Chastisement, in the biblical context, refers to the discipline or correction administered by God to His people. It is an expression of His love and a means to guide believers towards righteousness and holiness. The concept of divine chastisement is rooted in the understanding that God, as a loving Father, disciplines His children for their ultimate good.

Biblical Foundation

The Bible presents chastisement as an integral part of the believer's spiritual journey. In the Old Testament, the concept is often associated with God's covenant relationship with Israel. Deuteronomy 8:5 states, "So know in your heart that just as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you." This verse highlights the familial aspect of God's discipline, likening it to a father's care for his child.

In the New Testament, the theme of divine chastisement is further developed. Hebrews 12:5-6 quotes Proverbs 3:11-12, saying, "My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives." This passage underscores the idea that God's chastisement is a sign of His love and acceptance.

Purpose of Chastisement

The primary purpose of divine chastisement is to produce holiness and righteousness in the lives of believers. Hebrews 12:10-11 explains, "Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a peaceful harvest of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Chastisement serves as a corrective measure, steering believers away from sin and towards a deeper relationship with God. It is not punitive in nature but rather redemptive, aiming to restore and refine the believer's character.

Examples of Chastisement

Throughout Scripture, there are numerous examples of God chastising His people. In the Old Testament, the Israelites experienced periods of chastisement when they strayed from God's commandments. For instance, in Judges 2:14-15 , it is recorded that "the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He handed them over to raiders who plundered them." This was a direct consequence of their disobedience and idolatry.

In the New Testament, the church in Corinth faced chastisement for their misconduct during the Lord's Supper. In 1 Corinthians 11:30-32 , Paul writes, "That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world."

Response to Chastisement

Believers are encouraged to respond to God's chastisement with humility and repentance. Proverbs 3:11 advises, "My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not loathe His reproof." Accepting divine correction with a teachable spirit leads to spiritual growth and maturity.

James 1:2-4 further encourages believers to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." This perspective helps believers to view chastisement as an opportunity for growth rather than a burden.

Conclusion

Chastisement from God is a profound expression of His love and commitment to the spiritual well-being of His people. It is a divine tool used to cultivate holiness, righteousness, and maturity in the lives of believers, ultimately drawing them closer to Him.Leviticus 26:28
Then I will walk contrary to you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
Nave's Topical Index

Deuteronomy 11:2,9
And know you this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm,
Nave's Topical Index

2 Samuel 7:14,15
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 6:24-31
And if your people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against you; and shall return and confess your name, and pray and make supplication before you in this house;
Nave's Topical Index

2 Chronicles 7:13,14
If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
Nave's Topical Index

Job 5:17
Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not you the chastening of the Almighty:
Nave's Topical Index

Job 33:19
He is chastened also with pain on his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 6:1
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 38:1
O lord, rebuke me not in your wrath: neither chasten me in your hot displeasure.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 73:14
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 89:32
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 94:12,13
Blessed is the man whom you chasten, O LORD, and teach him out of your law;
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 101:3
I will set no wicked thing before my eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not stick to me.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 106:43,44
Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 107:17-21,23-31
Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 118:18
The LORD has chastened me sore: but he has not given me over to death.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 119:67,75
Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept your word.
Nave's Topical Index

Proverbs 3:11,12
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 26:16
LORD, in trouble have they visited you, they poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them.
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 42:25
Therefore he has poured on him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it has set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 53:4,5
Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 57:16-18
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 2:30
In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 30:14
All your lovers have forgotten you; they seek you not; for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of your iniquity; because your sins were increased.
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 31:18-20
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn you me, and I shall be turned; for you are the LORD my God.
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 46:28
Fear you not, O Jacob my servant, said the LORD: for I am with you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have driven you: but I will not make a full end of you, but correct you in measure; yet will I not leave you wholly unpunished.
Nave's Topical Index

Lamentations 1:5
Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
Nave's Topical Index

Hosea 7:12
When they shall go, I will spread my net on them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation has heard.
Nave's Topical Index

Hosea 10:10
It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.
Nave's Topical Index

Haggai 2:17
I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you turned not to me, said the LORD.
Nave's Topical Index

Hebrews 12:5-11
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
Nave's Topical Index

Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Nave's Topical Index

110. Adbeel -- "disciplined of God," the third son of Ishmael
... Adbeel. Probably from 'adab (in the sense of chastisement) and 'el; disciplined
of God; Adbeel, a son of Ishmael -- Adbeel. see HEBREW 'adab. see HEBREW 'el. ...
/hebrew/110.htm - 6k

Against those who Say that Demons Govern Human Affairs, and who ...
... Homily I. Against those who say that demons govern human affairs, and who are
displeased at the chastisement of God, and are offended at the prosperity of the ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily i against those who.htm

Psalm 103 Part 2 God's Gentle Chastisement; Or, his Tender Mercy ...
... THE PSALMS OF DAVID PSALM 103 PART 2 God's gentle chastisement; or, His tender
mercy to his people. v.8-18 LM. God's gentle chastisement ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 103 part 2 gods.htm

Thanksgiving after Chastisement.
... has kept us free from everything that would hinder us now from looking back, with
a pure feeling of thankfulness, on the chastisement which God has removed ...
/.../selected sermons of schleiermacher/xxi thanksgiving after chastisement.htm

Twenty-Ninth Day. Holiness and Chastisement.
... His 'I delight to do Thy will' derived its worth from His continual 'Not my will.'
And wherever God comes with chastisement or suffering, the very first object ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-ninth day holiness and chastisement.htm

Psalm 103:2. 8-18. Second Part. LM God's Gentle Chastisement; Or ...
... THE Psalms of David, In Metre. Psalm 103:2. 8-18. Second Part. LM God's
gentle chastisement; or, His tender mercy to his people. ...
/.../watts/the psalms of david/psalm 103 2 0 8-18 second part.htm

Who are Worshippers of God?
... in the present life is a judgment, by which they begin to be separated from future
blessings; but the chastisement of those who worship God, while it is ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xxxiv who are worshippers of.htm

Letter Xliv. To a Lapsed Monk.
... You were priding yourself on your poverty, and you are convicted of covetousness;
you were demonstrating and explaining the chastisement of God, and you ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter xliv to a lapsed.htm

"I Will Endure the Indignation of the Lord. " --Micah vii.
... I'll bear the chastisement of God, A patient soul possessing, For born in sin, sin's
path I trod, Aye ventur'd on transgressing, That pleasures vain I might ...
/.../gerhardt/paul gerhardts spiritual songs/i will endure the indignation.htm

Chastisement
... "Forgive my debts, and pardon my transgressions.'". Again, the man faints when
he doubts whether he is a child of God under chastisement. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/chastisement.htm

To Benincasa Her Brother when He was in Florence
... Comfort you, comfort you, dearest brother, and do not faint beneath this chastisement
of God; but trust that when human help fails, divine help is near. ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to benincasa her brother when.htm

What is the Olivet Discourse? | GotQuestions.org

What is wisdom literature? | GotQuestions.org

Why did God allow Solomon to have 1,000 wives and concubines? | GotQuestions.org

Chastisement: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus