Why Should Man Complain When Punished For His Crimes?

[Tim B]

This is a cool verse, taken from Lamentations:

Lamentations 3:29-39 (New International Version)

29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
       there may yet be hope.

30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
       and let him be filled with disgrace.

31 For men are not cast off
       by the Lord forever.

32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
       so great is his unfailing love.

33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
       or grief to the children of men.

34 To crush underfoot
       all prisoners in the land,

35 to deny a man his rights
       before the Most High,

36 to deprive a man of justice—
       would not the Lord see such things?

37 Who can speak and have it happen
       if the Lord has not decreed it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
       that both calamities and good things come?

39 Why should any living man complain
       when punished for his sins?

The answer seems obvious: because it's not vindictive punishment!!

[Zeek]

This is a cool verse, taken from Lamentations:

Lamentations 3:29-39 (New International Version)

29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
       there may yet be hope.

30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
       and let him be filled with disgrace.

31 For men are not cast off
       by the Lord forever.

32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
       so great is his unfailing love.

33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
       or grief to the children of men.

34 To crush underfoot
       all prisoners in the land,

35 to deny a man his rights
       before the Most High,

36 to deprive a man of justice—
       would not the Lord see such things?

37 Who can speak and have it happen
       if the Lord has not decreed it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
       that both calamities and good things come?

39 Why should any living man complain
       when punished for his sins?

The answer seems obvious: because it's not vindictive punishment!!

but the punishments sure do seem to be in contrast to the Father Jesus revealed;

[Tim B]

<_< ... >_>

A lot of the things Jesus seemed to say seemed like he was making God, in my opinion, a bit more like a conditionally loving Father than an unconditional loving Father.

I think, sometimes it's only Jesus' kind words about his Father, such as when he said that He is even kind to his enemies, that allows me to see Jesus' description of his Father in an unconditionally loving aspect.

Otherwise I'd read scripture such as when Jesus says "Deny me and I will deny you before my Father" as completely threatening and obnoxious. Love is the key to seeing through the door of punishments.

[Raggedy Anne]

Tim,

Good post.  There are times when I really do wish God would punish the wicked and he seems not to do so.  So I trust that justice shall be meted out in due time.   That may sound vindictive, but it is more along the lines of the cries of the Psalmist against the deeds of the wicked and/or the souls under the altar crying out for God to judge.
I will be glad when no arrogance or injustice is permitted on earth.

Anne

[WhiteWings]

Tim,
Punishment is not in the Hebrew.

^KJVLamentations 3:39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

^YLTLamentations 3:39 What -- sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin?

[WhiteWings]

Tim,

Good post.  There are times when I really do wish God would punish the wicked and he seems not to do so.  So I trust that justice shall be meted out in due time.   That may sound vindictive, but it is more along the lines of the cries of the Psalmist against the deeds of the wicked and/or the souls under the altar crying out for God to judge.
I will be glad when no arrogance or injustice is permitted on earth.

Anne

Sounds like some punishment is going on....
Lamentations 3:43  Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.
Lamentations 3:47  Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

[peacemaker]

"Love cannot be born out of a fear of punishment."

True love is selfless without the presence of fear, which pours itself out on the object
of it's affection; not demanding anything in return, but truth and sound judgment.

peacemaker

[V.I.D.]

Why should any living man complain
       when punished for his sins?

EASY:
Because it hurts to be slaughtered and tortured .

Is that a simple answer ? :grin:

Unfortunately in the Bible there are many verses that show people being slaughtered and tortured .

[Tim B]

Tim,
Punishment is not in the Hebrew.

^KJVLamentations 3:39 Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

^YLTLamentations 3:39 What -- sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin?

Figures one of the only times I don't check out the verse in the YLT or another, more accurate, translation. lol

[Raggedy Anne]

Why should any living man complain
       when punished for his sins?

EASY:
Because it hurts to be slaughtered and tortured .

Is that a simple answer ? :grin:

Unfortunately in the Bible there are many verses that show people being slaughtered and tortured .

People are slaughtered and tortured everyday in all the wars raging on the earth.  That does not mean it is God punishing them for sin.  It simply proves that there is an evil spirit contending with mankind, making him do terrible things.   All of men's evil deeds are not punishments from God - they are just the nature of this world.

anne

[fire walker]

[quote author=Raggedy Anne

People are slaughtered and tortured everyday in all the wars raging on the earth.  That does not mean it is God punishing them for sin.  It simply proves that there is an evil spirit contending with mankind, making him do terrible things.   All of men's evil deeds are not punishments from God - they are just the nature of this world.

anne
[/quote]

That is true, all of mans inhumanity to man and mens evil deeds are deeds done without grace it appears to me not punishment from God, some manipulating brainwashing corporate church leaders preach that these evils done by men to their fellow man are punishment from God, those that preach that message to the letter on this subject are very misleading to those caught up in their clutches because it is a message of fear.

Peace,
Fire Walker