V. 11— 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.
It is true that no chastening seemeth for the present to be joyous, but grievous: but afterwards, &c. “ Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and know the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11. When Joab refused to come to Absalom, he commanded his servants to set his field of barley on fire. Thus, we are prone to forget God, to restrain prayer, and to sink into formality, but are reminded by affliction of our entire dependence upon God. We forsake the fountain of living water, and hew out for ourselves broken cisterns, cisterns that can hold no water; but are reminded, by their being dried up, of our folly, and then are made to turn to the strong hold. Hosea 2:6-7. Moses describes the Lord chastening Israel as a man chastening his son as a mark of his love. Deuteronomy 8:5.