Wednesday, February 16, 2022

On God's Natural Work and God's Strange Work

*Disclaimer: I started writing this based on my own reflection on some texts, and then when I opened up Dane Ortlund's Gentle and Lowly, I realized that most of my reflection was influenced by reading his book. That is to say that the proceeding thoughts are not born out of my own private Spirit-driven reflection, but out of Dane's. I highly recommend reading everything he writes.

Jeremiah 32:41 and Lamentations 3:33 show a contrast that teaches an insightful lesson ab God's nature and work:
Jer. 32:41 - God delights to bless his people w his whole heart.
Lam. 3:33 - God might afflict (ie, allow/work trial), but it is not "from the heart."

The blessing of God--his goodness expressed in such a way that it produces a tangible effect--comes from his heart, meaning his blessing is an end. But trials are not from heart but are secondary, meaning that they are a means to another end; I say, a means to the previous end. In other words, trials are what he uses, but blessing is his goal. 

This is why we cannot please him unless we believe that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6: "Whoever would draw near to God must believe that He is and that he rewards those who seek him."): It is in his nature to bless and reward - it is not in his nature to curse or punish. When he does those things, it is his "strange work" (as theologians say), meaning it is the response of his character to that which offends his holiness. But when he blesses and rewards, it is his "natural work;" that is, what it is in his nature to do. He naturally gives and blesses; His judgments or punishments are his responses. His disciplines (which are reserved for his covenant people) are a separate category that include both sides: He gives discipline for good purposes (thus, natural), but his doing so is indeed a response to a need that he sees in his disciple (thus, somewhat strange).

How would your life change if your view of God begun with seeing him as primarily Giver instead of primarily Judge? Of course, He is the Judge of the whole earth (Gen. 18:25), let's be clear. And only He can be the Judge. But again, judgment is his response. Giving is his natural outgoingness. Thus He "is not served by human hands but he gives to mankind life and breath and everything" (Ac. 17:25).

Never be afraid to seek the Lord - it is in his nature to respond with goodness (Lk. 11:1-13). And even his disciplines, experienced as trials/affliction, serve his ultimate purposes of good. Trust the One who is love.

*For further reading, see Ortlund's Gentle and Lowly, as well as Michael Reeves' Delighting in the Trinity and What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord?