· 3:31-32: Here is an important thought with respect to coming to grips with our Creator and His plan and purpose for each of us. God will graciously return to his people with seasonable comforts according to the time that he has afflicted them. There are two ideas to consider here. First, because the Creator is bottom-line merciful and good to those He has created, He will blend into our trials times of comfort and encouragement. This may come in the form of a good friend or a “chance” encounter with someone who has had similar trials or who just has an observation that we find helpful. It may come in the form of a brief “escape” from the our burdensome thoughts or pain. The door is wide open for the various ways God knows we can be helped along the way. This also means that as we struggle we must not let pride or busy-ness get in the way of these encouragements.
The other idea here is that the Bible teaches that God will see us through to a good ending of our situation is we are willing to wait upon Him. Jeremiah’s words, the LORD will not cast off forever, are familiar terms to the Old Testament people of Israel. Over and over the prophets told them that God would chasten them for their idolatry and injustices. But they always added that God would not cast off forever, He would not renege on the unconditional covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The chastening was never the end of the story, though it was an important part of the story. Paul in the New Testament said something similar about God and our trials: No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).
· 3:33: The LORD does indeed afflict us, but He does not do so willingly or literally, “from the heart.” This perspective is critical when it comes to our being at peace with our Creator. Yes, the LORD allows and brings into our lives affliction. But we must come to terms with the depth of this truth. He does not do this to satisfy His need to “get even” with us, or to always be victorious over us. He has our good in mind always, and we must come to grips with this. We will never be happy in this life or content in this life unless we learn the insidiousness of our pride. And we will never learn the insidiousness of our pride without affliction. A life of ease, which also comes from the LORD, will only lead the proud person to exalt himself and his accomplishments that have resulted in the ease. My riches. My education. My abilities. How will we ever be ready for the inevitable trials that come with old age? Even more, how will we ever be ready to stand in the judgment of the life to come? How will we ever bless our descendents if we have not shown them how to live through trials? A loving father/Father chastens his/His son, and through affliction true character and especially a sense of hope are born and matured. Knowing this opens us up to God our Savior who can sympathize with our weaknesses and grant mercy and grace in time of need (Heb. 4:14-16). The afflictions do not deny His love but confirm His love!
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