“O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.” -Psalm 38:1–2
The Hebrew verb יָכַח yākaḥ translated rebuke carries a connotation of equitable anger or deserved judgment. In other words, the Psalmist is confessing his guilt, knows that he deserves to be rebuked, and is seeking mercy.
Though the Psalmist is now penitent, he seems to acknowledge in verse 2 and following, that the piercing pain and heaviness of God’s chastening hand is a result of prolonged unconfessed sin. Perhaps, we can identify with David at times when we stubbornly held on to our sin until the Lord “dealt with us” as a father deals with a disobedient son.
The author of Hebrews similarly reminds us that God chastens his children that they may not be judged as sinners.
“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” -Hebrews 12:5–17
This sort of rebuke is not punitive but disciplinary. It is meant to bring us back into right fellowship with God that, unlike Esau, we might reveal our true inheritance in the Lord and persevere in faith until the end.