We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;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."
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.
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.
5 comments:
I can't fathom how people get to the idea that corporal punishment is bad. It has produced productive members of society for 6000 years at least. And now we look around and see children ruling the roost because they won't be punished. If it is good for human parents to chastise and discipline their children, how much better is it for God to do it in an even better and perfect way?
As I bet you can guess, lots of traveling-song lyrics get mentioned during my and my husband’s road trips, and that one from 1970 comes up every time (since we regularly go through IN). By the way, your wife did not quote the lyrics exactly right, but kudos to her for changing it so as not to use God’s name in vain. :)
Here’s a traveling-related song that gets me every time we drive out west (lyrics by Jimmy Webb and performed by Glen Campbell in 1967):
Verse 1: “By the time I get to Phoenix, she’ll be risin’…”
Verse 2: “By the time I make Albuquerque, she’ll be workin’…”
Verse 3: “By the time I make Oklahoma, she’ll be sleepin’…”
Considering that it’s almost a 7-hour drive just from Phoenix to Albuquerque and then another 4 hours from Albuquerque to the very nearest point in Oklahoma from there (probably not his destination), and without even knowing from where he headed out before the crack of dawn, I have to wonder: How many hours straight did this guy drive that long day and how fast was he driving to cover that much ground?? He must have been on speed :) (and he also must have really, really wanted to get away from her)!
We always sang this song in grade school at Thanksgiving time; I loved the tune, although I didn’t understand any of the lyrics. “He chastens and hastens His will to make known.” You flipped that wording in your third paragraph, but it makes sense both ways. I can see that even in disciplining, say, a small child or a pet, one might first reprimand with a “No!” (i.e. to chasten) in order to then relate corrective behavior (“Good boy!”) (i.e. to hasten to make one’s will known). God is not cruel to do this but kind, as He conforms us to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29, 2 Cor. 3:18). I sorely need this correction and training from my loving Heavenly Father, and I should be grateful for it, indeed.
P.S. Your Canadian readers will appreciate that you mentioned a Thanksgiving hymn today, since they observed that holiday just yesterday. (They celebrate a bit earlier than we do because they just have far less to be thankful for! :)
Just a note: The last paragraph isn't a quote of the lyrics. I listed them from the "least offensive" ("God hastens to make His will known") to the "most offensive" ("God chastens to make His will known??").
Got it. (Just ignore the quotation marks, right? :) As I said, it makes good sense both ways.
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