Chastening (long study)
See also suffer2.txt.


Arguments Against Chastening - Part 1
 
Argument #1 Not everyone is chastened!
 
There are people who turn their back on God and nothing happens. If God
chastens us directly then something bad should happen to everyone who
falls away.

 a. How do you know nothing happens to some? Do you know
everything that is happening in a person's life? Could it be possible
that they are going through things they are not letting you know? It is
better to have faith in God's Word rather than our limited knowledge.

b. It could be that they are not children of God. (Heb. 12:7-8) Some may go
through life and not experience chastening. Does this prove that God
does not chasten? It proves quicker that they were never children in the
first place. They may be some who were baptized, but never repented.
They may assemble with Christians because of convenience, to keep peace
in the family or to gain some personal advantage such as business
contacts. When their sin becomes obvi ous and we do not see anything
that resembles chastening, we need to remember that God is under no
obligation to chasten them because they are not His children.

c. What about the times during the O.T. that it appeared that God
was not chastening the rebellious? There is a general
agreement that God chastened in the O.T. It is too
obvious to miss. What about all the wicked Jews
that did not appear to be chastened for long periods of time? Prophets
Micah and Amos pronounced judgment on the wealthy wicked who were
oppressing the poor and underprivi leged. What about all the time they
continued to prosper? Did God put chastening on hold? The sins listed in
Rom. 3:10-18 were not sins of the Gentiles, but Jews, God's people! The
purpose of this section of Romans is to establish the guilt of Jews
along with the Gentiles.(see 3:19) Many of the wicked continued to
prosper for what seemed like long periods of times without suffering
anything. This caused problems for Asaph. He did not understand why this
was so sometimes, even during the old covenant when everyone agrees God
was chastening. Psalm 73:1 Surely God is good to Israel! Asaph had faith
in this, he knew this was so. Yet he did not understand what he saw.
 
73:2-12 The wicked prosper and are at ease.
 
73:13-15 Have I remained pure in vain? Why am I not blessed as they are?
To doubt God's fairness and justice is to be untrue to the generation of
His children. 73:16-19 Consider their coming judgement. It will not
fail! 73:24-28 Trust in the Lord! Riches like the wicked have may never
come, our bodies and heart may fail: :28 "But as for me, the nearness of
God is my good" (NASV) Even though we may not understand it all in the
present, we do understand God is good and just and that He does keep His
Word. We are to trust in God no matter what may be going on around us.
The Message of Psalm 37 - How should those who want to do right live
when they see the wicked prosper? These are wicked Jews, not Gentiles!

 a. 37:1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of
iniquity. Why?
 b. 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
and wither as the green herb.
 c. What is the righteous man to do? -
37:3-8
d. What will happen to those who reject God? - 37:9-18
e. Wait patiently for the Lord. We can't dictate terms
 or time-schedules to God -37:34- 36

     Habakkuk Hab. 1:1-4 Wickedness continues in Judah. How long
Lord? When will you do something about it? Hab 1:5-11God's reply: "I am
going to raise up the Babylonians" When Will This Happen? - Hab. 2:2-4
Context of "live by his faith": God is going to punish the wicked. Even
though they may be seeming to prosper at the moment, continue in faith
and know "the day of the Lord will come" (2 Pet. 3:10). The faithful
will continue to trust in God whether they understand why God is
allowing the present to continue like it is or not. The invasion by the
Babylonians was part of the chastening of Judah. When will it come? At
God's appointed time.
 
What about David living in peace a year after adultery and murder? Was
God putting His laws on chastening on hold? God sent Nathan to confront
David when He was ready to. What about Zimri? He reigned only 7 days.
Why did David live and Zimri die? 1 Kings 16:18-19 And it happened, when
Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the citadel of the
king's house and burned the king's house down upon himself with fire,
and died, because of the sins which he had sinned in doing evil in the
sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin
which he had committed to make Israel sin.
 
Ahab was more wicked, yet he was allowed to reign 22 years. After
listing some of Ahab's sins: 1 Kings 16:33 ...Ahab did more to provoke
the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were
before him. Ahab may have lived longer on earth but his day came too.
God could have removed Ahab any time he wanted to, but as Sovereign, He
has the right to make His own decisions. Too many want to be like Peter
John 21:18-22 ...when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked
where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands,
and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This He
spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had
spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." Then Peter, turning around,
saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following... Peter, seeing him, said
to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "If I will
that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." What
about some of the rebellious who seem to continue to prosper? Our duty
is not to figure out all what God is doing but to follow Christ. If we
know we are children of God, and we know He has promised to chasten us
when we need it, why should we be trying to figure out everyone else's
life? Let's pay attention to our own first! Let's let God be the King
and Sovereign over all. Maybe God has His own plans that He has not told
us about.
 
God endured with rebellious Jews for long periods of time to bring about
His purpose. Romans 9:20-23 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply
against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have
you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay,
from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for
dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power
known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for
destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the
vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory. Some may
have objected during the time of God's enduring that He was not
chastening as He should because He didn't do it when they thought He
should. Our position is not to make God's plans for Him but to humbly
submit and trust Him to do what is right. (Hab. 2:4) Habakkuk 1:2 O
Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? even cry out to You,
"Violence!" And You will not save. God is accomplishing His will. We may
not always know when or how, but the just will continue to live by faith
and accept God's Word. When did God remove the candlestick from Ephesus?
Sardis? Laodicea, Thyatira? If we were living then, we might have
thought it should have been done within a year if they did not repent,
maybe even five years. How much time did God give them? We don't know.
What difference does it make? That is not our decision to make. God does
give the information we need. We know God promised He would remove their
candlestick if they did not repent. The exact time He acts is His
business, not ours.
 
The father of the faithful asked: Genesis 18:25 Shall not the Judge of
all the earth do right? There may be times I may wonder why the
rebellious appear to live so carefree, but I trust God's Word more than
my own puny ability to observe every detail of everyone's life.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto Jehovah our God; but the
things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever,
that we may do all the words of this law. (Context: the blessings and
cursings)
 
Argument #2 Chastening cannot be happening today because we do not have
inspired men who can point out what is chastening and what isn't, so we
cannot properly apply it. This was covered some in the second half of
the lesson on the Blessings and Cursings. How did Israel know when they
were chastened? God told them before it happened! They could read the
blessings and curses in Deut. and Lev. and then pay attention to their
lives. They did not need prophets to tell them they were being
chastened, they had the promise of God. All they had to do was to pay
attention, and when some of the curses began to fall upon them, they
should have been examining their lives and comparing them to the Word
and repent of what ever sin they were involved in!
 
The Prophets did not always come to tell them that any certain blight,
mildew, war, disease or anything else was chastening for their sin.The
prophets rebuked them for not applying it themselves. They referred to
the chastening as in past tense and the Jews were condemned because they
refused to respond in repentance!
 
How can we know when God does anything? We read the promises He made and
apply them to our lives. This is true for both the blessings and
cursings.
 
How Does God Accomplish His Works? Psalms 3:5 I lay down and slept; I
awoke, for the Lord sustained me. Psalms 4:8 I will both lie down in
peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalms
22:28 For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations.
Psalms 33:10-11 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord
stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Isaiah 10:5-7
Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My
indignation. I will send him against an ungodly nation, and against the
people of My wrath I will give him charge, to seize the spoil, to take
the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Yet he
does not mean so, nor does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to
destroy, and cut off not a few nations. Isaiah 13:1, 17 The burden
against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw... "Behold, I will stir
up the Medes against them... Isaiah 45:1-2 Thus says the Lord to His
anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held - to subdue nations
before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the double
doors, so that the gates will not be shut: I will go before you and make
the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
and cut the bars of iron. Daniel 4:25 ...the Most High rules in the
kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. Matthew 6:33 But
seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you. Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply
all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. James
5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the
church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
of the Lord.

