Chastisement
Deuteronomy 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
Chastisement is the act of correction by punishment or suffering, the discipline given to man If he commit iniquity or sin against the laws of God.
Our God is a perfect God and also full of love, he has laws to guide and protect us through our journey in life, but as much as He is full of mercy and grace, He does not condone iniquity, so He chastise anyone who go against His laws and commands.
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.” (Hebrew 12:5-6).
God does not chastise sinners who has not known him from the begining, but as the father chastise his son who does wrong things, so also God chastise His children he loves,
God did chastise Adam and Eve.
Adam and Eve were the first human race created in the image of God's glory, but at the long run they sinned and God gave His verdict... (Genesis 3:16-19) even with His love He never left them alone, He do communicate consistently and guide man towards the path of righteousness.
He chastise Moses.
Moses was considered the most meek person, He was called by God to lead the children of Israel from the land of Egypt to the cannan land according to the blueprint of God. But this document was altered on the way when Moses sinned against the Lord. God did not hesitate to chastise him, his punishment was that he would not step the promise land he had laboured for. Meanwhile it was for his own good. (Deuteronomy 34: 1-4)
He chastise David.
King David had just committed adultery with bathsheba and murder of Uriah, the Lord was angry and needed to chastise him, so He sent prophet Nathan. The soberness and act of remorse of David before God did not stop God from punishing him for the wrongs He did. (2 Samuel 12)
The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ who is the grace of God does not stop God from chastising us whenever we sin against Him, it only reduces the punishment and realign us back to the father.
Most time, pleading guilty for a sin commited and asking for forgiveness does not totally take away the punishment the offender deserve, it can only reduce it.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Renew Your Spiritual Vitality (Hebrew 12:11)
The chastisement of God is to realign us back to Him in other for us to live peaceably with fellow man and also gain the eternal life with Him after death.
For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law, for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; (Romans 2:11-13)
No matter who you are before, no matter your level of Spirituality before God and man, no one is above chastening. There is no partiality before God. Whoever sin against God will be chastised in love.
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? (Hebrew 12:9)
In other to gain God both in this life and in eternity to come, we must all subject ourselves to the chastisement of God, failure to yield and accept His chastising will lead to eternal damnation.
In so many ways God can chastise us, it may be with sickness, pain. Reposting to a place not pleasant, withheld of answers to prayers and even death, but all in love.
God is not wicked, just as the earthly father chastised his son whenever the son does the wrong thing, so also our heavenly father chastise us when we sin against Him.
Submitted yourself to His chastening...
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord,, thank you for the blessing of today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, forgive me for the wrongs I have committed to you in the past in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, help me to accept your chastising in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank your for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.