The Chastening of the Lord (Hebrews 12:5,6)

Introduction

I have an idea of where this sermon is going, but in regard to some of its parts, I have no idea where it’s going. And it may be one of those, though I don’t like series. And the reason why is every sermon in my book has to have some kind of punch of its own. And if you draw it out over three or four weeks, you know, people forget. It’s like, what were we supposed to learn in this long series? I’m just not a series guy for the most part. But this particular lesson, because there are so many texts of Scripture that may well apply. We’ll just see how this, we’ll just see how this goes. As was announced and advertised tonight’s lesson is entitled The Chastening of the Lord.

And that sounds painful. And there is some pain to that, as we’ll see in a moment. Now, this is the King James rendering of a word in Hebrews chapter 12. That’s not the word selected by some of the newer translations, but I don’t think it matters one way or the other, as we’ll see momentarily. I want to give you the flavor of this passage, the context. Really, the entire book of Hebrews needs to be digested to appreciate all that’s going on in Hebrews chapter 12. We don’t have time for that in the sermon. I’m going to assume some familiarity, especially with the first few verses there. Remember the great cloud of witnesses surrounding us that is challenging us and has shown the way for us that we need to lay aside every encumbrance.

And this text has to do with encumbrances. And the sin that so easily entangles us. And run with endurance the race that is set before us, just as our Savior did, the author and finisher of our faith. And we’ve not resisted against the elements to the extent that he did, we’re told in verse 4. And then it goes on in verse 5. And you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons. Okay, this is an exhortation to God’s children. My son, do not regard lightly the chastening or the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by Him. For those whom the Lord loves, he disciplines. And he scourges, and that’s a severe word. We could call it the scourging of the Lord.

He scourges every son whom he receives. Sounds unpleasant. It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom his father does not discipline. It is a father’s role in God’s scheme of things to direct the course of the child. And sometimes that involves praise and appreciation, and sometimes that involves correction. That involves telling the child, this is not the right way to act about.

So, whatever this chastening or discipline of the Lord is, you don’t need to say, I don’t want any part of that. Because if you don’t get any part of that, then you are not a son of the Most High. You need to be a son. You need this. And he goes on to say, furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us. I hope your earthly fathers do that. In every respect that involves discipline. And we respected them, and I hope you do that, kids. Shall we not much rather be subject to the father of spirits and live? For they, our fathers here on earth, disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them. They did the best they could training their children. But God always does the best in his discipline and training.

So, whatever it is that we’re talking about, I want you to really focus in on verse 11 there. Whatever this chastening or discipline is, as you’re going through it, as it’s happening in your circumstances, you’re not going to say about it, this is really great. I’m loving this. Can I have some more, please? Could I have a double helping? You’re not going to be saying that because it says, this is sorrowful, yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble. Look, sometimes in life circumstances, people feel crushed by the blows that are dealt to them. There are some who are not strong in faith, who are very tenuous in the pursuit of faith, and he says, you need to look out for those folks.

You need to shore them up, you need to strengthen them, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. That’s our concern for the body. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. This holiness that is the result of the Father’s chastening or discipline is for our ultimate salvation, and we cannot be saved without this holiness in our lives. Alright, so that’s the context of Hebrews chapter 12. Now, what does that exactly mean in your life? How does this shake out? The Greek word is Padia. It’s found in many places in the New Testament or Padiah. And it refers to tutorage or tutory.

That is, we learn from it. It is education or training, and can even involve, by implication, corrective discipline. It’s the same word that is used in a couple of other places in the New Testament, like Ephesians 6 and verse 4. Discipline your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, Ephesians 6 and verse 4. It’s also found in 2 Timothy 3.16, where it says the scripture is designed for correction, for discipline. Same word there in 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16. And so that causes some people to conclude that this disciplining of the Lord only comes about by way of instruction in God’s word. This is the extent of God’s discipline and chastening because of those two passages and the way it’s used there. But then I’m still hung up if I take that conclusion.

I’m hung up on the word sorrowful. You know, study of the Bible, it’s so hard and arduous that it makes you sorrowful. Every time you read the word, you’re sorrowful. I don’t think I can go there. I think it’s a training and a discipline that goes beyond the instruction of Scripture to the circumstances of our lives that train and teach us. Okay, this is where I would like to read a hundred verses but won’t. But let’s start with the verses that are actually quoted in Hebrews chapter 12, beginning with the first in verse 5. You might have noticed the quotations from the Old Testament. And here’s an intriguing one. It’s from the book of Job. And the first thought, it must be something that Job said.