God Rules In The Lives Of Men! Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the
Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all
your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 16:1
The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the
tongue is from the Lord. Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart plans his way, but
the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver
and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts. Proverbs 19:21
There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel -
that will stand. Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then
can a man understand his own way? Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in
the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He
wishes. Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but
deliverance is of the Lord.
 
How do we know these things are true? Because God's Word tells us. We
cannot prove them scientifically or by any other method. We must accept
it by faith in God's Word. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give
thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Why do we
give thanks in everything? Because we know God is behind it all! Acts
17:28 for in Him we live and move and have our being... Ecclesiastes
7:13-14 Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has
made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of
adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the
other...
 
Argument #3. Chastening is persecution of the godly, not punishment for
doing wrong. Argument: The context of Heb 12 is the sufferings of
Christ. "And" in Heb.12:5 ties chastening and persecution of Christ
together and they are the same thing. They are being told to stand
strong under the persecution they are receiving and not faint. Problem:
"And" is not making chastening and persecution to be identical events
but is tying two thoughts together to make one argument. Examples: Mark
16:16 He who believes and is baptized = will be saved Acts 2:38
...Repent, and be baptized = and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead = you will
be saved. Hebrews 12:3-5, 12-13 For consider Him who endured such
hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and
discouraged in your souls. 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
Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 12 Therefore
strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make
straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be
dislocated, but rather be healed.
 
Give the Passage 1. Where are the words used for chastening (Paideuo,
Yawcar, Muwcar), used for persecution in either the O.T. and N.T.? 2.
Where does the Bible teach that chastening comes as a result of the
people living as they should in either the O.T. or N.T.? 3. When the
desired results of chastening are mentioned, whether achieved or not,
where are they ever the result of persecution for doing right, either in
the O.T. or N.T.? 4. In the context of Heb. 12, chastening is connected
to scourging, not persecution. Why were people scourged? Was it for
doing right? Chastening is compared to a father chastening his child.
What father spanks his children for doing what they are told? Anyone who
practices this has a real problem with chastening. Persecution does come
on the godly. However, this is not the same thing as God allowing our
enemies to rule over us for our chastening. There is a great difference
in the persecution that came on Paul and the affliction by the
Philistine that came on Israel during the time of the Judges. Why does
God chasten us? Because He loves us and wants us to live with Him in
heaven. However, there are problems in our lives that need correcting,
and as any good father, He will chasten us for our good.

 As much as God may want to save us,
  He can save us only with our cooperation.
 
 
 
Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc
Arguments Against Chastening - Part 2

 Argument #4 God is not a respecter of persons.

  Since He is not, He must do everything the same way for
everyone. Since not everything happens the same way for everyone who
sins, God is not chastening today. This argument reveals a very shallow
understanding of the Bible.God has never been a respecter of persons,
but this has to do with requirements for salvation. Where does the Bible
ever say God always treats everyone exactly the same way? Are all
righteous blessed the same way? Some have been blessed with great wealth
while others have lived in poverty. Hebrews 11:32-38 And what more shall
I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson
and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through
faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped
the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of
the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle,
turned to flight the armies of the aliens.  Women received their dead
raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliver
ance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had
trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with
the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being
destitute, afflicted, tormented - of whom the world was not worthy. They
wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. Is
God a respecter of persons if He does not make every faithful person
rich and power ful? 1 Chronicles 29:11-12 Yours, O Lord, is the
greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all
that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord,
and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from
You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your
hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Do we follow God
only when there are blessings? Daniel 3:15-18 Now if you are ready at
the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and
psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and
worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship,
you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebu
chadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the
case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let
it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we
worship the gold image which you have set up."

Have Thine Own Way Lord "Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and
        make me, after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still."
        Do we mean it? 2 Samuel 7:20 Now what more can David say to You?
        For You, Lord God, know Your servant. God knows us completely.
        He knows what each one of us needs. We are all different, and in
        different circumstances. A father must know his children to be
        able to properly chasten them. It would be a foolish father who
        has only one way to chasten without considering the different
        circumstances and personalities of his children. Amos 4:6-12 Not
        all were treated the same. (7-8) Was God unfair to Nadab and
        Abihu, Ananias and Sapphira because He does not treat everyone
        like this? Manasseh - reigned 55 years, even though he was more
        corrupt than any other. 2 Chronicles 6:28-30 When there is
        famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or
        grasshop pers; when their enemies besiege them in the land of
        their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is;
        "whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by
        all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and
        his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this house: "then
        hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive... Just
        because God does not work in the way we want or on the time
        schedule we think He should does not mean He is not working or
        that He does not carry out His promises! Argument #5. If God
        directly chastened today it would be a miracle and we do not
        live in the age of miracles. Remember the "What Ceased" lesson.
        Signs and wonders to confirm the Word have ceased. We now have
        the complete revela tion. We are told of nothing else that has
        been stopped. Most of God's actions in the O.T., whether
        blessings or cursings, are "non-miraculous".

Argument #6. Chastening is only through the Word There are passages that
teach we are chastened through the Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Every
scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man
of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work. 2
Timothy 2:24-25 And the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle
towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting them that
oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the
knowledge of the truth. Just because there are verses saying two
different things have the same purpose does not mean they are the same
thing. There are passages that say we are chastened by the Word. There
are passages that say God chastens us. This does not mean they are the
exact same thing or that it is the exact same action. It simply means
that there are different ways that we are chastened. a. Is the blood of
Christ and baptism the same thing? Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of
the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Acts
2:38 ...Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins... b. Is confession and belief
the same as believing and baptism? Romans 10:9 ...if you confess with
your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised
Him from the dead, you will be saved. Mark 16:16 He who believes and is
baptized will be saved... c. Is grace the same thing as obedience?
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith... Hebrews
5:9 ...He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. d.
Is study and prayer the same thing? Psalms 119:98 You, through Your
commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to
all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Oneness Pentecostal Argument
 - Jesus, Father and Spirit are all exactly the one
and same. There is no Trinity.
 Jesus   Father Creator         Creator
Savior          Savior Redeemer                Redeemer Shepherd
Shepherd Ruler of Nations        Ruler of Nations Are they the same
person? Or are they two working together to accomplish the same goal?

Yes, God corrects through the Word! Israel was corrected by God's Word
in the O.T. Anytime they used the Word it was for the same purpose as in
2 Tim. 3:16-17. 1. Teaching  2. Reproof  3. Correction  4. Instruction
in righteousness

Josiah was corrected by the Word. 2 Kings 22:2 because your heart was
tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I
spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would
become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept
before Me, I also have heard you," says the Lord. Any Jew who desired to
live according to God's will was chastened by the Word of God. Does this
prove this was the only way God chastened Israel, ONLY in and through
the Word?

God chastens us as a father chastens his children. Fathers chasten
children by their words! Is that the only way they chasten?

Argument #6 Suffering is NOT chastening because suffering is evil, and
         God does not send evil.

         The suffering is NOT the chastening.
         Evil, as represented by suffering, does not come from God, Who
         gives good gifts and is not inconsistent, James 1:17, 13. Man
         is chastened ONLY as he complies with God's word regarding that
         suffering; and in so doing he is set to harvest the peaceable
         fruit of righteousness. Patrick Farish, "The Chastening of the
         Lord", Gospel Anchor, 1977 pg. (67)3 God didn't accept this
         explanation. He called what He did to Israel "chastening"
         whether they accepted it or not! They suffered many times
         without changing their lives and God still called it
         chastening. This is also a very shallow concept of what God
         calls good gifts. It is thinking only in human terms, not how
         God views things. Ask a child if a spanking was good, and most
         likely he will say NO! As much as he did not like it, the
         parent knows it is for his long-term good. James 1:17 Every
         good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down
         from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or
         shadow of turning.

