“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:” Job 5:17
He is not happy at the time! No one enjoys having troubles, sufferings, sorrows. Therefore this verse appears very strange to some people. They cannot understand it. It is contrary to all their thoughts of happiness. Of course, the word happy is not used here in the world’s sense. In the world’s estimation, “happiness is the pleasure that comes from the things that happen. It depends on personal comfort, on prosperous circumstances, on kindly and congenial conditions. When these are taken away the happiness is destroyed.”
But the word here means blessed; and the statement is, that blessing comes to him who receives God’s correction. To correct is to set right that which has been wrong. Surely if a man is going in the wrong way, and God turns his feet back and sets him in the right way, a blessing has come to him. Afflictions are God’s corrections. They come with a purpose of love in them. They are hard to accept—but afterward the blessing is revealed. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:11 (J. R. Miller)
We complain about our problems because we fail to see God’s hand in them. We cannot imagine why God would allow or appoint something so troublesome in our life. Let’s face it, we don’t like to admit that we need correcting. We tend to think we are good enough to warrant a free pass when it comes to pain. The fact is, if there was nothing more, that attitude alone is reason enough for us to need correcting. Be glad that you don’t get what you actual deserve! – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
