Proverbs 3: My son, do not despise the chastening of the L ORD, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the L ORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

Hebrews 12: Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the L ORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the L ORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

Hebrews 12: If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 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.

Do you despise the chastening of the Lord?

God Chastens in a Variety of Ways He uses instruction and education 2 Tim. 3:16 (cf. Prov. 5:12b-14) He exercises preventative discipline cf. 2 Cor. 12:7; 1 Cor. 11:31-32 He uses rebuke and correction Tit. 2:15; 2 Tim. 3:16; 4:2; 1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Thess. 3:6; 1 Cor. 5:4-5; 1 Tim. 1:19-20

God Chastens Us for a Variety of Reasons He afflicts out of necessity, but doesn’t delight in it Lam. 1:3-5; 3:31-33 He chastens those whom He loves Heb. 12:6; Rev. 3:19a He chastens for our profit Heb. 12:10b He chastens to bring about His righteousness Heb. 12:11b

The Possibility of Providential Chastening Providence is a difficult thing to be dogmatic about! John 9:1-3; cf. Rom. 11:33-36 Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. cf. Job 5:10-11 Punished for our own faults and for righteousness’ sake cf. 1 Pet. 2:20 Some things are just about time and chance Eccl. 9:11-12

The Possibility of Providential Chastening God’s promised chastisement of Israel cf. Lev. 26:14-46 Paul’s thorn in the flesh 2 Cor. 12:7-10 Ananias’ and Sapphira’s lesson for others cf. Acts 5:1-11 God’s hand was heavy upon King David Psa. 32:1-11

Three Closing Questions: Will we be trained by the chastening of the Lord and bear the peaceable fruits of righteousness? Are we as open to His chastisement as we are His goodness? Is God’s tough love as good to us as the rest of His love?

Psalm 119:75 75 I know, O L ORD, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.