Charles Spurgeon Commentary Deuteronomy 8:5

"And thou shalt consider in thy heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so Jehovah thy God chasteneth thee." — Deuteronomy 8:5 (ASV)

You shall also consider in your heart, that, as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.

We sometimes think that we could do without the Lord's chastening. If He will give us food and clothing, and keep our foot from swelling, we will not crave the rod. No; but though we do not ask for it, the rod is one of the choicest blessings of the covenant; and if we are the Lord's children, we shall not go without it. To come under divine discipline is one of the greatest mercies we can ever have.

Many of us, who are now men and women, thank God for earthly parents who have corrected us; we wonder what we would have been if there had been no discipline in our father's house. So, truly, it is with all of us who are God's children; in years to come, we shall prize the chastisement which now makes us grieve. Even now, it is well if, by faith, we can apply to our own heart this text: as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.

You shall also consider in your heart, –

Note that we are not only to remember God's dealings with us, but we are to consider them, to ponder them, to weigh them.

Consider in your heart, –

That, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

Do I speak to anyone who is just now under the rod? Consider in thine heart then, that God is dealing with you as a father deals with his sons, for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

How would you like to be dealt with? Would you rather be without the rod? Then remember that if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Do you wish to be treated so? I am sure you do not; you wish to have the children's portion; so you say, Deal with me, Lord, as thou art wont to do with those that fear thy name. We are willing to have the rod of the covenant for the sake of the covenant to which it belongs.