Wrong. It is actually something that Eliphaz says. And so we’re going, well, I thought those guys were bad friends. Well, they were. And the speeches get increasingly worse as it goes along. But hey, they sat with him for a good long time before they ever said anything. That’s when they were doing good. Then as they started talking, it all went downhill. But they were sitting with him for a while, and that’s what a good friend will do. But they were just pontificating about things that they saw from a righteous or godly point of view and applying them to Job. And as we come to see in all these discussions, that Job isn’t suffering because he’s a sinner. And that was sort of the big wrong conclusion that they had drawn.

But apparently, at least some of the statements contain some wisdom, or it would not be quoted. And this is one of them. Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves. So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. So, okay, perhaps there is some chastening that’s going on in the story of Job. There’s also a quotation from Proverbs chapter 3 and verse 12, where it says, For whom the Lord loves, he reproves, even as a father, the Son in whom he delights. And the last quote is from Psalm 119 and verse 75. But all three of these quotations that we see in Hebrews chapter 12 point to circumstances, challenging circumstances that can actually make us better as we go through them. And do so with faith.

Again, many passages, but I want to take you to a couple here. John 15, John 15. Remember the passage at the Last Supper, the Bryant, the branches of John 15, the vine of the branches. Jesus said what in John 15 and verse 2 about the branches. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he takes away. And every branch that bears fruit, he prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. I’ve never been a branch in a tree, which might surprise you. No, it doesn’t surprise you at all. But I can imagine if you’re a branch and Mr. Pruner comes along, that the branch doesn’t say, wow. I can’t wait till he gets started. It looks like a painful process to me. Now I don’t do much pruning.

If that needs to be done, that’s Sherry’s job. But if you did, if you were the receiving one of the pruning, you’re going, wow, you know, that hurts a little. That stings a little. That scrapes. And yet we know that’s what the tree needs. We have its best interest in heart. We want it to flourish. And so it is pruned for its ultimate foliage and produce. I guess. That’s what they tell me. I don’t do it. But that’s the illustration here in John 15, and that helps us a little bit. The idea of being pruned. I see that in Hebrews chapter 12. Now let me give you. Now what is the Lord exactly doing here? It’s the Lord who’s disciplining us. Let me give you a couple of passages that I think are very helpful here.

One is Job chapter 2 and verse 3. The story of Job. We’ve already quoted from Job in this context, to Eliphaz in the story of Job. Who wreaks havoc in Job’s life? First of all, let me just ask you in the end result, was Job a better man. By the time we get to Job 42 in the story, is Job a better man? I think so. He goes through all of this horrific mess. Who caused it? Oh, we know the devil. We’ve been given the inside scoop in the spirit realm. The devil has come and said, You put a hedge about this guy. You let me attack him, and he will give up his faith. He will give up his integrity. And God says, have at it.

And in all of this, Job did not sin nor charge God foolishly, we’re told. So he goes back for a second interview, saying, Let me afflict him. And he’ll turn on you. But you can’t take his life, God says. And so we see the boils that happens and all the miseries of Job. And then this statement, which hit me a few years ago, I forget some of we were studying it here, and it hit me, where it says, in the discussion between Satan and the Lord, the Lord says, this is the Lord talking. You, the devil, Satan, incited me against it. You incited me against it. But I thought it was Satan doing it. It was. Hmm. Why is God taking responsibility? Another passage in this vein struck me recently.

Isaiah 53. We’ve read it many times. The suffering of the Lord. Pictured beautifully. Seven hundred years before it ever happens. Not so beautiful scene. It’s showy. But notice verse 4 of Isaiah 53, where it says, We ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. Anybody punished like this, cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree. Anyone who is punished like surely God is punishing him from the standpoint of the onlooker. Okay, so that’s not necessarily saying God is punishing him, but from the standpoint of human observation, that’s what it looks like. But we read on. He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well being fell upon him. All of us like sheep have gone astray.