In Psalms 107, God's chastening is called "lovingkindness" or "mercy".
Why? Because of the Long-term good! Lamentations 3:32-41 Though He
causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of
His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children
of men... Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that woe and well
being proceed? Why should a living man complain, a man for the
punishment of his sins? Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn
back to the Lord; let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven.
Hosea 5:14-15 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young
lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I
will take them away, and no one shall rescue. I will return again to My
place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face;
in their affliction they will diligently seek Me." 2 Chronicles 33:11-13
Therefore the Lord brought upon them the captains of the army of the
king of Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze
fetters, and carried him off to Babylon. Now when he was in affliction,
he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God
of his fathers, (13) and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty,
heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his
kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. This suffering that
was brought on him by God, was the best thing that ever happened to
Manasseh! Was it permissible for the unchanging God to bring affliction
on people for their own good during the O.T. but now in the N.T., if He
did the same thing it would be evil? Revelation 2:20-22 Nevertheless I
have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who
calls herself a prophetess, to teach and beguile My servants to commit
sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her
time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed
I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

God's Chastening is compared to a father chastening his child.
Deuteronomy 8:5 So you should know in your heart that as a man chastens
his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. Hebrews 12:5-7, 9 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." If you endure chastening, God deals with
you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
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?

According to this reasoning, spanking is evil because it causes pain! It
is the pain that brings about correction and the long term good!
Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul
spare for his crying. Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the
heart of a child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him.
Proverbs 23:13-14 Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you
beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and
deliver his soul from hell. Did God chasten Israel or not? Was it
pleasant for those involved? Let's don't talk like Job's wife. Job 2:10
But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall
we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In
all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Instead, we should praise God for His goodness to us. Psalms 107:8, 15,
21, 31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and
for His wonderful works to the children of men! Psalms 107:43 Whoever is
wise will observe these things, and they will understand the
lovingkindness of the Lord.

Farish used James 1:13 as evidence that God does not chasten. James 1:13
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot
be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. Is a father
tempting his child with evil when he chastens the child?

Argument #7. I Just Don't Believe It! This is not much of an argument
but it has been used. It is a natural reaction when we first hear
something contrary to what we have accepted in the past. Denominations
are not the only ones who reject an idea without examining it or giving
a scriptural reason. It is one thing to say this when we first hear
something different, it is an entirely different matter to say it after
seeing verse after verse after verse after verse all saying the same
thing. If we still say this after all this, the only answer I know is to
say: "Fine, go ahead and don't believe it". What will that change?
Romans 3:1-4 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of
circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed
the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? Will their
unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not!
Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: "That
You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are
judged."

What will our disbelief prove? Only that we want to believe what we want
to believe regardless of what the Bible says. Revelation 22:11-12 He
that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is
filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him
do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.
Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man
according as his work is. (ASV) It is better to accept what God is
telling us without trying to argue with God. Isaiah 45:7-9 I form the
light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the
Lord, do all these things... Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let
the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say
to him who forms it, `What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say,
`He has no hands'?





Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc
Benefits of Chastening

One of the many wonderful promises given to God's people is that God
will help us get to heaven. We know that each person must choose to obey
God's commands, but once we become Christians, our Father does not leave
His newborn babes on their own. He promises to strengthen them and help
them develop into mature disciples. Philippians 1:6 being confident of
this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete
it until the day of Jesus Christ; Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 And may
the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to
all... so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before
our God and Father... 2 Thessalonians 3:5 Now may the Lord direct your
hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. 1 Peter
5:10 But may the God of all grace... perfect, establish, strengthen, and
settle you. Jude 24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from
stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory
with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and
majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. How does God
accomplish this?  (Deut. 29:29) One very important method is through the
instruc tion we receive through His revealed Word. As we study the Bible
and submit ourselves in obedience, we will develop into the Christians
we ought to be. Also, the Bible clearly teaches that God is directly
involved in our lives. We are shown that we are to pray for such things
as boldness, open doors and wisdom along with our health and daily
bread. If all of this is accomplished only through our obedience to the
Word as some erroneously teach, then we should all quit wasting our time
praying and spend the time we save in studying. The God revealed in the
Bible is not the god of the Deists who set the world in mo tion and then
sits back without getting involved in his creation. Jehovah, the God
revealed in the Bible, not only spoke the universe into being by His
power, He also actively rules over His creation. Therefore, He has
promised that when His children are trying to please Him, He will help
them along as they grow and mature. Not only does God help us when we
are obedient, He loves us so much that He works with us when we fall
short of His glory. Instead of looking for an opportunity to cast us off
when we sin, God contin ues to work with us through chastening so we can
still be partakers of His holiness (Heb. 12:10). God has plainly warned
us it is possible for those who were once faithful to be lost forever.
He has also told us that He loves us so much that He will do everything
He can to help us avoid such a terrible fate. One of the greatest
passages on this subject is Heb. 12. One amazing aspect of this chap ter
is how some brethren can read this chapter and the rest of the Bible and
then say that all discipline is accomplished only in and through the
Word. Some will also argue that it is accomplished through perse cutions
we receive. If we will take the text to mean what it says, God is
telling us that we are subject to chastisement by Him as our spiritual
Father when we sin. This chastening of the Lord is compared to the
chastening physical fathers are to give their children. Just as all
godly fathers are directly involved in their children's lives, our
spiritual Father is directly involved in our lives and loves us enough
to chasten us when we need it. The problem with the Christians that
Hebrews was written to was that they had forgotten this (12:5). Maybe
they thought that since they were "N.T. Christians", this passage from
Proverbs 3:11-12 did not apply to them. Even though the Law of Moses was
nailed to the cross, there are eternal truths mentioned in the Old
Testament that never change.  One of these truths is that God chastens
His children. The theme of God's discipline is constant in both
Testaments. That is, He loves us so much that He corrects us in order to
get us to repent. He is also willing for us to go through some kind of
temporary discomfort in order for us to experience the long term benefit
of having an increased faith in Him (Deu. 8:1-6). In Psalms 107:8-15, we
are to: 107:8  "give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His
wonderful works to the children of  men!" The goodness mentioned in the
context is that God cast some in darkness, bound in affliction and
irons, because they were rebellious against His Words. However, once
they returned to Him, He "broke their chains in pieces". Then this
section of Psalms ends like it began: 107:15  "Oh, that men would give
thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the
children       of men!" Why should we give thanks to the Lord? Because
His chastening is one method He uses to finish the good work He began in
us. Chastening is not pleasant, but we should be thankful for the long
term results.  Just as children should be thankful for the long term
benefits when their parents properly raise them. We are thankful for the
clothing, food, home, and medical care our parents provided. we should
also be thankful for their correction. The same is true with our
spiritual Father.

By Chastening, God Refines Us To Purify Us Psalms 66:10-12, 16 For You,
O God, have proved us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You
brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have
caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through
water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment... Come and hear, all
you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul.
Isaiah 1:25 I will turn My hand against you, and thoroughly purge away
your dross, and take away all your alloy. Isaiah 48:8-11 ...I knew that
you would deal very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from
the womb. For My name's sake I will defer My anger, and for My praise I
will restrain it from you, so that I do not cut you off. Behold, I have
refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of
affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; for how
should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another.
Jeremiah 6:28-30 They are all stubborn rebels, walking as slanderers.
They are bronze and iron, they are all corrupters; the bellows blow
fiercely, the lead is consumed by the fire; the smelter refines in vain,
for the wicked are not drawn off. People will call them rejected silver,
because the Lord has rejected them. Jeremiah 9:5-13 Everyone will
deceive his neighbor, and will not speak the truth; they... weary
themselves to commit iniquity. ...through deceit they refuse to know
Me," says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: "Behold, I
will refine them and try them; for how shall I deal with the daughter of
My people?... Shall I not punish them for these things?" says the Lord.
"Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?"... Who is the wise
man who may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord
has spoken, that he may declare it?... Malachi 3:2-3 But who can endure
the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like
a refiner's fire And like fuller's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a
purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as
gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in
righteousness.

