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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJabez Burns Sermons: 857. Lam 3:31-33. God's Unwillingness to Afflict His People
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Lam_3:31-33. God's Unwillingness to Afflict His People
"For the Lord will not cast off forever: but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies
For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men."—Lam_3:31-33.
This world is a scene of trouble, and sorrow, and death. Man that is born of woman is evidently subject to them, as the sparks fly upward. There is no escape for any class or condition of men from the afflictions of life. But often these troubles are the direct result of our iniquities. God often chastises, that he may not destroy,—purifies, that he may not utterly consume.
The text was uttered when severe judgments had overtaken the Jewish nation. How affecting the recital of their miseries as recorded in this book—chap. Lam_1:1-6. Yet even in this dreary scene the prophet affirms the mercy of God:—"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him."—Lam_3:22-25. He then avers God's unwillingness to grieve the children of men.
The subject may justly lead us to consider the afflictions of God's people in general.
Notice then,
I. The Author.
II. The character. And,
III. The design of our afflictions.
By afflictions I mean all those events which affect man's person, condition, and enjoyments,—poverty, trials, temptations, bereavements, sickness, &c. Our text indirectly informs us of their origin—"Though he cause grief." Afflictions do not spring from chance; nor are they directly the work of Satan—but the work of God. All events are immediately of him, or permitted by him. We often only go to the palpable cause of our sorrows; but above all is the great cause. "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace and create evil: I the Lord do all these things."—Isa. xlv. V. "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and me people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?"—Amo_3:6.
Let not this view lead you to suppose, that men do not often injure themselves, and plunge themselves into many needless sorrows; yet even here God's permissive providence must be acknowledged. And if men are to be free and accountable beings, God must permit these things; but in tender mercy he often sends the counteracting remedy—the antidote to the sorrow; knowing their infirmities, and remembering that they are dust.
Observe,
II. The character of our afflictions.
God doth not "afflict willingly," or from his heart; they are disciplinary, and are ever mixed with mercy and compassion. Unmixed affliction is only the lot of the lost. Now this view of our trouble is clearly established, if you consider,
1. The super-abounding blessings we enjoy. For one cup of sorrow, how many have we of enjoyment! For one hour of pain, how many weeks and months of ease and rest! Affliction in drops—blessings in showers.
It is amazing how years even of health and prosperity are enjoyed without special note; while a fit of sickness, or a day's trouble, becomes the theme of morbid remembrance, or mourning discontent.
This is also evident,
2. From the ameliorating circumstances in our afflictions.
In our deepest afflictions how many blessings are retained! What a multitude of good things are left to us! If health fails—friends abound; if the body is in pain—the mind is very often unattacked. If in the world we have sorrow—in Christ we have peace; if bereavements distress us—yet how many beloved objects are continued to us. And best of all, afflictions and troubles do not affect our relationship to God—to the covenant—and to the Saviour; the promises too are all ours, and are as free, rich, and overflowing as ever.
We may often see this,
3. When we compare our afflictions with those of others.
Look around! see the bitter cup others have to drink. We often think and say our lot is the worst—but is it so? Look at our first parents—see Abel is murdered, and by Cain his brother. Look at Jacob's family—what changes and disasters in his family and condition. Remember the degradation of Dinah—the pollution of his sons—the loss of Joseph—the unexpected death of Rachel. Then in old age a threatening famine, that seemed to expose his whole family to desolation. Look at David's household—where strife, and rebellion, and lust, and want of conjugal confidence and esteem, were united with a nation often in arms and confusion. Look at Job—cast down from a high eminency of worldly greatness and richness into poverty—bereaved of his sons and daughters—afflicted in his own person with a distressing and loathsome disease—tempted to rail presumptuously by his wife—suspected by his friends; until he appears like a monument of misery, with every possible inscription of distress engraven upon him. Look at the writer of the text—the weeping prophet—the bard of personal and national sorrow! How few and light are your griefs compared with others.
4. Then think of your deserts.
If God meted out pure justice—what you deserve, what would be the fearful result? How awful the consequences! Every stream of joy would be dried up, and every conceivable agony would be inflicted. Despair would settle on your wretched and doomed spirit forever and ever. "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed; because his compassions fail not."
Notice then,
III. The design of our afflictions.
One word expresses it—our real and ultimate good. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?"—Heb_12:6, Heb_12:7. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterwards it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."—Heb_12:11. This is most distinctly affirmed in various parts of God's revealed word, especially by the apostle Paul—"For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."—2Co_4:17. The apostle Peter also shows the sanctifying influence of our trials and sorrows:—"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."—1Pe_1:6, 1Pe_1:7. Besides, those trials are needful to our conformity to Jesus. The promise runs—"If so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together."—Rom_8:17.
Besides, all nature furnishes us with striking illustrations of the salutary influence of affliction. Hear that terrific tempest of wind, and thunder, and lightning. How awful! Trees levelled—houses destroyed—persons killed. Yet observe—the district has been suffering by disease; the air has been impregnated with death. The storm purifies it, and makes it balmy with health and life.
Look forth and see the sterile scene of winter! The hard nipping frost—nature appears dead—not a bird or flower—no sound of joy. Yet the frost is essential to the resuscitation of the earth. It is the precursor of spring; and generally as is the keenness of winter, so are the bloom of spring, and the fruits of summer.
See that intensely heated furnace! The refiner takes the silver ore which is incrusted with dross, he places it in the crucible, on a burning fire, and it melts; the dross falls—the pure silver becomes clear, and at length the refiner sees reflected his own likeness, and the silver is purified.
Look at that sickly person, in pain and weariness. Well, the physician prescribes; but the potion is bitter, nauseous—yea, and it produces still more pain for a time. But its effects are the relief and health of the sufferer.
I need not dwell at much length on figures of this kind, you will see their application at once.
(1.) There is listlessness and apathy—and God sends the storm to awaken—to excite to action and spirituality of soul.
(2.) There is worldliness—and God sends the winter and frost, to destroy the weeds of covetousness in the soul.
(3.) There is the dross of sin still in the heart—and God puts his people into the furnace, and brings them forth hating iniquity, and purified for his own body service.
(4.) There is still moral weakness in the system—and God mixes the medicine to. give soundness and vigor to the inward man.
Now God's mercies are strikingly seen in all these; and often, when affliction is unto death, in pity he takes his saints away from the evil to come.
Application
Learn the importance of acquiescence and resignation. You can gain no advantage by murmuring and discontent. Ascertain if your afflictions have been sanctified. Have they led you closer to God, and made you more spiritual by cherishing unfeigned and devout gratitude to him? Bless him even when his strokes are upon you; for all his strokes are regulated by wisdom, tenderness, and love. Anticipate a state of future, yet certain, and unmixed joy. But that is to be in eternity—not in time; in heaven—not on earth.
Let the unconverted ask why the end of God's chastening dealings with them has not been attained. God seeks your restoration to himself. He wishes you as prodigal children to feel your misery, and come to his home, and heart, and salvation.
Backslider! God says to you—"Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them; then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now."—Hos_2:6, Hos_2:7.