The subject worked out for this month is—
Examples of the result of God’s dealings with His children, in three divisions as set forth in Hebrews 12:5-11.
1St. Those who despised the chastening of the Lord, 2nd. Those who fainted under it, 3rd. Those who were exercised by it.
A few of our correspondents have included in their papers those who were not children of God, but as this was only in a few divisions, we have not included them in the list. In many instances, however, the manner of God’s dealings is full of instruction for us, and may well form a subject for study, —see the cases of Cain, Saul, and others.
There are instances too of God’s children, of those chastisement and its object we are told, but not the result, for instance Hymenaeus and Alexander whom the apostle Paul delivered unto Satan that they might “learn not to blaspheme.” We may call attention also to the warnings to the churches in Revelation 2 &
DIVISION 1.
“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord.”
LOT left the path of faith, seeking that which the world could offer him: he pitched his tent toward Sodom (Genesis 13:12), he dwelt in Sodom (Genesis 14:12), but though chastened by being carried captive, on his return he appears quite unexercised, and we next see him sitting in the gate of Sodom (Genesis 19) he is involved in the judgment of that wicked city, but is saved through the mercy of God, suffering the loss of all that which had attracted him, and does not appear from his subsequent history to have been exercised in soul by God’s dealings with him.
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, (Numbers 13) believed the report brought by the 10 spies, rather than the testimony of Caleb and Joshua, and refusing to enter the land, murmured against God (chapter 14:27); in judgment God declares that none of them shall enter the land; but refusing to bow to His word, they presumptuously march toward Canaan, and are smitten by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
ASA relied on the king of Syria and not on the Lord, and for this cause he was visited with the judgment of constant wars; instead of being humbled, however, he put in prison the prophet whom God had sent to announce the judgment. 2 Chronicles 14, 15, 16.
JOASH and the people of Judah, after the death of Jehoiada, lapsed into idolatry, and when God testified against them by the mouth of Zechariah, they slew him. In the end the judgment against Judah was executed by the Syrians, and Joash was slain by his servants. 2 Chronicles 24:17-26.
AMAZIAH’S history is almost identical with Joash’s, 2 Chronicles 25
DIVISION 2.
“Nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.”
AARON, when judgment had fallen upon his house in the persons of his sons Nadab and Abihu, is not able to fulfill his priestly duties in eating the sin offering. Leviticus 10
DAVID in seeking to bring the ark from Kirjathjearim, fails to observe God’s order (1 Chronicles 15:13) and Uzza putting forth his hand to support it is smitten by God. David is afraid (faints under the judgment) and the ark remains in the house of Obed-edom.
DIVISION 3.
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous, nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness to
them that are exercised thereby.”
ADAM and EVE, for their disobedience in eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, are excluded from the garden and become subject to death: they appear to have had faith in the word of God and, by the names they gave their sons, to have looked for the promised seed.
JACOB in his whole life and wanderings appears to be under the chastening hand of God for his want of faith in seeking to make sure of the promised blessing (Genesis 27): in his latter days, especially after his reunion with Joseph he evinces exercise of soul.
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL appear during their sojourn in Egypt to have been wholly given up to idolatry (see Ezekiel 20:5-9); for this judgment fell upon them at the hand of Pharaoh; they cried unto God, and though at first they appear to have fainted under the affliction (Exodus 2:23, &c.), and then to have refused the deliverance (Chapter 5:21), they were eventually delivered and, when across the Red sea praise God for his mercy to them. During the absence of Moses on the Mount, they made a golden calf and worshipped it (Exodus 32); in judgment 3000 of them were slain by the children of Levi, and afterward the people appear to have humbled themselves (33:6.)
Numbers 11:1,2. They murmured against God, who consumed many with fire, and on their crying unto Moses he prayed unto the Lord and the fire was quenched.
In the person of Achan (Joshua 7) they sinned by taking part of the spoil of Jericho: in judgment they are defeated by the men of Ai, but on their clearing themselves by the death of Achan they are victorious.
Read also Deuteronomy 8:1-5.
MIRIAM AND AARON speak against Moses, and in chastisement Miriam is smitten with leprosy: they repent and at the intercession of Moses she is restored. Numbers 11
MOSES failed to honor God (Numbers 20:12) and he is in consequence excluded from the land: the exercise of his heart is apparent in Numbers 27:16,17.
SAMSON revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah and in judgment he is taken by the Philistines and his eyes put out. In prison he appears to have been exercised by the chastisement, and his prayer to God that he may be avenged of his enemies is heard.
ELI did not restrain his sons in their evil course, and their judgment is announced first by a man of God (1 Samuel 2:27), and then by Samuel (chapter 3:18.) He appears to have humbled himself (chapter 3:18),
DAVID sinned against Uriah in procuring his death that he might take Bathsheba for his wife: he humbled himself and confessed his sin to Nathan (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalms 51) nevertheless he is chastened by the death of his son.
He numbered the people (which Joab saw to be wrong): in chastisement God sends a pestilence on Israel, and David recognizing the sin to be his, humbles himself before God. 2 Samuel 24
REHOBOAM (2 Chronicles 12:1) forsook the law of the Lord, and is delivered into the hand of Shishak, King of Egypt: he humbles himself, and the judgment, though not altogether removed, is lightened.
JEHOSHAPHAT joined himself with Ahab, king of Israel, to war against Syria; for this Jehu the prophet warns him that wrath is upon him from the Lord: the judgment appears to take the shape of an invasion by the Moabites and Ammonites, over whom, however, Jehoshaphat and the men of Judah gained a victory, having first humbled themselves before God. 2 Chronicles 18; 19; 20.
A second time Jehoshaphat joins himself with a wicked king of Israel, but his ships being broken by God in judgment (2 Chronicles 20:37) he appears to have broken off the alliance. (1 Kings 22:49).
NOTE. —Some may judge that Jehoshaphat should rather have been placed in the first division, inasmuch as he a second time commits the sin for which the chastisement of God had already fallen on him.
HEZEKIAH. “But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up; therefore there was wrath upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.” 2 Chronicles 32:25, 26; see also for his sin, 2 Kings 20:12-19 and Jeremiah 26:18,19.
EZRA & NEHEMIAH identified themselves with the sin of the children of Israel, who were scattered amongst the nations, in consequence of their disobedience. They make confession before God, and are humbled and exercised about the condition of the people, and of the city, and receive the permission of the king of Persia to return to Jerusalem.
JOB. We do not read of any sin of Job’s on account of which he was so sorely chastised; on the contrary, we have God’s own testimony as to his integrity and uprightness (chapter 1:8). Yet the whole book shows plainly that he had never seen himself in the light of God’s presence (chapter 33:9), and it is to this end-the knowledge of himself and of God-that the chastisement brings him (chapter 42:5, 6). Truly we may repeat the words of Hebrews 12:10, “ but he for our profit that we may be partakers of his holiness.”
JONAH is commanded to testify against Nineveh: instead, however, of obeying the command he flees to Joppa and takes ship to Tarshish; on the way, however, the judgment of God overtakes him in the shape of a storm: he is thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish: he humbles himself before God and is released, and on a second command testifies against Nineveh.
ZACHARIAS does not believe the word of God by the angel, foretelling the birth of John, and in consequence is smitten with dumbness (Luke 1:19): on the birth of John his tongue is loosed and he praises God.
THE CHURCH at Corinth permitted sin in their midst (chapter 5.); for this probably and for other reasons, the judgment of God fell upon them (chapter 11:30): at the rebuke of Paul they humble themselves, and clear themselves before God (2 Corinthians 7:11).
See also 2 Corinthians 2:6,7.
PAUL receives a thorn in the flesh that he might not be exalted above measure, and might learn that the Lord’s strength is made perfect in weakness.
This dealing of God with the apostle had more the character of a preventative than of chastisement.
The history of the Children of Israel abounds in so many instances both of Divisions II. and III. that we have not been able to insert all, but only a few selected examples. In many cases, especially those recorded in the book of Judges, they appear to have humbled themselves under the hand of God, and to have been delivered from their enemies: in a brief time, however, they sinned again, so that the exercise of soul would not appear to have been of a very abiding character.