Imagine that You are a parent of several young children.

Children will be children.

They fight. They play. They make a mess. They destroy out of curiosity. (It’s how they learn.)

They are incorrigible. They are precious. They are curious. They are full of life. They are a blessing. They give you gray hairs 😆.

We love them.

Because we love them, we teach them. We instruct them. We direct them. We correct them.

The word of God says that if we do not look to our children with discipline then we do not love them

Correcting with a rod does not necessarily mean beating a child. We are told to correct and discipline in love. We are told to not exasperate our children.

Sometimes we warn our children about their disobedient behaviors over and over and over…

“Don’t make me get up.”

“Don’t make me get that belt.” (The belt of truth.)

“Go get me a switch.” (The Rod of Correction. The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.)

If you are a parent, you have said the above (in your own way and words, of course), especially if you love your children.

You look to them with discipline because you don’t want them to hurt themselves. You don’t want them to suffer harm. You want to protect them. So you want them to listen.

Therefore, if the discipline is a physical popping its really only about getting the attention of the child so that they will pay attention because they are not listening.

Now catch this…

How about when our Heavenly Father says these same things to us:

Listen

Hear

Pay attention

And we don’t…

As a loving  Parent, He too will look to us with discipline.

But there comes that moment where we have refused to listen. There comes that moment where we have refused to be corrected. There comes that moment when the hard head meets the soft behind.

That moment where the discipline does require more than words because the words were ignored.

By now you see where this is going. By now you see that belt coming out. By now you here the parent saying

“Did… I… Not… Tell… You… (abc-xyz)…!?”

Well, that is what (I am comparing) the Day of the Lord to. It’s a day of retribution. It’s a day where the hardheadness will be dealt with.

Though we have been told to not lean upon our own understanding, we have continued to do just that. We have continued to compromise. We have continued to harden our hearts. We have continued to refuse to listen.

Now imagine that child who knows they are about to experience the discipline that they took for granted because of how many times it was withheld. Imagine them crying out…

“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I promise. Please don’t spank me. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

But the parent moves forward with the discipline because they realize that the mercy they showed time and time again was being taken for granted and if they didn’t step in with the correction worse could happen to the child they love. So they proceed with the discipline.

If you can picture this, now read Isaiah 1:10-26 below. See the discipline of the Parent (our Heavenly Father) given to the child (us). See the Parent correcting while scourging, and see the love that comes after the discipline.

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

“The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals;

I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.

When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?

Stop bringing meaningless offerings!

Your incense is detestable to me.

New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations — I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.

Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals I hate with all my being.

They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.

Your hands are full of blood! Wash and make yourselves clean.

Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

See how the faithful city has become a prostitute!

She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers! Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.

Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.

Therefore the Lord, the Lord Almighty, the Mighty One of Israel, declares: “Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes and avenge myself on my enemies.

I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities.

I will restore your leaders as in days of old, your rulers as at the beginning.

Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. ” – Isaiah 1:10-26

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah1:10-26&version=NIV