God’s Chastisement—Accusation

God’s chastisement can come upon people for various rea­sons. God-fearing people also come into trials—God works with such people, and He sees that He can get more out of their lives for an eternal enrichment.

“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? 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 painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Heb. 12:9-11.

It is very unwise to speak negatively, or possibly even con­temptuously, about someone who is undergoing God’s chas­tening. First and foremost, it is dangerous for you. Even if you are not in that particular situation, you should pray for the person. People who are able to bear humiliation and tribula­tion are God-fearing. God does not respect those who are wise in their own eyes. He lets such obstinate people just drift away—He isn’t able to form them. They rage against all wise judgment. God opens the eyes of the righteous through tribu­lations so that they can see more of their own stubbornness.

“Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the oppressed. He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; but they are on the throne with kings, for He has seated them forever, and they are exalted. And if they are bound in fetters, held in the cords of affliction, then He tells them their work and their transgressions—that they have acted defiantly. He also opens their ear to instruction, and commands that they turn from iniquity. If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in pros­perity, and their years in pleasures. But if they do not obey, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; they do not cry for help when He binds them. They die in youth, and their life ends among the perverted persons. He delivers the poor in their affliction, and opens their ears in oppression. Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, into a broad place where there is no restraint; and what is set on your table would be full of richness.” Job 36:5-16.

Elihu was able to describe Job’s situation, and after that Job was able to receive light when God spoke. God opened his eyes for a greater light and glory than he had previously known. It is God-fearing people who can bear humiliation and tribulation. Job’s joy was much greater than it had been be-fore the trials came upon him. We understand clearly from the Word of God that we cannot judge a person’s spirituality by his earthly blessings. God can lead chosen souls down into the depths when they are in the spirit of humility. Then trans­formation takes place in their inner life, and they are more conformed into Jesus’ image. Superficial people can find it quite easy to judge others who are under such chastening, according to what their eyes see and their ears hear. Jesus had the spirit of fear over Him in these situations. “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and un­derstanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righ­teousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.” Is. 11:2-4.

Without these Spirits of God in our lives, accusations are very close at hand, and things can go very badly with us if we give place to such thoughts. “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” Rom. 8:33-34. We must never forget that those who are acceptable to God are tried in the furnace of adver­sity. Sirach 2:1-6. In the midst of their trials, they reckon with God and are thankful in their hearts. They are kept from jeal­ousy, anxiety, unbelief and doubt. They bless others and are good to them. What a strength it is for a church when there are such pure and believing brothers and sisters who have the power to bear and have a fullness of the Spirit! Even if they don’t have a prominent ministry in the church, they are an inestimable spiritual support and are watchmen for their local church. God will richly reward such faithfulness for time and eternity. Their reward will be great in the kingdom of heaven!