Oh, stop. I skipped a line. And by his scourging, we are healed. So the chastening that was due to us fell on him. And by his scourging, we are healed. So we like sheep have gone astray. Each one of us has turned to his own way. But man, this, I can’t get around this. But the Lord has caused. Now you can’t get around the word has caused. The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall upon him. Now when Jesus was betrayed, Satan entered Judah’s heart. Remember that. Who was responsible for Jesus’ death?

The religious leaders of the Jews. And the charge on the day of Pentecost was what? You’ve murdered the Son of God. You’re responsible. You put him to death. Evil, wicked men, sinners. With Satan instigating the whole thing, and yet this passage says the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. Obviously, Jesus wasn’t deserving of what befell. Well, let’s look at some other passages in Hebrews before we start making some observations tonight about all of this. I think to get the flavor of what he’s talking about in Hebrews 12, we’ve got to go back to some earlier statements in Hebrews. Let’s let the writer tell us what this is about. It says, Jesus in verse 9, because of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor.

Now stop right there. What did Hebrews 12 say? What about the yield of this chastening or discipline? Look at the yield that is produced for our Lord. The suffering of death, and yet he was crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God, by the favor of God, yes, by the grace of God, he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for him, for whom are all things, and through him are all things, which is a great statement, like Romans 11 36. For whom are all things, through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, and then this to perfect the author of their salvation. Jesus was perfected. Perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. Hebrews 5. Though he was a son, see, I don’t think you can.

If you talk about Hebrews 12 without talking about 5, 8, and 9, you make a big mistake. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered. And having been made perfect. Now see this. Perfected through suffering. Look at the end result. Look at the training. It says, having been made perfect, he became to all those who obey him the source of eternal salvation. Look at the result, not only for our Lord, who has risen to the right hand of God as King of kings and Lord of Lords, in a name that is above every name. But look at what it also has done for us. God was not punishing Job because of his sin. And he certainly wasn’t punishing Jesus because he was deserving, because he was not.

May I suggest that these statements in some part simply reflect the sovereignty of God.

But just tuck that thought. You incited me against him. The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on him. This relates to the fact that God is overall, that he is the power of the universe, and nothing is greater than him. That’s what these passages are saying. But they are saying more.

So let me throw it in here while it’s on my mind. You meant it for evil.

But God meant it for good. You know that one, right? Joseph and his brothers. You had evil in your hearts when you sold me into slavery. You meant it for evil, but look at the good result that came about. Look at Joseph’s suffering, the unfairness, the inequity of it all. And look at the result. Save his family. The promise continues to move along through the generations of Abraham. God is able to take the evil that is done and accomplish his purposes. Now, this is the point in the sermon where I add a couple things. It’s a little bit longer. If you want somebody to blame, it’s not me, it’s this guy sitting right there. He says to me this morning, I had to write this afternoon.

I like to get Daniel in trouble. So he says, this is going to be about the minor prophets, right? You’re going to mention the minor prophets. I said, Well, I hadn’t really intended to. And so Daniel wasn’t going to come tonight unless. No, he didn’t say that. I’m putting words in his mouth now. But he really wanted something on the minor prophets. So here it is. Here’s your bone, Daniel. Nahum and Habakkuk. God is a jealous and avenging God. And the whirlwind is his way. And so what is he going to do? He is going to punish his people. He is going to correct them for their sins. Not all that God does is a punishment for sin, a direct retribution for conduct, but sometimes that is the case.

And so how is he going to do that? He’s going to send the Assyrians. And they’re going to ravage Israel. Destroy Samaria. But they only went so far, right? They got down to Jerusalem and had a Hezekiah shut up in a cage. Hezekiah prays, and 186,000 Assyrian soldiers died. Let me just tell you what that’s telling us. Boy, the Old Testament is really helping us with our study tonight. God says, I’m going to let you go this far because I’m punishing my people for their sins. I warned them way back in the book of Deuteronomy that this is the way it was going to be. They did not heed the words of my prophets. And so after many years and much patience, I’ve had enough.

But I’m not giving you Jerusalem.

