We speak sometimes of three kinds of discipline. Here is one, and he says, “O, what have I done that all this should come upon me?” “Perhaps you have not done anything, but it is to keep you from it.” That is another thing. More than half the discipline of God’s people is preventative – not corrective. Paul had a thorn in the flesh lest he should be – not because he was.
Corrective discipline: “For this cause, many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. For when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord.”
Then there is a productive discipline, “Every branch that beareth fruit He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
It is helpful to see the different kinds. Sometimes our circumstances are like poor Job, one thing on top of another, and we say, Why is it – what have I done? Perhaps it is just to keep you from doing something. Perhaps you will see later why, though you may not at the time.
All this is the faithfulness of the love and wisdom of God as Father. “As a father chasteneth His son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee” (Deut. 8:55Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. (Deuteronomy 8:5)).
We have had some say, “I have searched myself, and sought to be before God about it.” There should be the exercise. The blessing is to those “who are exercised thereby.”
Look at Lamentations, 3:22-26. Jeremiah was a good deal like Job. Here he gets back to confidence. He was under a cloud before. “It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.” This is deliverance from difficulties – salvation as to circumstances (Read verses 27 to 32). Notice in those last few words the spirit of submission. “He putteth his mouth in the dust.” Quiet – he takes his place in humiliation. “He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him” – submission. “But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.” How beautiful to see the reasoning of this subdued soul here (This is in connection with our manifold temptations). In verses 33-36, I think it is very beautiful to see the spiritual reasoning of that afflicted man. He complains a good deal in the book of Jeremiah (See the 12th chapter). Why is so and so? See his reasoning! (verse 1). That is getting it experimentally.
When he gets to the end, he recoils. He says, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed.”
It is a happy thing when we have gone through it though. We may not be so happy in going through it.
I remember hearing M– remark, “It says, ‘We glory in tribulation.’ It does not say ‘we glory in them when they are past.’” “Glory in tribulation.” Of course that is the normal condition of the Christian. That is why we have it in the 5th of Romans.
Look at James, 1st chapter, 2nd verse, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” also 3rd and 4th verses, I suppose we shall see by and by, our trials and temptations have been our greatest mercies.
“Whose mouths must be held in by bit and bridle.” That “bit and bridle” is circumstances. They miss the “counsel.” “Mine eye” is counsel.
Do we get His counsel in the Word?
Yes, yes, if it was not for that, we would be a good prey for Satan to make us think and feel. Everything has to be tested by Scripture.
“We glory in tribulation” when we see what God is doing.
You say, it is very easy to glory in them when they are past. When you say it is the normal condition to glory in them, that does not seem to agree very well with the natural effect?
Who is it that naturally glories? That is the standard. Faith takes hold of it. What we actually find is quite contrary the actual exercise. How patient and gracious God is! Here we are groaning and groaning about different circumstances, and we read this Scripture, and how rebuked we are. God gives His people credit for a good deal they do not deserve.
When it is a question of salvation (verses 5 and 6), it is “wherein ye greatly rejoice,” but when it is a question of seeing Him, “Whom having not seen ye love,” it is “Rejoice with joy unspeakable.” That is very striking and beautiful. “Joy unspeakable and full of glory.”
It is beyond all conception what it will be to meet the Lord.
While we are on this matter of tribulation, look at the last chapter of 1 Peter and 10th verse: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” As we go through this epistle we get a great deal about sufferings. The sufferings of the Christian form no part of the counsels of God, but a very important part of His ways. “Who hath called us unto His Eternal Glory,” that is His purpose. “After ye have suffered awhile,” that is His ways – using these circumstances to stablish, strengthen and settle.
He does not take us to heaven right away, like He did the thief. It is comparatively few that He does. “After ye have suffered awhile,” and those who are taken at once are losers. They never learn anything of the sympathy of Christ – to have to do with God the Father in discipline – they are losers. A Brother once wrote me, “It is good for us to have a good long tramp through the wilderness.”
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(Concluded)