Affliction Not Willingly Lamentations 3:33

As Jeremiah continued his lament, he shared what it was like to be afflicted by the Lord. He stated that the Lord would not cast off forever which means there is as time limit involved, and that though He may cause grief, the Lord does not do so without compassion and a multitude of mercies. In chapter three and verse thirty-three we learn that God does not allow afflictions willingly where we read:

For he does not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

The verse begins, “For he does not afflict willingly...” As Jeremiah considered the compassion and mercy of the Lord, he gave reasons for the afflictions that people endure. He uses “For” which means “because” in this case, to convey that contrary to what may be believed, the Lord “does not afflict willingly”. In other words, He does not cause grief because He desires to do so or just for the delight of it, but rather because He has been given reasons for doing so. Jeremiah infers that the Lord would rather not have to afflict at all, however, people's actions and attitudes cause Him to use this form of correction.

The verse continues, “...nor grieve the children of men.” Though the Lord is known to “cause grief” as we learned in verse thirty-two, Jeremiah insures that God does not do so as a manner of meanness or spite. No, rather, when the Lord allows grief to enter “the children of men”, He does so with an eternal purpose in mind.

Some people have the idea that God Almighty stands with a baseball bat in hand ready to strike anyone who gets out of line in any manner. Although the Lord allows affliction and grief to enter our lives, He always has our eternal interest in mind. The Lord knows when we need alteration, correction, and reproof, and He sometimes uses grievous events to align us with His ways. Though we may endure affliction and hardship for a time, we may know that all things are working for our good. As we endure these times of grief, let us ever keep in mind the words of Paul the Apostle as recorded in the epistle written to the Romans in chapter eight and verse twenty-eight where he wrote:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Next time we see what the Lord does with His feet, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

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