"For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD; I will make a full end of all the nations among whom I scattered you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will not leave you altogether unpunished" (Jer. 30:11).

Posted : 7 Oct, 2011 05:06 AM

Devotional



The Lord's love appears both in appointing the rebuke and in tempering the chastisement. That rebuke may have been heavier. That chastisement might have been more severe. The deep and dark waters might have engulfed your soul.



Perhaps your prayer has been answered in this way, "Correct me, O LORD, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing" (Jer. 10:24). And then has followed the pleasant psalm of grateful acknowledgment and praise: "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities" (Ps. 103:8�10).



O, if we could always analyze the cup, how astonished we would be to find that in the bitterest draught that ever touched our lips the chief ingredient was love! How amazed we would be to discover that love saw the discipline needful, that love selected the chastisement sent, that love appointed the instrument by which it should come, that love arranged the circumstances by which it should take place, that love fixed the time when it should transpire, and that love heard the sigh, and saw the tear, and marked the anguish, and never for one moment withdrew its beaming eye from the sufferer. Alas, how much is this truth overlooked by the disciplined believer!



O suffering child of God, consider the many consoling, alleviating, and soothing circumstances connected with your chastisement. How much worse your position could be! How much more aggravated the nature of your sorrow! How much heavier the stroke of the rod! Think of the disproportion of the chastisement to the sin, and "know then that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves" (Job 11:6). Think of the many supports God has given�think of his precious promises; think of the tenderness of God, the gentleness of Christ, the sympathy and affection dwelling in the hearts of the saints. And all this will demonstrate to you that the chastisement of the saints is the chastening of love. "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives" (Heb. 12:6).

by Octavius Winslow, 1856 (edited for

today's reader by Larry E. Wilson, 2010)





Give thanks unto the Lord, Jehovah,

for he is good, O praise his Name!

Let Israel say: The Lord be praised,

his mercy ever is the same.

Let Aaron's house now praise Jehovah;

the Lord is good, O praise his Name;

let all who fear the Lord extol him,

his mercy ever is the same.



In a large place the Lord hath set me,

in my distress he heard my cry;

I will not fear; the Lord is with me,

what can man do, when God is nigh?

The Lord is chief among my helpers;

and I shall see my foes o'erthrown:

far better than in man or princes,

my trust I place in God alone.



I shall not die, but live, declaring

the works of God, who tried me sore,

and chastened me; but in his mercy

not unto death hath giv'n me o'er.

The gates of righteousness set open,

the gate of God! I'll enter in

to praise thee, Lord, who pray'r hast answered,

and savedst me from all my sin.



The stone�O Lord, it is thy doing�

the stone, the builders did despise,

is made the headstone of the corner,

and it is marv'lous in our eyes.

This is the day, of days most glorious,

the Lord hath made; we'll joy and sing:

send now prosperity, we pray thee;

and, O our God, salvation bring!



(from Psalm 118:1�9, 17�25; anon.)

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