Purpose and Benefits of Chastening Numbers 21:5-7 And the people spoke
against God... So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people...
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we
have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He
take away the serpents from us..." Deuteronomy 8:5-6 So you should know
in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God
chastens you. Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your
God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. Judges 10:6-10 Then the
children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served
the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Syria, ...Sidon, ...Moab,
...Ammon, ...Philistines; and they forsook the Lord and did not serve
Him. So the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He sold them
into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the people of
Ammon... so that Israel was severely distressed. And the children of
Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, "We have sinned against You,
because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!" 1 Samuel
12:9-10 And when they forgot the Lord their God, He sold them... into
the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and
they fought against them. Then they cried out to the Lord, and said, `We
have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and
Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will
serve You.' 1 Kings 8:46-50 When they sin against You, ...and You become
angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them
captive to the land of the enemy, far or near; yet when they come to
themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and
make supplication to You... saying, `We have sinned and done wrong, we
have committed wickedness'; and when they return to You with all their
heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies... then hear
in heaven Your dwelling place... and forgive Your people who have sinned
against You... and grant them compassion before those who took them
captive...  (8:33-34) 2 Chronicles 6:28-31 When there is famine in the
land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when
their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatever plague
or whatever sickness there is; whatever prayer, whatever supplication is
made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his
own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this house:
then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to
everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know... that they
may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land
which You gave to our fathers.

Josiah responded to the chastening of God's Word. This is all Israel
needed if they would only accept the Word.  however, when they rejected
the Word, God said He would act in the manner He described in His Word.
Today, all we need to do is read what God will do at the Judgement. This
is all we need to know if we will only prepare for it. However, God
loves us so much that He helps us return to His commands when we stray.
2 Kings 22:19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself
before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and
against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a
curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard
you, says the Lord. 2 Chronicles 15:3-4 For a long time Israel has been
without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; :4 but
when in their trouble they turned to the Lord God of Israel, and sought
Him, He was found by them.

Even Manasseh responded to chastening! 2 Chronicles 33:11-13 Therefore
the Lord brought upon them the captains of the army of the king of
Assyria, who took Manasseh with hooks, bound him with bronze fetters,
and carried him off to Babylon. Now when he was in affliction, he
implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of
his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his
supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then
Manasseh knew that the Lord was God. Psalms 78:30-35 They were not
deprived of their craving; but while their food was still in their
mouths, the wrath of God came against them, and slew the stoutest of
them, and struck down the choice men of Israel. In spite of this they
still sinned, and did not believe in His wondrous works. Therefore their
days He consumed in futility, and their years in fear. When He slew
them, then they sought Him; and they returned and sought diligently for
God. Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God
their redeemer. Psalms 107:10-13 Those who sat in darkness and in the
shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons - because they rebelled
against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High,
therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and
there was none to help. Then they cried out to the Lord in their
trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. Psalms 107:17-21, 43
Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities,
were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew
near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the Lord in their
trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses... Whoever is wise
will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness
of the Lord. Psalms 119:67-68 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but
now I keep Your word. You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes.
Psalms 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may
learn Your statutes. Isaiah 4:3-4 And it shall come to pass that he who
is left in Zion and he who remains in Jerusalem will be called holy...
When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and
purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment
and by the spirit of burning. Isaiah 9:13-14 For the people do not turn
to Him who strikes them, nor do they seek the Lord of hosts. Therefore
the Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel, palm branch and bulrush
in one day. Isaiah 26:9 With my soul I have desired You in the night,
yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when Your
judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn
righteousness. Isaiah 26:16 Lord, in trouble they have visited You, they
poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them. Jeremiah 2:26-27
As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel
ashamed... For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face.
But in the time of their trouble they will say, `Arise and save us.'
Lamentations 3:32-41 Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion
according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict
willingly, nor grieve the children of men... Is it not from the mouth of
the Most High that woe and well being proceed? Why should a living man
complain, a man for the punishment of his sins? Let us search out and
examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord; let us lift our hearts and
hands to God in heaven. Ezekiel 14:10-11 And they shall bear their
iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the
punishment of the one who inquired, that the house of Israel may no
longer stray from Me, nor be profaned anymore with all their
transgressions, but that they may be My people and I may be their God,
says the Lord God.' Hosea 5:11 - 6:3 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in
judgment, because he willingly walked by human precept. Therefore I will
be to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.
"When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim
went to Assyria... yet he cannot cure you, nor heal you of your wound.
For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house
of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take them away,
and no one shall rescue. I will return again to My place till they
acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; in their
affliction they will diligently seek Me." Come, and let us return to the
Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will
bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will
raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue
the knowledge of the Lord... Amos 4:6-12 Also I gave you... lack of
bread... yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord. I also withheld
rain from you... yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord. I
blasted you with blight and mildew... yet you have not returned to Me,
says the Lord. I sent among you a plague after the manner of Egypt; your
young men I killed with a sword... yet you have not returned to Me, says
the Lord. I overthrew some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and
Gomorrah... yet you have not returned to Me, says the Lord. Therefore
thus will I do to you, O Israel; and because I will do this to you,
prepare to meet your God, O Israel! Jonah 2:2-7 ...I cried out to the
Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. out of the belly of
Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep,
into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all Your
billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, `I have been cast
out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.' When
my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up
to You, into Your holy temple. John 15:2 Every branch in Me that does
not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He
prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 1 Corinthians 11:29-32 For he who
eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to
himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak
and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we
would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the
Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Hebrews 12:10-11 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. Now no
chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grievous;
nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it.

God's Response When We Return To Him Deuteronomy 4:30-31 When you are in
distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when
you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice `(for the Lord your God
is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget
the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. Jeremiah 31:18, 20
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: `You have chastised me,
and I was chastised, like an untrained bull; restore me, and I will
return, for You are the Lord my God... Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a
pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him
still; therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on
him, says the Lord. Micah 7:9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord,
because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes
justice for me; He will bring me forth to the light, and I will see His
righteousness. Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity
and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He
does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will
again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will
cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. 1 John 1:9 If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.

Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc
General References

There are many references in the Bible on chastening of God.

Will not try to take the time to cover all of them, but will try
to present them in several different categories. Some verses will be
necessarily repeated in different lessons but with try to keep the
repetition to a minimum. When we put all the verses together, we should
be impressed by just how much is said concerning this subject.

 There are not many subjects are taught on more in
 the Bible than this one.

 1. Leviticus 26:12-45
 These are not coincidences but the direct action of
God because of the sins of His people. Many examples when this was
fulfilled. From then on, they did not need a prophet to tell them why
certain things were happening to them. They should have known. Later on,
many prophets would remind them of these words, but they had already
been told in their Law. All they needed to do was to walk by faith and
accept what God had told them in the very begin ning.

 2. Deuteronomy 11:1-8
 Chastening included: :3 His signs and His acts which He did in
the midst of Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to all his land; :4
what He did to the army of Egypt, to their horses and their chariots: :5
what He did for you in the wilderness until you came to this place; (see
8:1-7) :6 and what He did to Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab
	
                        Application :8 Therefore you shall keep every
                        commandment which I command you today, that you
                        may be strong, and go in and possess the land
                        which you cross over to possess,
	
3. 2 Samuel 7:14-15 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he
                commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men
                and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy
                shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom
                I removed from before you. God's mercy would not depart.
                This included the time while he was being chastened.

