Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
The promise is spoken to God's children and people, and it looks to the time when they forsake His law, His judgments and statutes, and disobey, forsake or refuse His commandments. Then to visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes is to bring corrective punishment upon their wrongdoing, the rod and stripes expressing the consequences of disobedience. Sin is transgression of God's law. His creatures are to conform to His will and precepts, and to fear and obey Him, and the verse shows His moral government reaching the fallen world.
The discipline is corrective and for their good. He permits trials and affliction to turn them from departure, to humble them, and to lead them back to loyal obedience. These trials refine and purify rather than drive them to despair.
Such chastening does not mean that He has abandoned or destroyed them, nor that He has withdrawn His lovingkindness or failed in faithfulness. David's suffering under the rod was a consequence of his own sin for breaking the commandments, yet loving-kindness and faithfulness remained, and he accepted the chastening humbly because he recognized his own sin.
He does not willingly afflict people. He bears long and patiently with transgressors and the wicked, continuing to send the gospel through appointed agencies, with judgments tempered with mercy, and calling them to repent. He patiently forbears to cut down or disown those who transgress.
At the same time He does not vindicate those who disobey after receiving great light and abundant evidence of His mercy. He will punish persistent disobedience, especially repeated violations of His law and refusal to repent. When the appointed limit is reached He visits their sins with the rod.
Those who follow a course He condemns He chastens, and if they do not repent their candlestick is removed from its place. He finally permits destructive, satanic agencies to destroy.
The warning applies to mothers and fathers, to parents, to ministers, and to physicians. Those made in God's image are required to conform to Christ's character.
The promise is spoken to God's children and people, and it looks to the time when they forsake His law, His judgments and statutes, and disobey, forsake or refuse His commandments. Then to visit their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes is to bring corrective punishment upon their wrongdoing, the rod and stripes expressing the consequences of disobedience. Sin is transgression of God's law. His creatures are to conform to His will and precepts, and to fear and obey Him, and the verse shows His moral government reaching the fallen world.
The discipline is corrective and for their good. He permits trials and affliction to turn them from departure, to humble them, and to lead them back to loyal obedience. These trials refine and purify rather than drive them to despair.
Such chastening does not mean that He has abandoned or destroyed them, nor that He has withdrawn His lovingkindness or failed in faithfulness. David's suffering under the rod was a consequence of his own sin for breaking the commandments, yet loving-kindness and faithfulness remained, and he accepted the chastening humbly because he recognized his own sin.
He does not willingly afflict people. He bears long and patiently with transgressors and the wicked, continuing to send the gospel through appointed agencies, with judgments tempered with mercy, and calling them to repent. He patiently forbears to cut down or disown those who transgress.
At the same time He does not vindicate those who disobey after receiving great light and abundant evidence of His mercy. He will punish persistent disobedience, especially repeated violations of His law and refusal to repent. When the appointed limit is reached He visits their sins with the rod.
Those who follow a course He condemns He chastens, and if they do not repent their candlestick is removed from its place. He finally permits destructive, satanic agencies to destroy.
The warning applies to mothers and fathers, to parents, to ministers, and to physicians. Those made in God's image are required to conform to Christ's character.