The Holy Woodshed

 

 

Job 5:17 "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. 18 For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.

 

Where have I seen this truth before?

 

I’ve seen it in the Book of Proverbs: Pr 3:11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction;  12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

I’ve seen it in the Book of Hebrews:  Heb 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; 6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."

 And I’ve seen it in the Book of Revelation!  Re 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

 

From these verses, we can be assured that God loves His children and because He loves them, He takes them to the woodshed for holy spankings. The purpose of these “spankings” is to correct improper behavior and attitudes on behalf of the child. (You and I)

If you’ve ever been spanked by a parent, you know that you don’t look forward to the butt warming you are about to receive, nonetheless, if the discipline has been administered properly and lovingly, when it’s all over, you know that the spanking was really a loving thing to do, because to keep on misbehaving only invites more pain into your life.

 The spanking parent, should never spank in a rage. This is not about fury, it is about gentle, loving, correction. The child must clearly understand why he or she is being spanked, and then be assured that mom  and dad still loves them.

 

The question begs to be asked here, “How do we know when God is spanking us?” How do we know when we are being chastised? How does God operate in disciplining you and I? How does He communicate our wrongdoings to us, and how does He assure us after the fact, that He still loves us?”

 

My advice is “don’t go there.” Don’t be trying to figure out every bad event in your life and tying it into the discipline of God. It will drive you crazy and into a lifestyle of fearful legalism. Rather, remember 2Ti 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

 

God’s rebuking and correction is constantly before us in His Word. He tells us what we need to do in order to live the holy lives He desires for His children! Heb 12:10 says this about God’s discipline, “For they (our parents)  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.

 Parental discipline is applied as needed for correction of the wayward child, (for a few days) but God’s correction is constantly applied through His Word for our long range profit, if we will but receive it!

 

Furthermore, according to Rev 3:19 God’s discipline is always aimed at behavior modification (repentance) and attitude adjustment. (a lack of zealousness for the things of God.) Re 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

 

God will apply correction to us through His Word, (and sometimes our circumstances)  in order to jolt us out of the dangerous position of unresolved sin and lukewarm faith expressed in Re 3:16 "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

O the love of our Father! Continually, lovingly, speaking guidance to us through His Word as He seeks to correct eternally dangerous behaviors and attitudes on our part. And when the dust settles, and the holy butt warming cools down, we know we have been loved and forgiven through the sacrifice of His only Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.