4. Prayer of Solomon: 1 Kings 8:33-34 When Your people Israel are
                defeated before an enemy because they have sinned
                against You, and when they turn back to You and confess
                Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this
                temple, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your
                people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You
                gave to their fathers. Sin was always the reason Israel
                was defeated when it lost in battle. If they were
                faithful, they would overcome. It did not matter what
                the odds were when God was fighting for them. 1 Samuel
                14:6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his
                armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these
                uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us.
                For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by
                few." When the odds were on their side, yet there was
                sin in the camp, they would loose anyway. When they were
                faithful, it never mattered how outnumbered they might
                be. The real issue was never their power, might and
                wisdom, but their faithfulness to God. a. Psalms 81:8-16
                (13-14) b. Isaiah 1:10-20 (19-20) 2 Chronicles 6:24-31
                Their trouble come "because they have sinned against
                You"

5. God speaking to Solomon: 2 Chronicles 7:12-14 

6. Job 5:17-18 Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do
                not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He
                bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make
                whole.
		
                Eliphaz had the right idea but he misapplied it. He
                tried to make this a blanket statement that would cover
                all suffering. A major point of the book of Job is that
                not all suffering is the result of sin in one's life.
                However, this does not detract from the truth of the
                principle found in this passage. The Holy Spirit
                inspired Paul to quote Job 5:13 in 1 Cor. 5:13. There
                was nothing wrong with the principle. The trouble came
                from the misapplication.

7. Psalm 89 a. Promise to David: 89:19-20 b. Promise continued: 89:30ff
        c. Praise God! 89:1, 52

8. Psalms 94:10 He that chastiseth the nations, shall not He correct,
                even He that teacheth man knowledge? Psalms 94:12
                Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Jehovah, and
                teachest out of thy law. Both verses use yacar
                [yaw-sar'] To chastise, literally with blows or
                figuratively with words; hence, to instruct: chasten,
                chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove,
                teach.

9. Psalms 106:39-48 vss. 39-42 Israel was oppressed because of their
        sin. vs. 43 God would have delivered them but they were
        rebellious vss. 44-46 God did help when they finally called on
        Him vss. 47-48 Praise the Lord!

10. Psalms 107 vs. 1 Give thanks to God for He is good vss. 10-16 God
        chastened men because of their sin vss. 17-22 God sent sickness
        because of sin Psalms 107:43 Whoever is wise will observe these
        things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

11. Psalms 118:15-21 (17-18) 

12. Psalms 119:67-68 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I
                keep Your word. You are good, and do good; Teach me Your
                statutes. Psalms 119:71 It is good for me that I have
                been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. Psalms
                119:75-77 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right,
                and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. Let, I
                pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort,
                according to Your word to Your servant. Let Your tender
                mercies come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my
                delight.

13. Jeremiah 30:11-17 They were punished for their many sins, but their
                captors would go into captivity because they said no one
                cared for Zion. the truth was, God cared very much for
                Zion the whole time. He chastens those whom He loves.
                Those without understanding thought it was because of a
                lack of love. This is just as foolish as those who claim
                spanking a child is not love.

14. Lamentations 1:5 Her adversaries have become the master, her enemies
                prosper; for the Lord has afflicted her because of the
                multitude of her transgressions. Her children have gone
                into captivity before the enemy.

15. 1 Corinthians 11:29-32 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy
                manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not
                discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are
                weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would
                judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are
                judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be
                condemned with the world.
		
16. Hebrews 12:5-11 Comparison is made to a father chastening his son.
                (6-10)
		
Deuteronomy 8:5 So you should know in your heart that as a man chastens
his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. Proverbs 3:12 for whom the
Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.

17. Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore
be zealous and repent. 

The Chastening of God is one method He uses to fulfill: Philippians 1:6
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in
you will complete {it} until the day of Jesus Christ; 1 Timothy 2:3-4
...God our Savior... desires all men to be saved and to come to the
knowledge of the truth.

Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc
Rejection of the Chastening  of the Lord

Series began from Heb 12.  In the context, there were Christians who had
forgotten that God chastens them and needed to be reminded.
Unfortunately, sometimes God's people have done more than to simply
forget some things God has said, too many times they have defiantly
rejected what God has said. Many examples of this in the Scriptures, and
we need to be familiar with them so we do not make the same mistake as
others. God is our spiritual Father. As fathers, if we are to understand
how we are to treat our children, we must look to our Spiritual Father.
He is our perfect example. 1. Way we treat our wives, (Christ and the
Church) 2. Way we treat our children, (God and His people) Lev. 26 was a
prophecy of Israel's rejection of God's discipline. Yawcar: Lev 26:18,
23, 27 Common theme: When God's people sin, He chastens them and tries
to correct them. If they respond in repentance, He forgives them. If
they fail to repent, He chastens them a little more and increases their
affliction. Hopefully, they will repent, but if they do not, chastening
will continue to increase until they finally do repent or are rejected
by God and are destroyed. Isaiah 1:4-6 Alas, sinful nation, a people
laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters!
They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger the Holy One of
Israel, they have turned away backward. Why should you be stricken
again? You will revolt more and more. The whole head is sick, and the
whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is
no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; they
have not been closed or bound up, or soothed with ointment. Isaiah
9:12-14 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; and they shall
devour Israel with an open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned
away, but His hand is stretched out still. For the people do not turn to
Him who strikes them, nor do they seek the Lord of hosts. Therefore the
Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel, palm branch and bulrush in
one day. Isaiah 42:22-25 But this is a people robbed and plundered; all
of them are snared in holes, and they are hidden in prison houses; they
are for prey, and no one delivers; for plunder, and no one says,
"Restore!" Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear
for the time to come? Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the
robbers? Was it not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned? For they
would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law. Therefore
He has poured on him the fury of His anger and the strength of battle;
it has set him on fire all around, yet he did not know; and it burned
him, yet he did not take it to heart. Jeremiah 2:29-35 "Why will you
plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me," says the Lord. "In
vain I have chastened your children; they received no correction. Your
sword has devoured your prophets like a destroying lion. O generation,
see the word of the Lord! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land
of darkness? Why do My people say, `We are lords; we will come no more
to You'? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet
My people have forgotten Me days without number. "Why do you beautify
your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught the wicked women
your ways. Also on your skirts is found the blood of the lives of the
poor innocents. I have not found it by secret search, but plainly on all
these things. Yet you say, `Because I am innocent, surely His anger
shall turn from me.' Behold, I will plead My case against you, because
you say, `I have not sinned.' Jeremiah 3:1-4 They say, `If a man
divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man's, may
he return to her again?' Would not that land be greatly polluted? But
you have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return to Me," says the
Lord. (2) "Lift up your eyes to the desolate heights and see: where have
you not lain with men? By the road you have sat for them like an Arabian
in the wilderness; and you have polluted the land with your harlotries
and your wickedness. (3) Therefore the showers have been withheld, and
there has been no latter rain. You have had a harlot's forehead; you
refuse to be ashamed. (4) Will you not from this time cry to Me, `My
father, You are the guide of my youth? Jeremiah 5:1-4 Run to and fro
through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know; and seek in her open
places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment,
who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her. Though they say, `As the
Lord lives,' surely they swear falsely." O Lord, are not Your eyes on
the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; You have
consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They have
made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return.
Therefore I said, "Surely these are poor. They are foolish; for they do
not know the way of the Lord, the judgment of their God. Jeremiah
6:29-30 The bellows blow fiercely, the lead is consumed by the fire; the
smelter refines in vain, for the wicked are not drawn off. People will
call them rejected silver, because the Lord has rejected them." Jeremiah
7:23-29 But this is what I commanded them, saying, `Obey My voice, and I
will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways
that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.' Yet they did
not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the
imagination of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.
Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this
day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising
up early and sending them. Yet they did not obey Me or incline their
ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers.
Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not
obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you. So
you shall say to them, `This is a nation that does not obey the voice of
the Lord their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has
been cut off from their mouth. `Cut off your hair and cast it away, and
take up a lamentatio n on the desolate heights; for the Lord has
rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.' Jeremiah 28:13-14 Go
and tell Hananiah, saying, `Thus says the Lord: "You have broken the
yokes of wood, but you have made in their place yokes of iron." For thus
says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: "I have put a yoke of iron on
the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have given him the beasts of the
field also." Ezekiel 24:6-14 Therefore thus says the Lord God: "Woe to
the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is in it, and whose scum is not
gone from it! Bring it out piece by piece, on which no lot has fallen.
(7) For her blood is in her midst; she set it on top of a rock; she did
not pour it on the ground, to cover it with dust. (8) That it may raise
up fury and take vengeance, I have set her blood on top of a rock, that
it may not be covered." (9) `Therefore thus says the Lord God: "Woe to
the bloody city! I too will make the pyre great. (10) Heap on the wood,
kindle the fire; cook the meat well, Mix in the spices, and let the cuts
be burned up. (11) "Then set the pot empty on the coals, that it may
become hot and its bronze may burn, that its filthiness may be melted in
it, that its scum may be consumed. (12) She has wearied herself with
lies, and her great scum has not gone from her. Let her scum be in the
fire! (13) In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have purged you,
and you were not purged, you wil l not be purged of your filthiness
anymore, till I have caused My fury to rest upon you. (14) I, the Lord,
have spoken it; it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not hold
back, nor will I spare, nor will I relent; according to your ways and
according to your deeds they will judge you," says the Lord God.'"
Daniel 9:12-14 And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us
and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great
disaster; for under the whole heaven such never has been done as what
has been done to Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all
this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before
the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand
Your truth. (14) "Therefore the Lord has kept the disaster in mind, and
brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works
which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. Amos 4:6-12 ...I
gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities... yet you have not
returned to Me," says the Lord. I also withheld rain from you, when
there were still three months to the harvest... yet you have not
returned to Me," says the Lord. "I blasted you with blight and mildew
...and... locust... yet you have not returned to Me," says the Lord. "I
sent among you a plague... your young men I killed with a sword... yet
you have not returned to Me," says the Lord. "I overthrew some of you,
as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah... yet you have not returned to Me,"
says the Lord. "Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; and because I
will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" Zephaniah
3:1-2 Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city!
She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has
not trusted in the Lord, she has not drawn near to her God. Zephaniah
3:6-8 I have cut off nations, their fortresses are devastated; I have
made their streets desolate, With none passing by. their cities are
destroyed; there is no one, no inhabitant. (7) I said, `Surely you will
fear Me, you will receive instruction' - so that her dwelling would not
be cut off, despite everything for which I punished her. But they rose
early and corrupted all their deeds. (8) "Therefore wait for Me," says
the Lord, "Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to
gather the nations to My assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them My
indignation, All my fierce anger; all the earth shall be devoured with
the fire of My jealousy. Haggai 2:17 I struck you with blight and mildew
and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,'
says the Lord. God commanded Israel to stone a child to death when he
refuses all efforts of correction. It was not the first method of
correction used when a child disobeyed but when the child proved that he
was not going to be obedient no matter what was done. God was giving
them the perfect way of living in a society.  he was having them treat
their children like He treats His children. There is much patience

