The Chastening of the Lord

Does a loving God discipline His Children?

September 20th, 2022

By: David Hoskins

If we see God through the lens of grace and not also through the lens of righteousness then we only see him in part. If we desire to represent the Father well then we need to understand the fullness and the complexity of who He truly is.

The scripture below puts it all on the line concerning the nature of God concerning discipline.

Hebrews 12:4-11 (NIV)

God Disciplines His Children

4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline —then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Many people have been indoctrinated with the idea that God would never punish, discipline or chasten His children. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is His chastening that proves that we are His children. David understood the chastening of the Lord. His sin with the murder of Uriah actually cost him the life of his firstborn. Sin brings consequence wether our theology agrees with it or not for what a man sows he will surely reap. However God chooses in His loving kindness to not judge us as we deserve to be judged because He is full of Mercy.

Psalms 118:18 (NKJV)

18 The LORD has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.

His discipline is given that we might be corrected but also that we might gain a healthy fear of consequence for the fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom.

Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV)

10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Every son must learn to fear consequence or he will by default struggle with the boundaries of life. Lawlessness is not a virtue.

Proverbs 22:15 (NKJV)

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

Correction is the first step toward liberation. The fact that we are born into a lost and fallen world means we do not have to be taught how to do wrong. It comes by nature. Our fallen nature. We are not born good. We are born with folly bound up in our heart. It takes good parents who partner with God by correcting and yes chastening us that we might gain wisdom.

The challenge with chastening and discipline is that it is suppose to be for our good. With God in regard to His children, punishment is not about wrath. God is not angry with us when we sin. He lives in eternity and He got over our sin before we were born. His discipline is to help deliver us from our flesh and the folly which is inherently in us. The Father is motivated by redemption.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NKJV)

9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

God’s anger and wrath are for His enemies. Not His children! Many get confused in the chastening of the Lord. It is not an emotional response. The discipline of the Lord is a calculated consequence driven by a loving Dad to help us beyond our own bondage. Like David some of us go the hard way and some of us go easy. God certainly knows how to up the consequence when we are stubborn and obstinate.

The wonderful fact about the nature of God is that as just and righteous as He is, it is His mercy that he loves to pour on us.

Psalms 89:14 (NKJV)

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face.

It is the mercy of God that keeps us from experiencing the full reward for our folly. God is so patient with us because our welfare and our destiny are what He is helping us to steward. Discipline is His loving hand.

Some people fail to see the chastening of God in their lives because they were never taught the fear of the Lord. They think difficult and bad things which happen in their lives are all from the Devil. Not so! Some of those things are a direct consequence of iniquitous cycles which produce sin in our lives. A loving God that would not leave us in that place of ignorance.

Psalms 33:18 (NKJV)

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,

God himself understands the importance of striking the balance of chastening and nurturing in our lives. We need His mercy greatly but we also need a spanking once in a while.

Proverbs 16:6 (KJV)

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:

and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

As a father myself I have learn several things about discipline from the Lord.

1. Never discipline in anger

2. Never overlook obstinance

3. Be consistent, especially when they are learning your boundary

4. Be quick to reward repentance

5. Do not over discipline, let the punishment match the crime

6. Let liberation be your motive

7. Let love be your measure

8. Let the foolish learn the hard way if necessary

Having a balance in these areas means you are ready to represent the Father well.

Proverbs 3:3-4 (KJV)

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee:

bind them about thy neck;

write them upon the table of thine heart:

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding

in the sight of God and man.

God is righteous but He is also full of mercy. It all depends on where we are in the process. God loves us more than we know. Let the countenance of a loving father overshadow you today. Respond quickly to His chastening.