Thanks for ... What??

We were driving home and I pointed out an Indiana license plate in Arizona. My wife didn't hesitate. "Indiana wants me ... but I can't go back there." Thanks a lot, dear. Now I have this tune stuck in my head. So I use my standard remedy. Replace it with another. For reasons I don't quite grasp, an old Thanksgiving hymn came to mind. It begins,

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His name; He forgets not His own.

Isn't that odd? I mean ... a Thanksgiving hymn that begins with God chastening. "Thank you"? And ... is it even true? In so many ways? For instance, does He want to make His will known? Yes. His Word is His transcribed will, so to speak. But, doesn't Romans say we don't get it? "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?'" (Rom 11:33-34). Sure, we don't understand it, but Paul wrote that He made the mystery of His will known to us (Eph 1:9-10). He does want us to know His will. Maybe not all. Maybe we won't understand. But, He does "hasten" to "make His will known."

But ... hang on ... "He hastens and chastens to make His will known"? Is that true ... and is it good? Should we be thankful for it? Lots of self-identified Christians tell me it's not true. The whole notion of corporal punishment is abhorrent today and psychology has "proven" it's bad, so God won't do it ... will He? Scripture says He will ... and does. "For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.'" (Heb 12:6). The author uses two terms that clarify what he's talking about. He "disciplines." That's teaching, training, anything like that. But the second term makes it clear. He "chastises." ("Chastens" in older English.) The word literally translated is "scourges." No room for error. It says God disciplines those He loves, including His version of corporal punishment. Wait ... it gets worse. "If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons" (Heb 12:8). I've had Christians tell me, "He doesn't do that to me." They don't hear what they're saying. It's a bold claim: "I'm not a legitimate child of God." God says He chastises every child of His as a means of training.

So ... it's true ... all of it. He does want to make His will known. He actually works at it ("hastens"). And ... He actually "chastens" to accomplish it. The only remaining question is ... should we be grateful for it? Absolutely. The Hebrews text says it is a product of God's love for us. It is "for our good" ... so that "we may share His holiness" (Heb 12:10)!! So ... yes, it's an excellent thing for which to give thanks, and probably something we rarely do. Now ... let's see ... what was that tune I was trying to forget? Naw ... I'm okay without it.