A suffering God?

DIVINE SUFFERING—AN IMPROPER WORSHIP THEME

pdf

Dr. Paul Manuel—2004

God’s attributes and actions offer many reasons to worship Him. Those occasions do not, however, include the supposition that we worship God because He suffers or (at some point) suffered for us. While Jesus in his incarnation certainly suffered, God the Father, the proper object of worship, did not, and assertions to the contrary anthropomorphize God beyond what the scriptures support. Passages that allegedly buttress such a claim actually indicate a different divine attitude, one an English translation (e.g., NIV) does not always represent. As in all such cases, context controls meaning.

About God the Father…

1. It is not true that He suffered because of us.

Gen 6:5-6 The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved [regretted] that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain [annoyed].

N be sorry, console oneself; LXX = ponder

HtD (2x, also Gen 34:7) provoke, annoy; LXX = consider (Gen 34:7 = strike, stun)

1 Sam 15:10-11a [T]he word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I am grieved [regret] that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.”

N be sorry, console oneself; LXX = call > (be) comforted

Ps 78:40 How often they rebelled against him in the desert and grieved [annoyed] him in the wasteland!

H (1x) cause pain or grief; LXX = provoke to anger

Isa 63:9b-10 In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Yet they rebelled and grieved [annoyed] his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.

D (2x, also Ps 56:6) provoke, annoy; LXX = provoke (Ps 56:6 has = make foul, detest)

Ezek 6:8-9 But I will spare some, for some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the lands and nations. Then in the nations where they have been carried captive, those who escape will remember me—how I have been grieved by [sworn against] their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their detestable practices.

N be broken; LXX = swear (= obv); Syriac “when I broke”

Eph 4:29-30 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve [annoy] the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

distress, grieve; annoy (perhaps so in Matt 18:31; certainly in 1 Sam 29:4; 2 Kgs 13:19; Jonah 4:1, 9)

2. It is not true that He suffered for us.

2 Sam 24:15-16a [T]he LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD was grieved [vindicated] because of the calamity and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.”

N be sorry, console oneself; LXX = (be) comforted (cf. Jon 3:10 = relent, change one’s mind)

Jer 42:9-10 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says: “If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I am grieved [vindicated] over the disaster I have inflicted on you.”

N be sorry, console oneself; LXX = cease

3. It is not true that He suffered with us.

Isa 63:9a In all their distress [the LORD] too was distressed [He was not distressed], and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Adj. distressed; Better reading: “He was not distressed” (see NASB note)

About God the Son, …

1. It is true that he suffered because of us.

Isa 53:10a [I]t was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer.

D crush; LXX = cleanse
H make sick; LXX = a wound

Matt 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

suffer

2. It is true that he suffered for us.

Isa 53:10a [I]t was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer.

D crush; LXX = cleanse
H make sick; LXX = a wound

Moreover…

3. It is true that he calls us to suffer for Him.

Phil 1:27-29 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.

suffer

2 Thess 1:5 All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be
counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

suffer

1 Pet 2:18-19, 21, 23 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God….To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps….When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

suffer

1 Pet 4:12-16 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

suffering, affliction
suffer

Whereas thematic worship offers many rich opportunities to express our devotion, we must be careful to direct it properly and to fashion it biblically. We must avoid themes that do not have the clear support of scripture. Only then will “the words of [our] mouth and the meditation of [our] heart be acceptable in [His] sight (Ps 19:14).

For thelanguage references and the Bibliography, see the pdf here.