What can we learn about God's nature from "a bear lying in wait"? Setting the Scene • Lamentations 3 records Jeremiah’s grief over Jerusalem’s fall. • In verse 10 he says of the LORD: “He is like a bear lying in wait, like a lion in hiding.” • Jeremiah does not accuse God of evil; he acknowledges God’s righteous discipline after generations of covenant-breaking (2 Kings 17:13-18; 2 Chronicles 36:15-16). Why a Bear? The Literal Picture • A bear can stay motionless, watching silently until the precise moment to strike. • It is immensely strong; once it rises, resistance is futile (Amos 5:19). • Its presence is terrifying; even the bravest hunter feels small. What We Learn About God’s Nature Vigilant Purposefulness • God never acts haphazardly; He observes everything (Proverbs 15:3). • Like the waiting bear, He moves at the perfect time to accomplish His will (Isaiah 46:10-11). Fierce Opposition to Sin • The comparison stresses holy wrath, not capricious anger (Nahum 1:2-3). • Hosea 13:7-8 echoes the same imagery when Israel’s idolatry demanded confrontation. Inescapable Judgment • When God rises, no refuge or strength can withstand Him (Deuteronomy 32:39-41). • Psalm 139:7-12 highlights that His presence reaches every hiding place. Patient Restraint • A bear waits; so the LORD often delays judgment, giving room for repentance (2 Peter 3:9). • The suddenness of His action after long restraint underscores both mercy and justice. Loving Discipline • Jeremiah’s lament sits between affirmations of covenant love: “Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22-23). • Hebrews 12:6 reminds that “the Lord disciplines the one He loves.” The bear-like severity corrects, not destroys. Sovereign Power • God is free to act beyond human prediction (Job 9:12). • His might humbles us, leading to reverent trust rather than casual familiarity. Balancing Severity with Compassion • The same chapter that pictures God as a waiting bear also celebrates His steadfast love and faithfulness each morning (Lamentations 3:22-24). • Psalm 103:8-13 places slow-to-anger mercy alongside His righteous judgments. • Recognizing both sides keeps us from either despair or complacency. Living in Light of the Bear-Like God • Treasure His patience; repent quickly, not presuming on grace (Romans 2:4-5). • Walk in holy fear, knowing He defends His glory and cares for His children’s purity (1 Peter 1:15-17). • Rest in His faithfulness; the One who wounds in discipline also binds up in mercy (Hosea 6:1). Summary The image of “a bear lying in wait” magnifies God’s vigilant, fierce, and sovereign opposition to sin, tempered by patient love and redemptive purpose. Standing humbled before such a God, we find both motivation for holiness and deep assurance in His unwavering covenant faithfulness. |
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