Discipline

Wherefore all the discipline with which Job was exercised? He could say in truth, “I know that my Redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25)1. As God’s witness there was none like him in all the earth. He walked in uprightness, humility, patience, and wisdom; a perfect and upright man, fearing God and eschewing evil. Why then his afflictions and humiliations, before unheard-of among the saints? There was the flesh in Job; and the sifting discipline went on, until Job had learnt so to know both God and himself as to abhor himself, and justify God.

I seek to keep short accounts with God: this saves not only much trouble and time, but also much sharp discipline.

“A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.” (Prov. 17:10.)2

It is indeed rare, when judgments come upon men, that those judgments yield their due profit. Those who walk with a tender spirit before God profit more by a word or gentle rebuke of His love, that none but themselves know of, than do others, who are careless walkers, by heavy judgments. If, however, great afflictions come, the heart being prepared, the end will be the double blessing. (Job 42)3

The cry of “Abba, Father!” in the time of trouble, is often a sign of quick deliverance. When we kiss the hand that smites, the rod drops. Is it not to resist the will of God when we flee from those trials which He sends to prove our faith?

As children we may ask for understanding of our Father’s will; but it belongs not to us to think for Him.

We may be sorrowful, yet not unhappy. Unhappiness is caused by self-will, that frets against the Lord’s way of dealing with us. But we may have sorrow without sinning, and by such sadness the heart is made better. (Eccl. 7:3.)4 Grace does not steel the heart, but makes it more tender. We may feel, but must not rebel.

Every child of God needs to be put into the sieve: but when sifted, if we be willing to endure the Lord’s dealings with us, we shall not be put to shame.

How few the words of Jesus when all the earth, in its representatives - Herod, Pilate, priests and elders - rose up against Him! He never uttered more or less than was needed for God’s glory. That perfect guidance of the tongue proceeded from the perfect subjection of His will to God.

The proper fruit of the Lord’s discipline is that blessed state described by the psalmist, when the fretting of the flesh is silenced, the soul composing itself to rest in the everlasting arms. “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child” (Psalm 131:2)5.

It is not every child of God who, by reason of acquaintance with God and with himself, reckons upon discipline, and resolves to go through it with God, how bitter soever it may be: hence when it comes he frets; he is the bullock unaccustomed to the yoke. (Jer. 31:18.)6

Christ had a lawful desire to be spared suffering. He could not otherwise have been a pattern to us of patience and submission: but His submission brought Him into the floods of His sufferings. Our afflictions are light, soon as we can say, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

Deep inwrought patience is precious fruit of suffering God’s will according to God’s mind.

If we desire that patience have her perfect work, we shall thank the only-wise God for all things whatsoever that afflict us; and whosoever they be that God uses for pruning our souls - be they unjust men or froward brethren - we shall love and pray for them, and seek to overcome their evil with good.

A child of God may be greatly afflicted, yet be far from murmuring against his heavenly Father. Sorrow sanctified obtains God’s embrace; rebellious grief spoils the soul of communion. The cluster must be bruised to yield its wine, and the sufferings of heavenly patience procure for the soul an overflowing cup of consolation, both for its own comfort and that of others. (2 Cor. 1:4-6.)7

How many snares, how much harm, and loss, and shame, would the people of God avoid and escape, had they a little more patience in waiting for the Lord! Had Saul but waited a few minutes longer for Samuel then “would the Lord have established his kingdom upon Israel for ever (1 Sam. 13:13).8

Fußnoten

  1. Job 19: 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:↩︎

  2. Proverbs 17: 10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.↩︎

  3. Job 42↩︎

  4. Ecclesiastes 7: 3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.↩︎

  5. Psalm 131: 2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.↩︎

  6. Jeremiah 31: 18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.↩︎

  7. 2 Corinthians 1: 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.↩︎

  8. 1 Samuel 13: 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.↩︎