Law of the Rebellious Son Deuteronomy 21:18-21 If a man has a stubborn
and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the
voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not
heed them, (19) then his father and his mother shall take hold of him
and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city.
And they shall say to the elders of his city, `This son of ours is
stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and
a drunkard.' (21) Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death
with stones; so you shall put away the evil person from among you, and
all Israel shall hear and fear. Deuteronomy 8:5 So you should know in
your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens
you.

Under normal circumstances, children in Israel did not have to worry
about this. Even when they did do wrong, they might worry about a
spanking, but not a stoning. It was only when one totally hardened
themselves was this punishment to be carried out. Same with Israel,
Judah, and us today. He will chasten, and if we respond, fine. If not,
it will increase.  God will do whatever it takes to get us to repent. If
we refuse to submit, He can remove our candlestick as a congregation or
disinherit us as individuals. (Numbers 14:12)

He Who Rejects Correction 1. Goes astray - Prov. 10:17 2. Is stupid -
Prov. 12:1 3. Will have poverty and shame - Prov. 13:18 4. Is a fool -
Prov. 15:5 5. Will die - Prov. 15:10 6. Despises his own soul - Prov.
15:32 7. Strays from the Words of knowledge - Prov. 19:27 8. Will
suddenly be destroyed - Prov. 29:1


Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc
Rejection of the Chastening of the Lord - Part 2
 
God warned Israel on many occasions that if they disobeyed His
commandments, He would chasten them. There are many occasions where this
took place and in their affliction, they returned to the Lord in
repentance. Unfortunately, their goodness was often only a "morning
cloud" and did not return with their whole heart. Hosea 6:4 O Ephraim,
what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your
faithful ness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes
away. Jeremiah 3:10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah
has not turned to Me with her whole heart, but in pretense," says the
Lord. Because of their rejection of God's efforts to get them to live as
they should, they were finally destroyed. God carried out the command
that He gave Israel concerning rebellious children who would not respond
to chastening. (Deu. 21:18-21) Their destruction came because they
rejected the chastening of the Lord. We need to understand what happened
to them and why so we do not make the same mistake as they did. Israel
often failed to associate what was happening to them to their lack of
faithfulness to God. Result: they did not change their lives, but
continue to cry out: "The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord!" -
Jer. 7:1-11 Israelites often thought they were better than they really
were! Isaiah 48:1-2 Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the
name of Israel, and have come forth from the wellsprings of Judah; who
swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel,
but not in truth or in righteousness; for they call themselves after the
holy city, and lean on the God of Israel; the Lord of hosts is His name:
Jeremiah 2:29-35 Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed
against Me," says the Lord. "In vain I have chastened your children;
they received no correction... My people have for gotten Me days without
number... Yet you say, `Because I am innocent, surely His anger shall
turn from me.' Behold, I will plead My case against you, because you
say, `I have not sinned.' Hosea 8:1-2 Set the trumpet to your mouth! He
shall come like an eagle against the house of the Lord, Because they
have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law. Israel will
cry to Me, `My God, we know You!' Hosea 11:7 My people are bent on
backsliding from Me. Though they call to the Most High, none at all
exalt Him. Amos 5:12-14 For I know your manifold transgressions and your
mighty sins. You afflict the just and take bribes; you divert the poor
from justice at the gate. Therefore the prudent keep silent at that
time, for it is an evil time. Seek good and not evil, that you may live;
so the Lord God of hosts will be with you, as you have spoken. Micah
3:9-11 Now hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the
house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity, who build up
Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with iniquity: (11) her heads judge
for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her proph ets divine for
money. yet they lean on the Lord, and say, "Is not the Lord among us? No
harm can come upon us." They did not understand that the Lord was acting
in their lives and did not pay attention to what was going on around
them. They Did Not Consider Their Ways Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 Consider the
work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? (14) In
the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider:
Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other... Haggai 1:4-7 Is
it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this
temple to lie in ruins?" Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts:
"Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat,
but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink;
you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns
wages to put into a bag with holes." Thus says the Lord of hosts:
"Consider your ways!" Haggai 2:15-17 And now, carefully consider from
this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of
the Lord - since those days, when one came to a heap of twenty ephahs,
there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty
baths from the press, there were but twenty. I struck you with blight
and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not
turn to Me,' says the Lord. The Hebrews had forgotten to consider
Hebrews 12:5 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; Hebrews 12:12-15 Therefore
strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make
straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be
dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and
holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking diligently
lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness
springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. If we
reject God's discipline, there will not be the self examination we all
must continually practice (2 Cor. 13:5) We can become a self-deluded
people whom the Lord cannot bless. As a result, we will not prosper, we
can sow the seed but reap no harvest. Haggai 1:6 You have sown much, and
bring in little... Some want to completely eliminate God's hand in
everything. Everything is in and through the Word. When we sow seed and
there is no increase, we are quick to say: "No one wants the truth any
more!" Is this the real problem? The problem with Israel was never the
wickedness of the Gentiles but their own unbelief! During two periods in
our nation's history, simple Christianity was the fastest growing
religion in the nation! (1830 - 1850's, 1930 - 1940's). Now we are not
even in the top 10! Has the gospel lost its power? Can God no longer
give the increase? Is he that is in the world now greater than He that
is in us? What Has Changed? 1. The world always has been and still is a
corrupt and wicked generation. Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without
murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless,
children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse
generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. 2. The Gospel
is still the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16 For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation
for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 3.
God has always been the one who gives the increase 1 Corinthians 3:6 I
planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
 
