The Honey and the Sting!
God's heart is not in affliction, but His hand may be involved in it, and He takes great delight in showing mercy and kindness to His people.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that God's heart is not inclined to afflict His children, as seen in Lamentations 3:33. He explains that while God may allow hardships, it is not His desire to cause grief, likening His mercy to honey and His punishment to a bee's sting, which only occurs when provoked. Brooks reassures believers that God's heart yearns for them even during times of affliction, as illustrated in Jeremiah 31:18-20. He highlights that God's actions do not always reflect His heart, urging Christians to trust in His loving nature despite their circumstances.
Text
"For He does not willingly (or as the Hebrew has
it, 'from His heart') bring affliction or grief to the
children of men." Lamentations 3:33
Christians conclude that God's heart was not in their
afflictions, though His hand was. He takes no delight
to afflict His children; it goes against His heart. It is . . .
a grief to Him to be grievous to them,
a pain to Him to be punishing of them,
a sorrow to Him to be striking them.
He has no will, no desire, no inclination, no disposition,
to that work of afflicting of His people. And therefore
He calls it 'His strange work.' Isaiah 28:21.
Mercy and punishment--they flow from God, as the
honey and the sting from the bee. The bee yields
honey of her own nature--but she does not sting but
when she is provoked.
God takes delight in showing of mercy. Micah 7:18.
He takes no pleasure in giving His people up to
adversity. Hosea 11:8.
Mercy and kindness flows from Him freely, naturally.
He is never severe, never harsh. He never stings, He
never terrifies us--but when He is sadly provoked by us.
God's hand sometimes may lie very hard upon His people,
when His heart, His affections, at those very times may be
yearning towards them. Jeremiah 31:18-20.
No man can tell the heart of God--by His hand.
God's hand of mercy may be open to those against
whom His heart is set--as you see in the rich poor fool,
and Dives, in the Gospel. And His hand of severity may
lie hard upon those on whom He has set His heart--as
you may see in Job and Lazarus.
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Heart and Hand
- A. God's heart is not in affliction
- B. His hand may be involved in affliction
- C. He takes no delight in afflicting His children
- II. The Nature of God's Work
- A. Mercy and punishment flow from God
- B. Mercy is His natural disposition
- C. Punishment is a response to provocation
- III. The Relationship Between God's Hand and Heart
- A. God's hand may be hard, but His heart may be yearning
- B. God's heart is not always reflected in His hand
- C. His hand may be open to those against whom His heart is set
Key Quotes
“Mercy and punishment--they flow from God, as the honey and the sting from the bee.” — Thomas Brooks
“God takes no pleasure in giving His people up to adversity.” — Thomas Brooks
“No man can tell the heart of God--by His hand.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We should not assume that God's hand of affliction is a reflection of His heart, but rather a response to our provocation.
- We should seek to know God's heart through His Word and character, rather than just His actions.
- We should repent and turn back to God when we feel His hand of severity, and seek His mercy and kindness.