God realizes His people need protection from the pains and heartaches of the world.
The fear of God does not come naturally to human beings; it must be learned through Scripture, worship, and the hard knocks of experience.
Chastening is a mark of affection, not a sign of rejection.
There is no substitute for a firsthand encounter with the Word of God.
Attachments to older forms of worship may be comfortable, but they may contain elements of falsehood that make them unacceptable to God.
God demonstrates generosity, then asks it from His people.