It’s stopping right there. You see, God allowed this. Oh, Assyria. The rod of his anger, we’re told in Isaiah chapter 10. They didn’t care whether they were fulfilling the purposes of God or not. They were just ruthless and evil and were concerned about world domination. And they did. And they flow all the way down to Jerusalem, and God says, Nutter. It stops right here. That’s our sovereign God. Well, what the Assyrians did not complete, the Babylonians were allowed to complete. And that’s Habbak. And we have the woes of Amos. Let me just throw that in at no extra charge, Daniel. For three transgressions and for four, the woes of Habakkuk in Habakkuk chapter 2. All of that is God’s corrective discipline when his message has been not heeded.

1. God Is Actively Involved in Our World

While God Himself, and this is the point, while God Himself did not personally initiate the punishment. But it worked within His purposes, He allowed that to occur. Okay, three quick points. You’ve listened well. Three things that I want to suggest to you about the chastening of the Lord. And my clicker is now dead. Daniel, did you do that to me? You should probably have a right to. Okay. His chastening, number one thing that we learn. God is actively involved in our world.

The Old Testament is helping with this all the way along. And while we don’t see evidences of miracles today, we don’t see the sun standing still, we don’t see people rising from the dead. What the Old Testament is telling us is that even when the miraculous is not happening, God is active in the world. And everything is working according to his timetable and his desires and his purposes. And his purposes will be accomplished.

But the extent of what God is doing in the world, if we were able, we are probably not even able to grasp the marvelous nature of God’s activity. Even when we’ve studied everything about angels you ever wanted to know, and sometimes we have studies like that because we’re so curious about angels. Because we’re just not given a lot of the things we would like to know. Hebrews 1 and verse 14, that just sort of flips the light switch on, and then we’re going, now what? They’re ministering spirits sent out to serve the elect. But what does that mean here in Tombal? What does that mean in my life? It’s comforting. Angels are doing something. What are they doing?

I just know they’re helping. There’s a spiritual warfare going on in heavenly places, and they’re involved in it, and they’re fighting on our side and assisting us in some way. I don’t have all the answers for that. So after I’ve studied all of that. And here’s the thing. God says He is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. Point made. Ephesians 3 20 is the only verse I need. Why pray? Why pray fervently? James 5 and verse 16. Because God is actively involved in our world. But here’s the great thing. He doesn’t give that responsibility to you and me. He doesn’t say, look, I want you to figure all this out. He doesn’t need us to delve into that. We so want to.

We want answers for everything. We’re Americans, we’re smart. We control the world. We think we do. We gotta know. No, we don’t. He doesn’t ask us to delve into that, but to trust Him. Story of Job concluded. I spoke of things I did not know. Things too wonderful for me. That’s right. And he never explained to Job why it was allowed to happen. He just said, Job, I’m powerful. I’m in control. And you need to trust.

2. Circumstances Can Train Regardless of Their Source

In some of the circumstances we’ve referenced God as using evil men. The ungodliness that he will ultimately judge to bring about the best ends of man. Second point. Circumstances can train regardless of their source. What do you think those passages of the New Testament are talking about? About count it all joy when you fall into various trials. Who’s instigating that, do you think? You think there’s maybe some evil going on? Some people bringing suffering to your feet, people who have lied about you, people who are persecuting you. There is evil being done when it talks about various trials. It may just be circumstances that unfold. But whatever the source, the trial of your faith be more precious than gold that perishes. 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 7.

It is with difficulty that the righteous are saved. And trust your soul to a faithful creator in doing what is right. And time would fail me to talk about Romans chapter 5, verses 1 through 5, about how our character is made better by our circumstances and persevering. The righteous.

And you go through periods like that in your life. It’s a roller coaster. Sometimes things are great, and other times things are just sort of mediocre and blah, and sometimes they’re awful. And when they get really awful, it’s like, God, you’ve turned your back on me. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? You know, the more I look at Jesus’ statement on the cross, the quotation of Psalm 22, I’m just not so sure that we’ve understood that well. He felt forsaken. But if he felt forsaken, why would he make the plea? Why would he say, in just a little time afterwards, into thy hands I commit my spirit? He hadn’t given up on the Father. He knew the Father was no, he knew all that was going on there.

Yes, he is suffering for our sins, but I’m not so sure it was a declaration of his uncertainty in his suffering. As much as it was for us to go back and read Psalm 22 and see that ultimately David himself, in the midst of his trial, affirmed his faith and confidence in God despite his trial. I really think it’s more about the whole Psalm than it is just about the one question in Psalm 22. So then this, as we’re rapidly coming to the end here, maybe not so rapidly, but we’re getting there. No matter the severity, the crisis must not be allowed to break you.

