Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Sometimes Humble Them
Jump to: Nave'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical narrative, afflictions and adversities are often depicted as instruments through which God exercises His divine justice and mercy. For the wicked, these trials can serve as a means of humbling, leading them to repentance and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.

Divine Justice and Mercy

The Scriptures frequently illustrate that God uses afflictions to bring about a change of heart in the wicked. In the book of Job, Eliphaz the Temanite suggests that suffering can lead to correction and humility: "For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal" (Job 5:18, BSB). This passage implies that God's purpose in allowing suffering is not solely punitive but also redemptive, aiming to restore the sinner to righteousness.

Examples of Humbling Through Adversity

One of the most prominent examples is King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. His account, as recounted in the book of Daniel, demonstrates how God used adversity to humble a proud ruler. After boasting of his achievements, Nebuchadnezzar was struck with madness and lived like an animal until he acknowledged God's sovereignty: "But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I blessed the Most High and praised and glorified Him who lives forever" (Daniel 4:34, BSB). This transformation highlights how divine intervention through adversity can lead to humility and recognition of God's authority.

The Purpose of Afflictions

The purpose of afflictions for the wicked is multifaceted. In Psalm 107, the psalmist describes various groups of people who, through their distress, cry out to the Lord and are delivered: "Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress" (Psalm 107:6, BSB). This pattern suggests that adversity serves as a catalyst for turning to God, fostering a spirit of humility and dependence on Him.

Warnings and Consequences

The Bible also warns that persistent wickedness without repentance can lead to severe consequences. Proverbs 29:1 states, "A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery" (BSB). This proverb underscores the importance of heeding the lessons of adversity, as continued rebellion against God can result in irreversible judgment.

The Role of Repentance

Repentance is a crucial response to the humbling effect of afflictions. The prophet Jonah's mission to Nineveh illustrates this principle. When Jonah proclaimed God's impending judgment, the Ninevites responded with repentance and humility: "When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them" (Jonah 3:10, BSB). This account demonstrates that when the wicked humble themselves and turn from their sins, God is merciful and willing to forgive.

Conclusion

The afflictions and adversities experienced by the wicked are not merely acts of divine retribution but are often intended to lead them to humility and repentance. Through these trials, God extends an opportunity for transformation and redemption, emphasizing His desire for all to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved.
Nave's Topical Index
1 Kings 21:27
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Sermons of St. Bernard on the Passing of Malachy
... the Lord.[1054] The death of the wicked is indeed ... that, for in regard to his own
afflictions he was ... pleasures, and the hills and rocks the adversities, of life ...
/.../sermons of st bernard on.htm

Christian Behavior
... grace, without strength; enemies in their minds by wicked works, and ... that they have
run through so many trials, afflictions, and adversities, even because ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

Israel's Hope Encouraged;
... by prevailing with the soul to suffer all troubles, afflictions, and adversities
that it ... of their goodness, for that the Lord doth sometimes drop some of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/israels hope encouraged.htm

part ii
... was he deprived by his wicked and intentional ... the despondency, weariness, and sometimes
unbearable anguish ... with great privations and afflictions; and, therefore ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

Resources
What is lacking in Christ's afflictions (Colossians 1:24)? | GotQuestions.org

How should a Christian view psychotherapy? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Joseph? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Afflictions

Afflictions and Adversities in Pharaoh and the Egyptians

Afflictions and Adversities of Saints: Comparatively Light

Afflictions and Adversities of Saints: End in Joy and Blessedness

Afflictions and Adversities of Saints: Exhibit the Love and Faithfulness of God

Afflictions and Adversities of Saints: Joy Under

Afflictions and Adversities of Saints: Often Arise from the Profession of the Gospel

Afflictions and Adversities of Saints: Temporary

Afflictions and Adversities of Saints: To be Expected

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked are for Examples to Others

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked are Ineffectual for Their Conversion

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked are Multiplied

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked are often Judicially Sent

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Continual

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Frequently Harden

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: God Holds in Derision

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: God is Glorified In

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Impenitence is a Cause of

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Often Sudden

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Produce Slavish Fear

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Saints should not be Alarmed At

