The Blessed Man
James Smith
Comfort for Christians

Blessed is the man you chasten, O Lord, the man you teach from your law. Psalm 94 12

The chastenings of the Lord often appear severe, but they are merciful. They correct our follies, subdue our proud wills, and soften and humble our hard hearts before Him. When God chastens, He teaches. The lessons are found in His Word, but we never learn many of them until we go through the furnace of affliction.

We often learn more truth from one, short, sharp affliction than we do from many books and sermons. In affliction, God teaches us our own emptiness and vanity, our dependence on Himself, and the insufficiency of all our earthly things. In affliction, God endears the Lord Jesus and His great salvation to us, shows us the value of the provision of grace, makes our consciences tender and honest, qualifies us for usefulness on earth. and fits us for the enjoyment of Himself in heaven.

We need chastening. If we do not receive it, we become carnal and worldly, light and trifling, unsavory and useless in both the world and the church. It is a blessed thing to be chastened of the Lord, especially when the rod teaches us such important and invaluable lessons.

Chastened Christians are generally the most useful and attractive Christians. heed the rod and the one who appointed it," Micah 6.9.

Chastened Christian, seek grace to bear the rod, to bless the rod, and to kiss the hand that holds the rod. Blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the chastening of the Almighty," Job 5.17.