the message to the Laodiceans. We are children, but not good children. Our memory is weak, our comprehension poor. We need frequent instruction and correction. Sickness, poverty, tribulation, and persecution are not always chastisement. Many are sick and poor who never have been the children of God and never will be. These afflictions are not in themselves the chastening of the Lord. When they befall us there is generally a natural cause. But God suffers them to come upon his children also. If, then, the word and Spirit of God with the affliction instructs and trains us, it may become a chastisement from the Lord. And the affliction may help to make room in our hearts for the voice of God. “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.” It is left to our own free will whether we will heed the instruction of God, and bend our minds after his fatherly direction, or not. If we do, we will learn from our Saviour who was meek and lowly in heart, and then we shall find rest to our troubled souls. “When we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Cor. 11:32. The apostles of Christ endured much affliction. They were “chastened, and not killed.” 2 Cor. 6:9. Their chastisement came often in the form of prisons and scourging, yet they were always rejoicing. They suffered themselves to be taught and trained by the Lord in whatever manner he saw fit. Then Jesus came in and supped with them, and they were often inexpressibly happy in the midst of the greatest afflictions. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye are without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Heb. 12:7, 8. We do not desire to deceive ourselves. It would be a terrible fate to find ourselves with the rich man in the lake of fire on the last day. Therefore we would rather pray: Lord, make us partakers of thy chastisement, that we may be sons and not bastards. “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” Verses 9, 10. God is our spiritual Father. He has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the gospel. He will give us everlasting life through his Son. As much as eternal life is more excellent than this short life, so much more excellent is it also to be permitted to call God our Father, instead of having merely an earthly parent. And if we have obeyed our earthly fathers, how much more should we obey God, our spiritual Father, and live—live forever. We should also remember that our earthly fathers were imperfect in their method of training, and often made mistakes, but our spiritual Father in Heaven makes no mistakes when he chastens us. His chastisement is always for our profit and is brought about for this noble object, that we might be partakers of his holiness. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby.” Verse 11. Nothing on earth is so painful as the chastening of the Lord. It breaks the heart. It is difficult for us to see and acknowledge our own sins and mistakes. Confession and reformation are not pleasant to the flesh, yet yield the blessed fruit of righteousness to all those who improve by them. This fruit does not consist in boasting of our knowledge or in a feeling of self-sufficiency, but it consists in a quiet rest in Jesus, the mind being controlled by the Heavenly Shepherd, so that we love to follow Christ. It is seen in a spiritual life and in unselfish labor for the glory of God and the salvation of precious souls. “Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer [Danish: their quiet prayer] when thy chastening was upon them.” Isa. 26:16. In joy and prosperity the Lord is easily forgotten, but in trouble we feel more disposed to visit the Lord. It is very precious when the children of God, bowed down with such chastisement, pour out their heartfelt prayers in a quiet place before the Lord. “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law; that thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness; and all the upright in heart shall follow it.” Ps. 94:12–15. The chastening of the Lord leads us to learn from his holy law. Those children who as yet do not desire to see or understand the obligations shown by the law of God, have not been sufficiently exercised by the chastening of the Lord. But if they will not despise it, the Lord will give them rest. He will not cast off his people until all the upright in heart learn to follow after his righteousness. This is encouraging for those who are trying to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Heb. 12:12–14. This encouragement to the weak and fearful of heart is given in connection with the coming of the Lord. The prophet points the feeble ones to the great day of the appearing of the Lord: “Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.” Isa. 35:3, 4. Let us put our trust in the living God and wait for his Son from Heaven. Are your hands weak, and do they hang down by your side? Are your knees feeble and your steps faltering in the way of life, so that the lame is in danger of being turned out of the way? Is your heart fearful and your spirit discouraged? Do not give up. Lift up your eye of faith unto Him who shall come in a little while and shall not tarry. God bids you strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. He says unto you, Be of good cheer, fear not. Do you hear the word of the Lord? Can you believe it? Will you trust in the Lord more than in your own understanding? Then his word shall not return unto him void, but shall accomplish the will of God. The Lord bids you follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. This is the express will of God. He will not save you in any other way. But he will and can save you in this very manner. Strive, then, in the name of Jesus, and the Lord will bless you. He will nourish your spiritual life. Your Heavenly Father will deal with you as with sons. He will chasten you and exercise you by his chastening until you bring forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.