Chastening: A Study in the Scriptures

CHASTENING

"Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O Lord ..."
Psalms 94:12

I. The chastening (discipline) of the Lord is not a curse; neither is it punishment
for sin. It is truly a blessing from God.

Psalms 94:12

A. Chastening is proof of sonship.

Deuteronomy 8:5 "Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as
a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee."

Proverbs 3:11, 12 (Hebrews 12:7, 8)

B. It is proof of the Father's love.

Proverbs 3:11, 12 (Hebrews 12:6) "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."

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

II. Why is it necessary for us to be chastened by God?

A. The chastening of the Lord frees us from condemnation with the world.

1 Corinthians 11:32 "But when we are judged, we are chastened
of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

B. It makes us partakers of His holiness.

Hebrews 12:10 "For [our earthly fathers] verily for a few days
chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we
might be partakers of his holiness."

C. It yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Malachi 3:3, 4 "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.
Then shall the offering ... be pleasant unto the Lord ..."

Hebrews 12:11 "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to
be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby."

III. The attitude with which we accept the chastening of the Lord is of primary
importance (Proverbs 3:11; Hebrews 12:5). We must recognize that it is
"for our profit" that He deals so with us (Hebrews 12:10).

IV. In chastening His children, God does not treat us harshly – but gently, with
the love of a Father.

Job 5:17, 18 "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 wouldeth, and his hands make whole."

Psalms 103:8-14 "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep
his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded
us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth,
so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.... Like as a father pitieth
his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our
frame; he remembereth that we are dust."

Isaiah 28:27

Hebrews 12:11

Lamentations 3:31-33 "For the Lord will not cast off for ever: but though
he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude
of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men."