Joel 2:26-27
“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Tag: Blessings Despite Discipline
In the above passage, Joel has stated God's blessings for the nation of Israel. However, in the verses prior to these in chapter one and most of chapter two, Joel has spoken about the servers discipline of God on the nation for their constant disobedience. Israel had rejected God's commands and gone after the gods of the nations around them. God is a jealous God!! He will not allow us to pursue other gods. However, in His discipline, the purpose is to drive us back to Him so that He can bless us. Note how the writer of Hebrews frames discipline from God:
Hebrews 12:5-11
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
God brings discipline because He wants to produce holiness. Embrace the discipline and enjoy the fruit of it.
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