TWO QUESTIONS. Lamentations 3:31-33.

QUESTION #1. Can you name this villain? To what cruel person do the following verses refer?

“He is a bear waiting in ambush, a lion in hiding. He forced me off my way and tore me to pieces. He left me desolate. He strung his bow and set me as the target for his arrows. He pierced my kidneys with his arrows. I am a laughingstock to all my people, mocked by their songs all day long… He ground my teeth in the gravel and made me cower in the dust” Lamentations 3:10-16.

Sounds like someone terribly cruel—and extremely skillful. A bear? A lion? An archer. A wrestler who could plant your face in the pavement, grinding off your teeth?

Goliath? King Nebuchadnezzar? The Romans who attacked Jesus? Or maybe the devil himself?

Actually, you may have realized this passage refers to God Himself. When Israel pushed God so far that He had to punish the nation, He did so. –And boy, is He skillful at meting out punishment!

QUESTION #2. How does God FEEL about punishing His children? (Thoughts?)

I’ll give you a clue—He does not enjoy punishing. He does not punish out of anger or to get vengeance or to feel some feeling of having settled a score. He only wants to make us better.

“For the Lord will not reject us forever. Even if He causes suffering, He will show compassion according to His abundant faithful love. FOR HE DOES NOT ENJOY BRINGING AFFLICTION OR SUFFERING ON MANKIND” vv. 31-33.

Remember, God loves you. God delights in you. He wants to bless you! But when His children become entrenched in sin, He will act to rescue them—and to rescue those they are hurting.

But remember this too—God defines Himself by one noun: love. “GOD IS LOVE” 1 John 4:8. He does not say, “God is anger,” or even “God is justice,” or “God is holiness.” GOD. IS. LOVE.

God, thank you for your love and compassion. Never let us forget it, no matter the troubles we face!

ΑΩ