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Sometimes Humble Them

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Their Persecution of Saints, a Cause of

Afflictions and Adversities: Ahaz

Afflictions and Adversities: Ahaz, Etc

Afflictions and Adversities: Ahaziah

Afflictions and Adversities: Always Less than Deserved

Afflictions and Adversities: Asa

Afflictions and Adversities: Benefits of

Afflictions and Adversities: Benefits of, Illustrated

Afflictions and Adversities: Consequent Upon the Fall

Afflictions and Adversities: Consolation In

Afflictions and Adversities: Design of

Afflictions and Adversities: Despondency In

Afflictions and Adversities: Determines the Continuance of

Afflictions and Adversities: Dispensation of God

Afflictions and Adversities: Does not Willingly Send

Afflictions and Adversities: Forsaken by Friends in David

Afflictions and Adversities: Forsaken by Friends in Instances of

Afflictions and Adversities: Forsaken by Friends in Jesus

Afflictions and Adversities: Forsaken by Friends in Paul

Afflictions and Adversities: from Satan

Afflictions and Adversities: Gehazi

Afflictions and Adversities: God Regulates the Measure of Afflictions

Afflictions and Adversities: Hezekiah

Afflictions and Adversities: Israel

Afflictions and Adversities: Jehoram

Afflictions and Adversities: Jonah

Afflictions and Adversities: Joseph

Afflictions and Adversities: Joseph's Brethren

Afflictions and Adversities: Josiah

Afflictions and Adversities: Man is Born To

Afflictions and Adversities: Manasseh

Afflictions and Adversities: Mocking At

Afflictions and Adversities: National Lessons From

Afflictions and Adversities: Obduracy In

Afflictions and Adversities: Often Severe

Afflictions and Adversities: Penitence in David

Afflictions and Adversities: Penitence in Levites

Afflictions and Adversities: Penitence in Nebuchadnezzar

Afflictions and Adversities: Penitence in Pharaoh

Afflictions and Adversities: Pharaoh

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In

Afflictions and Adversities: Prodigal Son

Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation In

Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation in Aaron, at the Death of Nadab and Abihu

Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation in Against his House Were Foretold

Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation in David, at the Death of his Child

Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation in Jesus, in Gethsemane

Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation in Paul and Silas in Prison

Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation in The Shunammite Woman

Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation In, Exemplified

Afflictions and Adversities: Results of, Good

Afflictions and Adversities: Saints Appointed To

Afflictions and Adversities: Sin Produces

Afflictions and Adversities: Sinners Corrected By

Afflictions and Adversities: Tempered With Mercy

Afflictions and Adversities: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Afflictions and Adversities: Uzziah

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Convincing Us of Sin

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Exercising Our Patience

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Exhibiting the Power and Faithfulness of God

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Furthering the Gospel

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Humbling Us

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Keeping Us from Again Departing from God

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Leading Us to Confession of Sin

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Leading Us to Seek God in Prayer

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Promoting the Glory of God

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Purifying Us

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Rendering Us Fruitful in Good Works

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Teaching Us the Will of God

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Testing and Exhibiting Our Sincerity

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Trying Our Faith and Obedience