Temptation has its limit. According to 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 13.

There’s a way of escape provided. We can endure trials. God can strengthen us. According to Philippians chapter 4, we can survive. I think sometimes we get so down and so low and in such great pain. I can’t do this. Yeah, you can. Yeah, you can. And some suffer worse than others. But what is the biblical prescription for that? You keep looking long term. That’s what Hebrews 12 is saying. This is his chastening. Now God may not be doing it specifically. God said, here.

I’m going to really ratchet things up in his life and make his life miserable. I’m going to throw some water at it. So he can fish off his back porch. He talk about. He talk about responding well to the rising water. Gary just went fishing.

The chastening of the Lord. That doesn’t mean God is hammering us personally. It’s we can endure this thing. Whatever it is. No matter what its source. Circumstances can train us. We’re not exempt. The other observation that I would make happiness here is not guaranteed. Man, but we’ve we’ve known so much happiness from time to time in our lives. We have such cushy lives here in America. Happiness is our right. We’re Americans. God doesn’t guarantee that. Happiness here is not guaranteed. Do I need to say that again? But sister or brother so and so aren’t suffering like I am. No, not now. And they may not ever. It doesn’t mean that you’re worse than they are or better than they are. We don’t need to make those kinds of observations.

3. Don't Focus on Divining the Source; Pursue Faith and Holiness

Sometimes you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and somebody hits you in their car. Sometimes it’s something the devil is doing. Sometimes God acts directly in bringing punishment, fire from heaven. We saw that recently in a sermon. Sometimes it’s just time and chance. Men do bad things to men. And you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time when the event unfolds. Happiness here is not guaranteed. But we need to look long term. And that leads me to my final point. This is where we get into trouble. Don’t focus on divining the source. But pursue faith and holiness. Okay. Who didn’t? Who didn’t? It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what the circumstance is, who caused it. I’ll tell you what you’re capable of doing.

Surviving with your faith. You may lose your family. You may lose your clothes. You may lose everything of a material nature. It may cost you tons of money. You may go to the poorhouse, as we say. But regardless of what it is, your faith can remain intact. Don’t be surprised. And that’s what Peter is saying in some of the passages that I quoted about persecution. Don’t be surprised. Why would you be surprised? Jesus suffered. You haven’t suffered to the extent that he did. Don’t be surprised at his disciples that you suffer too. This is God’s world. He is sovereign. Nothing happens that he is rendered powerless to stop. He is the Almighty. But sometimes he allows things to happen that can actually be helpful to us.

Refining.

Okay, so let’s talk about Harvey for a second. Why did that happen? I don’t know. It’s called nature. God put it in place. There are hurricanes and typhoons, whatever you want to call them, whatever region of the world you live in, they happen all the time. It was just our turn. Whether you’re talking about hurricanes or tornadoes, you think God steers those a certain direction and maybe it’s a wake up call to people.

Maybe. We talked about this when 9 11 happened years ago. Because you know what? People are sobered by these events. The best in people is sometimes brought out, as we have seen. Christians, like when we were together Wednesday night, the closeness of our family, the nature of our assembly that night. We haven’t had anything like that around here in a long time. Look at the good that can come out of tragedy when we lock arms and love each other and keep on doing what we do as Christians. Was the bad thing that happened a specific act of God? I don’t know. What’s the good thing that happened? A specific act of God. I don’t know. I don’t even know if that’s the right way to say it.

Conclusion

Did the devil do this to me? Is it just rotten luck? I don’t know. Quit trying to divine the source. And know that faith is possible in every circumstance. That’s what Romans 8. We looked at it recently. That’s what Romans 8 is telling us. In the midst of suffering. Cling ever more tenaciously to the source of goodness, who zealously desires your betterment and salvation, working in you unto glory. I had to write this down as we were singing the song this morning. Jesus draw me ever nearer. May this journey be a blessing. At the end of life’s testing with your likeness. Let me wake. The how we got here is not nearly as important as how we arrive into the presence of our God. Is there someone in this audience tonight who needs to respond in faith so that you can live a life of salvation and glory unto God?

We seem to encourage a response. Let’s stand and sing.