When we read Hebrews 12 on chastening we realise that as a Hebrew writer the author knows well the Hebrew Bible. It has been said that the New Testament is the explanation of the old–this is true. The Old gave us types and shadows the New gives us the real thing the substance. We should not throw away the Old Testament because we are New Covenant people….we learn much from studying the Old in the light of the revealed word in the New.
Job 4:3 Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands.
Job 4:4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees;
One of Job’s friends uttered the words above which are in the same stream of thinking as the Hebrews writer in the New Testament.
His words parallel what is written in Hebrews 12 about chastening.
Heb 12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten(correct)?
Eliphaz also says the same.
Job 4:2 “If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
Will you endure my word or become weary? lâ’âh
law-aw’
A primitive root; to tire; (figuratively) to be (or make) disgusted: – faint, grieve, lothe, (be, make) weary (selves).
He says if I try to instruct you…to chasten and correct you Job, will you receive my chastening word or will you tire of it? Will you be disgusted with it and me so as to reject it out of hand?
This is what happens with us isn’t it? Whenever the Father tries to correct us we can have that attitude and make His words bounce off by saying it does not apply to me.
Hebrews 12 says we must endure chastening. His chastening comes in many forms but here it is describing His Word as chastening or correction. Remember what Paul said the Word of God is profitable for?
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
And Proverbs says it is wisdom to receive correction
Pro 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commands, But a prating fool will fall.
Pro 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
When we are lame in our walk with God and with His body it may be because we have ceased receiving His instruction. Being a hearer only and not a doer of His word is a trap many of us fall into and there are many reasons why that can happen. Discouragement and fear , bitterness and resentment, hurts and disappointments can all cause us to turn back from following hard after Jesus.
When Hebrews 12 speaks about enduring chastening and then a little further on to strengthen the weak hands and the feeble knees it is exhorting the people who have turned back to Judaism to return to the instruction of the Lord Jesus and His Apostles.
Eliphaz is exhorting Job to not grow weary and tired of God’s word now that he faces such horrible trouble, but to remember God’s word.
He says “surely you have instructed many”(Job 4:3)–the word instructed is yâsar
yaw-sar’
A primitive root; to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence to instruct: – bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach.
“and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.” His words of instruction had châzaq khaw-zak’
A primitive root; to fasten upon; hence to seize, be strong (figuratively courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify.
Thus we see that God’s word strengthens and repairs and cures weak hands. Weak to do the work at hand. Unable to do the task God gives you? You and I need instruction –not just any, but instruction pertaining to that particular thing.
Job 4:4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees;
Jobs words –not God’s word as such but the preaching of Job…his stream of speech, his words had encouraged people. Here ELiphaz says Job’s words had upheld–KUM as in kuma adonai..arise O Lord. The word kum means arise or to rise.
Just as I wrote yesterday about the beggar at the beautiful gate of the temple.
Acts 3:6 “…..rise up and walk.”
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
He that was lame was lame no longer!! The Words of another brother, filled with Jesus, or a sister filled with the Holy Ghost…can cause us to arise and walk. Their words uphold us–cause us to arise into the person we are called to be. Their words cause us to arise out of stumbling and being overthrown by the attacks of the evil one. We are lifted up by their strength and pulled up out of the mire and the death that the enemy has brought us down into.
Job 4:4b strengthened the feeble knees.
A primitive root; to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage): – confirm, be courageous (of good courage, stedfastly minded, strong, stronger), establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate, speed).
The fellowship of the word from other believers, especially anointed apostles and prophets will do the above things for us.
Feeble knees are described by the Hebrew word kaw-rah’
A primitive root; to bend the knee; by implication to sink, to prostrate: – bow (down, self), bring down (low), cast down, couch, fall, feeble, kneeling, sink, smite (stoop) down, subdue, X very.
Prostrating our selves before the onslaught of the enemy instead of standing in faith. Paul says having done all to stand stand therefore! Having put on the whole armour of God etc. Eph 6.
But what if you have tried all that and still cannot stand when the going gets tough? You need a Peter or a John to take you by the hand and strengthen you with their discourse of words. You need anointed loving preaching in fellowship.
