OT Promise 270: Correcting and Chastening

Job 5:17, 18 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. For he maketh sore and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.

Eliphaz continues speaking, attempting to discover a reason for the suffering of Job. One of his pronouncements contains a promise of God, also quoted in the NT. This is not a promise we like to hear, but in the end it is good for us: “He disciplines us for our good [Hebrews 12:10].” And in verse 12: “for the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

We may never see the good and righteous result of our Lord’s correction, but God sees. But we believe it, even if we don’t see it, because God’s Word says so. The promise is: the Lord will correct and chasten and it will be good for us. God loves us so much that He cannot not discipline us. God knows what He is doing and He gets the result He is looking for.

Therefore, because of this promise, we do not complain about anything; instead, we thank God for everything. Then we learn faster whatever it is the Spirit is teaching. And don’t think you don’t need discipline, for then it is just that very pride that must be knocked out of you. Humility is a beautiful thing and a pleasant fruit.

We get two promised results out of the experiences that are in God’s hands: Happiness (“Happy is the man…”) and Wholeness (“His hands make whole”). Pray for God’s Name to be holy, His Kingdom to come, and His Will to be done in your soul, in your family, and where you live. Then watch what happens. God is going to do something good, even if you don’t like it at first.