October 5

Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins? — Lam 3:39 BSB

We must not interpret the word “punished” to mean something vindictive. God never punishes the sins of His elect as He does the sins of the reprobate. The eternal covenant forbids this. “Fury is not in me,” says the Lord. The elect are accepted in Jesus, pardoned in Him, and made complete in Him. This is their eternal, unchanging standing, the result of their everlasting union with the Son of God. But while this prevents punishment in its penal sense, it does not exclude chastisement. So, when the Bible speaks of punishment, it does not mean the righteous wrath of God or the kind of eternal damnation that He sometimes allows the ungodly to experience even in this life. Rather, it refers to the chastisement that is the privilege of an heir, distinguishing him from a mere illegitimate child. It is under this chastisement that the believer often finds himself complaining, recognizing in his sufferings the Lord’s hand of discipline.

When God shines light on the situation, the believer may say, “Why should any living person complain when punished for their sins?” These are not punishments but chastisements—the corrective rod of a loving Father, not the vindictive stroke of offended justice.

Perhaps a person’s property is lost due to unforeseen circumstances or the dishonesty of others, bringing them down from wealth to poverty. When they can see this as a chastisement for past pride and worldliness, they will humbly accept it. Or if the Lord afflicts them in their body so they rarely have a day of good health, and they recognize how they abused their health in the past, they may come to see their affliction as a blessing, preserving them from greater harm.

They may experience troubles in their family, or, like David, see that “their house is not as they would wish it to be.” But when they understand that a sick spouse or disobedient children are chastisements lighter than their sins deserve, and realize these trials come from a loving hand, not from eternal wrath, they will feel the mix of love in their suffering. Their spirit will be softened, and they will humbly say, “Why should any living person complain?”

Until a person reaches this understanding, they cannot help but complain. But when they spiritually perceive that all their afflictions are chastisements and not punishments, they will receive them as signs of love. Generally, before the Lord shines the light of His favor upon them and gives them peace in their conscience, He will bring them to “accept” the punishment for their sin, as Scripture says (Lev. 26:41). In this way, they will humbly receive these chastisements, acknowledging their justice, and their stubbornness will be broken as they fall as needy beggars at the foot of the cross.