What Has Changed? Is there a possibility that now, within the church, as
we become established, that we are more interested in sports, T.V.
recreation, careers than serving God? Do we have various activities that
clutter our lives and hinder us in the race? Have we accepted the
theories and philosophies of the world over the word of God? Could God
not be blessing what we sow because He is trying to get our attention
concerning something? Have we considered this?
 
At one time, the church was known for everyone knowing the Word. There
was a real hunger for knowledge of the Scriptures. ("Pastor" Jones -
"you are with a group that really know their Bible"). Hosea 7:8-10
Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake unturned.
Aliens have devoured his strength, but he does not know it; yes, gray
hairs are here and there on him, yet he does not know it. And the pride
of Israel testifies to his face, but they do not return to the Lord
their God, nor seek Him for all this. Today, too many are so proud they
are members of the one true church they have forgotten to develop
humility and the heart of a servant.
 
God's Name Is Profaned When His People Are Not Obedient When they turn
against His will, God cannot bless them, but, to be faithful to His
Word, He must chasten them. When the pagans see this, they do not
understand what is happening and think that Jehovah is either too weak
to bless His people or simply does not exist. Romans 2:17-24 Indeed you
are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and
know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being
instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a
guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor
of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and
truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach
yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You
who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor
idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you
dishonor God through breaking the law? For "The name of God is
blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written.
 
This quote is from either Isaiah 52 or Ezekiel 36. Both passages are
teaching the same thing. Isaiah 52:4-5 For thus says the Lord God: "My
people went down at first into Egypt to sojourn there; then the Assyrian
oppressed them without cause. Now therefore, what have I here," says the
Lord, "That My people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over
them make them wail," says the Lord, "And My name is blasphemed
continually every day. Because they were defeated, the Gentiles thought
their God was not as powerful as their gods. Ezekiel 36:20-23 When they
came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name -
when they said of them, `These are the people of the Lord, and yet they
have gone out of His land.' But I had concern for My holy name, which
the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.
Therefore say to the house of Israel, `Thus says the Lord God: "I do not
do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake,
which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will
sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which
you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am
the Lord," says the Lord God, "when I am hallowed in you before their
eyes. (Ezek. 20) Psalms 79:8-10 Oh, do not remember former iniquities
against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, For we
have been brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, For the
glory of Your name; and deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,
for Your name's sake! Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their
God?... Hosea 2:1-15 The Valley of Achor - A Door of Hope. Valley of
Achor is where Achan was stoned. While sin was in the camp, it did not
matter how weak Ai might seem or how strong Israel might be, they lost
when they faced their enemies. After sin was purged by affliction in the
valley of Achor, Israel rose up and conquered Ai and the rest of the
land. Israel has sinned against the Lord. She has been an adulteress.
God still loves her and wants her to return. How is He going to
accomplish this? He is going to bring her to the valley of Achor. Hosea
5:14-15 For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to
the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them and go away; I will take
them away, and no one shall rescue. I will return again to My place till
they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; in their
affliction they will diligently seek Me." After they pass through the
valley of Achor: Hosea 6:1-3 Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He
has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up,
that we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge
of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come
to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.
 
Sometimes we may have to pass through this valley so we might be the
people we ought to be. If God leads us through this valley, it is not
for our destruction, but for our long term good to help us be the people
we ought to be.
 
What Difference Does It Make? 1. Result of believing Chastening is "only
in and through the Word". a. We will not consider our ways. If all there
is to being a Christian is us reading the Word and obeying or
disobeying, there will be no reason to examine ourselves when certain
events come in our lives. We will be able to sing the song "From a
Distance" ("God is watching us, from a distance"). This is not the God
of the Bible but the God of the Deists. Ezekiel 37:26-28 Moreover I will
make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting
covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will
set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be
with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
 
b. We will tend to become harsh in our dealings with others. The
Sadducees believed God worked only through the Word. They rejected all
other activity. They were also the least merciful, harshest judgers,
least loving of the Jewish sects. Today, many modern day Sadducees have
the same attitude. What is the connection? If God is not acting in our
lives, we will not pay attention to what is happening about us or to our
feelings. If we are not sensitive to what is happening to our own lives
and our own feelings, then we will tend to not be sensitive towards
other peoples feelings.
 
c. We will come under the wrath of God and receive further chastening.
Zephaniah 1:12 And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search
Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled in complacency,
who say in their heart, `The Lord will not do good, nor will He do
evil.' (NKJ) Zephaniah 1:12 And it will come about at that time that I
will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are
stagnant is spirit, who say in their hearts, "The Lord will not do good
or evil!" (NASV)
 
 
2. Result of chastening being persecution.
 
a. We miss the whole purpose of it and it will not have the desired
affect. The purpose of chastening is to correct us. Chastening is
designed to get us to examine ourselves and consider our ways to see if
there is anything we need to repent of.
 
b. We will tend to be lifted u in pride instead of being humbled. If we
believe all that is happening to us is a result of persecution, we will
be puffed up in pride thinking we are doing right and this is happening
because I am standing strong for the truth. The Lord may be trying to
tell us that we have some problems we need to correct instead. We must
be willing to honestly and humbly examine ourselves to see if perhaps we
have not been living as we should. If we have truly been loving and
merciful and obedient.
 
3. Result of accepting that God is actively trying to correct us. a. We
let the scriptures mean what they say without ignoring or explaining
away obvious meanings. b. We can rejoice because we recognize the
Sovereignty of God in all our lives and understand He is helping us to
become the people we ought to be. Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I do not
count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are
ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this
mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this
to you. We don't know how God does all He does, (Deu. 29:29), but we
walk by faith and have God in all our thoughts in all of the events in
our lives. We are constantly examining ourselves in humility, knowing we
fall short of the glory of God and correct our faults and press on to
the goal of being like Christ. c. We can maintain the proper attitude we
must have to be part of the royal priesthood Hebrews 5:1-2 For every
priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to
God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can have
compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself
is also beset by weakness. We understand this instead of being
self-righteous, unmerciful. When there are problems in our lives, we
repent before God saying: Luke 18:13 God be merciful to me a sinner!
Instead of saying: Luke 18:11 God, I thank You that I am not like other
men...
 
d. We will be better able to praise our God for His wonderful grace and
the free gift that He gave in his Son because we recognize what we
really are, sinners saved by grace and by the help of God.. Our praise
will go to God instead of boasting in ourselves. Galatians 6:14 But God
forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
 
