SCRIPTURE
“I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; Therefore, I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young. Let him sit alone in silence, for the Lord has laid it on him. Let him bury his face in the dust—there may yet be hope. Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him and let him be filled with disgrace.
For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. Lamentations 3:19-31
SPOTLIGHT
Is it possible for someone to be both angry and loving? Most of us would say the answer is “NO.” Some of us can recall bad experiences when our parents punished us in anger. We do not remember the love’ but instead the angry display of harshness. Do you remember hearing the words? “This will hurt me more than it hurts you.” All that is remembered is the sheer physical, or verbal anger that was so vividly expressed.
When it comes to the Bible, people have questioned how a loving God could be angry. In the book of Lamentations, we gain some insight regarding GOD’S ANGER AND GOD’S LOVE. Jeremiah explained how both could exist without any hypocrisy. He began offering this insight in the book named after himself which precedes Lamentations. There, he has become known as the weeping prophet because he grieved over the wickedness and judgment of his nation. [Jeremiah 9:1; 13:17]. However, in Lamentations, he explained what happened, because the Jewish people had greatly disregarded and dishonored their Lord who had greatly blessed them. They had sinned and backslidden in so many ways, that they began to experience the consequences for their sin. Here is what can be learned from reading this short book:
#1. God is never angry without being loving. When God removes His blessing, He never removes His love. God cannot be angry with you, while at the same time not love you. The key passage to Lamentations is found in the above SCRIPTURE section. Note the bold lettering. Dr. Schofield wrote, “The touching significance of this book lies in the fact that it is the disclosure of the love and sorrow of Jehovah for the very people he is chastening - a sorrow wrought by the spirit in the heart of Jeremiah.” Jeremiah described the anger of God and then revealed the heart of God. God’s compassion was evident because God did not wipe out His people for their sin, and neither did He want to chastise them. He never stopped loving them in spite of their rebellious living. God’s anger was coupled with compassion. His severity was accompanied by tenderness because He never wanted to punish in the first place.
#2. When God removes His blessing, the consequences of sin are severe.[Lamentations 1:7,8]. He lifted His blessing of protection, and so much more, when He allowed the Jewish people to experience the consequences of their sin. Those consequences were not God’s fault, but the sinner’s fault. [Lamentations 1:18]. Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians, “But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.”[1 Corinthians 11:31; 32]. Never forget that God will allow sin to take a toll on your life while always being faithful in loving you. God dealt sternly and drastically with His people, but He never stopped loving them. Forgetting God and forsaking God can lead you to feeling God has forgotten and forsaken you. [Lamentations 5:19; 20]. However, God’s love prevails. He cannot stop loving you. The author of Hebrews put it this way when he wrote, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” [Hebrews 12:11].
GOD’S ANGER AND GOD’S LOVE are reconcilable. God can lovingly be angry with you. What leads you to accept this truth is when you follow the steps outlined in the above passage:
#1. Seek God.
#2. Wait quietly in His presence. Sit alone in silence and reflect.
#3. Repent! “Bear the yoke and bury your face in disgrace.”
SOMETHING TO DO
Put into practice the 3 steps listed above.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, guard me from ever thinking that You are angry with me, but not loving me! AMEN!