Afflictions Made Beneficial in Turning Us to God

Afflictions Made Beneficial: Hezekiah

Afflictions Made Beneficial: Israel

Afflictions Made Beneficial: Jonah

Afflictions Made Beneficial: Joseph

Afflictions Made Beneficial: Joseph's Brethren

Afflictions Made Beneficial: Josiah

Afflictions Made Beneficial: Manasseh

Afflictions Made Beneficial: Prodigal's Son

Afflictions of Saints, are But Temporary

Afflictions of Saints, are Comparatively Light

Afflictions of Saints, End in Joy and Blessedness

Afflictions: Always Less than we Deserve

Afflictions: Consequent Upon the Fall

Afflictions: Exhibit the Love and Faithfulness of God

Afflictions: Frequently Terminate in Good

Afflictions: God Appoints

Afflictions: God Determines the Continuance of

Afflictions: God Dispenses, As he Will

Afflictions: God Does not Willingly Send

Afflictions: God Regulates the Measure of

Afflictions: Man is Born To

Afflictions: Often Arise from the Profession of the Gospel

Afflictions: Often Severe

Afflictions: Saints Appointed To

Afflictions: Saints are to Expect

Afflictions: Saints Have Joy Under

Afflictions: Sin Produces

Afflictions: Sin Visited With

Afflictions: Tempered With Mercy

The Afflictions of the Wicked are Continual

The Afflictions of the Wicked are for Examples to Others

The Afflictions of the Wicked are Ineffectual of Themselves, for Their Conversion

The Afflictions of the Wicked are Multiplied

The Afflictions of the Wicked are often Judicially Sent

The Afflictions of the Wicked are often Sudden

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Ahaz

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Ahaziah

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Frequently Harden

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Gehazi

The Afflictions of the Wicked: God Holds in Derision

The Afflictions of the Wicked: God is Glorified In

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Impenitence is a Cause of

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Jehoram

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Pharaoh and the Egyptians

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Produce Slavish Fear

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Saints should not be Alarmed At

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Sometimes Humble Them

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Their Persecution of Saints, a Cause of

The Afflictions of the Wicked: Uzziah

Related Terms

Natural (49 Occurrences)

Gazing-stock (2 Occurrences)

Gazingstock (2 Occurrences)

Pain (172 Occurrences)

Amid (31 Occurrences)

Endure (90 Occurrences)

Affliction (120 Occurrences)

Abide (162 Occurrences)

Patience (59 Occurrences)

Man (26072 Occurrences)

Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)

Timothy (28 Occurrences)

Ourselves (129 Occurrences)

Hardships (12 Occurrences)

Appointed (385 Occurrences)

Proselyte (2 Occurrences)

Quite (55 Occurrences)

Necessities (7 Occurrences)

Nightly (4 Occurrences)

Ultimately (1 Occurrence)

Unwearied (5 Occurrences)

Job (60 Occurrences)

Leah (30 Occurrences)

Lacking (53 Occurrences)

Goodwill (5 Occurrences)

Granted (102 Occurrences)

Warns (4 Occurrences)

Warned (63 Occurrences)

Witnesseth (2 Occurrences)

Whilst (21 Occurrences)

Ico'nium (6 Occurrences)

Ills (2 Occurrences)

Increases (24 Occurrences)

Illumination (2 Occurrences)

Illuminated (3 Occurrences)

Facing (79 Occurrences)

Favour (171 Occurrences)

Fetters (21 Occurrences)

Testifies (19 Occurrences)

Testifieth (13 Occurrences)

Temptation (22 Occurrences)

Thereunto (9 Occurrences)

Task (37 Occurrences)

Resist (23 Occurrences)

Reconcile (10 Occurrences)

Rescued (49 Occurrences)

Exhorting (13 Occurrences)

Everywhere (53 Occurrences)

Eunice (1 Occurrence)

Endurance (31 Occurrences)

Enduring (25 Occurrences)

Enabled (8 Occurrences)

Encouraging (12 Occurrences)

Disturbed (30 Occurrences)

Delivers (38 Occurrences)

Distresses (20 Occurrences)

Delivereth (49 Occurrences)

Destined (25 Occurrences)

Manifold (23 Occurrences)

Ministers (49 Occurrences)

Mention (41 Occurrences)

Distress (169 Occurrences)

Persecutions (5 Occurrences)

Proudly (23 Occurrences)

Partaker (10 Occurrences)

Plague (142 Occurrences)

Bonds (46 Occurrences)

Burning (415 Occurrences)

Body's (3 Occurrences)

Continue (144 Occurrences)

Cup (86 Occurrences)

Confirming (10 Occurrences)

Commending (4 Occurrences)

Calamities (16 Occurrences)

Afflicts (1 Occurrence)

Approving (2 Occurrences)

Attempt (23 Occurrences)

Souls (114 Occurrences)

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Saints should not be Alarmed At
Top of Page
Top of Page