 
Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc
 
Words for Chastening

Anytime we study a subject, it is necessary to understand the words
used. Words are vehicles for thoughts, so we must know the words to be
able to think right. Hebrew word for chastening in Prov 3:11-12 is
Muwcar. Muwcar (moo-sawr'); from yacar; properly, chastisement;
figuratively, re proof, warning or instruction; also restraint:
chastening, chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine,
instruction, rebuke. Strong's Dictionary of the Hebrew Bible

        Muwcar: discipline (of the moral nature), chastening,
correction. The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon

        Yacar (yaw-sar'); a primitive root; to chastise, literally with
blows or figuratively with words; hence, to instruct: bind, chasten,
chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, teach. Strong's
Dictionary of the Hebrew Bible

        Yacar: Discipline, chasten, admonish The New
Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon The Use of Muwcar in
the O.T.
1. Chastening, Chastened, Chastisement Proverbs 3:11-12 My son,
do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction;
for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he
delights. Deuteronomy 11:2-8 Know today that I do not speak with your
children, who have not known and who have not seen the chastening of the
Lord your God, His greatness and His mighty hand and His outstretched
arm - ... what He did to the army of Egypt, to their horses and their
chariots: how He made the waters of the Red Sea overflow them... and
what He did to Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab... how the earth
opened its mouth and swallowed them up... Therefore you shall keep every
commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in
and possess the land which you cross over to possess. Job 5:17-18
Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the
chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds,
but His hands make whole. Isaiah 26:16 Lord, in trouble they have
visited You, they poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon
them. Jeremiah 30:14 ...I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy,
with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your
iniquities, because your sins have increased.
2. Disciplines Proverbs 13:24
 He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him
disciplines him promptly.
3. Correction Proverbs 7:22 Immediately he
went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the
correction of the stocks, Jeremiah 2:29-30 "Why will you plead with Me?
You all have transgressed against Me," says the Lord. In vain have I
smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath
devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. Proverbs 15:10 Harsh
correction is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates reproof
will die. Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a
child, but the rod of correction will drive it far from him. Proverbs
23:13-14 Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him
with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver
his soul from hell. Jeremiah 2:30 In vain I have chastened your
children; they received no correction. Your sword has devoured your
prophets like a destroying lion. Jeremiah 5:3 O Lord, are not Your eyes
on the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; You
have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction. They
have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to return.
Jeremiah 7:28 ...This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the
Lord their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been
cut off from their mouth. Zephaniah 3:1-2 Woe to her who is rebellious
and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she
has not received correction; she has not trusted in the Lord, she has
not drawn near to her God.
4. Lesson Ezekiel 5:14-17 Moreover I will
make you a waste and a reproach among the nations that are all around
you, in the sight of all who pass by. So it shall be a reproach, a
taunt, a lesson, and an astonishment to the nations that are all around
you, when I execute judgments among you in anger and in fury and in
furious rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken... So I will send against you
famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood
shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the
Lord, have spoken.

5. Instruction Muwcar is translated "Instruction" primarily in Proverbs.
In KJV: 25 times in Proverbs, 6x in rest of O.T. Proverbs 1:1-8 The
proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and
instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the
instruction of wisdom... The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the
instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother;
It is often in the same context as "reproof". Proverbs 6:23 For the
commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; reproofs of instruction are
the way of life. Proverbs 10:17 He who keeps instruction is in the way
of life, but he who refuses reproof goes astray. Proverbs 12:1 Whoever
loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a scoffer
does not listen to rebuke. Proverbs 15:5 A fool despises his father's
instruction, but he who receives reproof is prudent. Proverbs 15:32 He
who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds reproof
gets understanding. Zephaniah 3:7 I said, `Surely you will fear Me, you
will receive instruction' - so that her dwelling would not be cut off,
despite everything for which I punished her. But they rose early and
corrupted all their deeds.
"Muwcar" comes from a similar word - "Yacar"
1. Punish, Reformed, Chastise: Leviticus 26:18, 23, 28
2. Chasten,
Chastens, Chastened, Chastise Deuteronomy 8:5 So you should know in your
heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.
Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk
in His ways and to fear Him. Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man has a stubborn
and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the
voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not
heed them, Proverbs 19:18 Chasten your son while there is hope, and do
not set your heart on his destruction.
 3. Correct, Corrects, Corrected
Job 5:17-18 Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not
despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up;
He wounds, but His hands make whole. Psalms 39:11 When with rebukes You
correct man for iniquity, You make his beauty melt away like a moth...
Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor
detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a
father the son in whom he delights. Proverbs 29:17 Correct your son, and
he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul. Proverbs
29:19 A servant will not be corrected by mere words; for though he
understands, he will not respond. Jeremiah 10:23-24 O Lord, I know the
way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his
own steps. O Lord, correct me, but with justice; not in Your anger, lest
You bring me to nothing. Jeremiah 46:28 Do not fear, O Jacob My
servant," says the Lord, "For I am with you; For I will make a complete
end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but I will not make a
complete end of you. I will rightly correct you, for I will not leave
you wholly unpunished." (30:11)
 4. Instruct, Instructed Deuteronomy 4:36
Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on
earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the
midst of the fire. Isaiah 8:11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with a
strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this
people... Jeremiah 6:8 Be instructed, O Jerusalem, lest My soul depart
from you; lest I make you desolate, a land not inhabited.
5. Taught Proverbs 31:1
The words of King Lemuel, the utterance which his mother
taught him: Ezekiel 23:44-48 Yet they went in to her, as men go in to a
woman who plays the harlot; thus they went in to Oholah and Oholibah,
the lewd women. But righteous men will judge them after the manner of
adulteresses, and after the manner of women who shed blood, because they
are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands. For thus says the Lord
God: `Bring up an assembly against them, give them up to trouble and
plunder. The assembly shall stone them with stones and execute them with
their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn
their houses with fire. Thus I will cause lewdness to cease from the
land, that all women may be taught not to practice your lewdness.

In Hebrews 12, the Greek word for "Chasten" is "Paideuo" Paideuo 1.
instruct, train, educate - Acts 7:22; 22:3 2. correct, give guidance to
- 2 Tim 2:25; Titus 2:12 3. discipline with punishment - 1 Cor 11:32; 2
Cor 6:9; 1Ti 1:20; Heb 12:6f, 10;  Rev. 3:19. Whip, scourge Luke 23:16,
22 (Jesus is to be  taught a lesson ). Lexicon of the Greek New
Testament, F. Wilbur Gingrich

        Paideuo; to train up a child, i.e. educate, or by implication
discipline by punishment:  chasten, instruct, learn, teach. Strong's
Greek Dictionary of the New Testament Luke 23:16 I will therefore
chastise Him and release Him. (23:22) Acts 7:22 And Moses was learned in
all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds. Acts
22:3 I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in
this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of
our fathers' law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. 1
Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord,
that we may not  be condemned with the world. 2 Corinthians 6:9 as
unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened,
and yet not killed; 1 Timothy 1:20 of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander,
whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. 2
Timothy 2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God
perhaps will grant  them repentance, so that they may know the truth,
Titus 2:12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live  soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, Hebrews
12:6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He
receives. Hebrews 12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as
with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? Hebrews
12:10 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.
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be
zealous and repent.


The Chastening of the Lord Is it: 1. Only in and through the Word?  When
did God's action's in this manner cease? What passage teaches this? 2.
Persecution that comes on the Godly? Where is chastening used in this
manner?  There is a great difference between God allowing the enemies of
His people to overcome them because of their sin and being persecuted
for righteousness sake. 3.      God being active in our lives to help us
be better conformed to the image of His Son?  This is consistent with
the teaching of the whole Bible.
	
        Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc