As a result of their intermingling with the world, the children of Israel lacked strength; they were in no spiritual state to enjoy the good of the land, and they were in danger of losing their inheritance (Ezra 9:12).
In the earlier chapters of Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians we see what great spiritual weakness was amongst that assembly — weakness that rendered them insensible to the grossest of sins in their very midst. We also see that there was physical weakness, sickness, and even death. Because of their failure to discern the Lord’s body — neither the One Body as expressed in the loaf nor the unfathomable love and grace as represented in that broken loaf — God had acted in discipline. “On this account many among you are weak and infirm, and a good many are fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 11:30 JND).
The Lord is never vindictive or capricious in His treatment of His people; rather, He acts in discipline out of love to spare His children. “We are disciplined of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world” (1 Cor. 11:30-32). “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth” (Heb. 12:6). God often allows weakness to make us more dependent on Him.
Let us resist the temptation to think, “If only the brethren were less severe ... ” or, “If they weren’t so legal ... .” Providing that which satisfies the flesh never brings strength; for a short time it may increase the popularity of the meetings, but ultimately, if the assembly is just like the world, why stay?