Affliction

Lamentations 3:32-33

New International Version (NIV)

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 anyone.

This could be part II to the post Not Consumed.

The phrase for 'brings grief' in Hebrew is Yagah, and is a verb meaning to afflict, vex, cause grief. What's surprising is this isn't passive, God's not just allowing something to happen he is doing it. Some translations start with "if", others "since", but there's no question on the person doing it.

To me it's not if, but when; so when affliction comes, then what? It says he will show compassion. Unlike this verse, the word for compassion used in Lam 3:23 comes from Racham from the root 'womb'. In this verse it also is translated out as Racham but there is a little apostrophe on the Hebrew word which changes the root to 'fondle'. This is a compassion of tenderness, a gentle touch, a soothing hand.  Why the compassion? It comes from his loving kindness or unfailing love which is abundant.  The Hebrew word for this unfailing love is Chesed which means mercy, and comes from the word Chacad which means to stoop or bend one's neck in deference to another.  To me this implies a respectful or deferential love.  Though hard to believe, God lowers his head to us with merciful love.

The order in Hebrew has the next word as Anah which means to be bowed down, or let's say pushed down. The other times this exact word was used in the bible it was translated as violate, in regards to a woman. It's not just pushing someone to the ground, but defiling them. A pretty harsh word.  The verse then says God does not force us down, willingly. This word is Mil lib bow from the Hebrew word Leb, meaning heart.  In fact the only other time this word is used like this is 2 Kings 9:24 which talks about an arrow going through the center of someone's heart. This implies that the intent of God's heart, at the center, isn't to push us down and cause grief.

Although the NIV ends with 'anyone' I find it interesting that the Hebrew uses the phrase 'son's of man' or 'children of man'.  By referencing children, isn't there an added element of paternalism?

Thinking like a parent helps me visualize this passage.  While at first glance the causal factor seems cruel and unjust, I keep thinking about this in parenting terms.  Specifically the image of immunizations for my kids comes to mind. When I and the nurses hold down (anah) my child and inflict pain/cause grief by injecting a vaccination, the intent of my heart is not to cause harm, yet I do it knowing it's for their good. As they cry and grieve in pain, I absolutely cradle them with compassion (racham). In fact it is my abundant love for them that allowed me to cause them grief in the first place.

Agape

John 3:16

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For as long as I've known this verse, I've known of the concept of agape or unconditional love. Yet, never have I delved into this word myself. It is at the crux of not only this verse, but the season of Christmas that is upon us.

The biggest surprise is that nowhere in the definition of Agapao is the term 'unconditional' listed.  The word in Greek means 'I love, wish well, take pleasure in, long for; the love of reason or esteem.' Properly it means to prefer, and is thought to be a socially or moral love.  The attribution of having no conditions comes from inference, based on the things God does for us based on this love. For instance, giving his only son.

I love the Greek for the word gave, Didomi which also means offer, it reminds me that a gift by it's nature must also be accepted.  God offered, then, his Monogenes, quite literally the only one of his genus/class/species. The only one. Are there any only's in your life, and how would you feel giving those away?

The promise comes next, anyone who believes or is persuaded will not Apollumi which means to destroy or lose, but by putting the ap makes this a stronger type of destruction, a permanent destruction. We will not be permanently destroyed but instead have Aionios Zoe.  The word Aion means an age or lifetime, adding the ios means an age that never ends, thus eternal. While Zoe does mean life, it is a physical and spiritual form of life. John did not use the word Psuche which also means life, but our spirit or breath, or an individual personality. Zoe is more generic, like when we say "Now that person is really living", meaning a full, animated, zestful life.

At first glance, this love seems conditional, because belief is required to get this eternal life. Look again, God's gift of his only Son was not conditioned based. His preference or agapeo is present independent of our belief. The deed's been done, Jesus was born. The conditions have nothing to do with the love, but are the framework necessary to lead to greater understanding, life changing decisions, and ultimate wholeness.

This Christmas as I ponder the gift of God with us, I want to also reflect on agapeo. Do I make my love for others dependent on them meeting the conditions I set, or are the conditions just a framework for overall wellness and I love despite them being met?