One view of what God (the Father) might look like as He observes His people on earth ((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love))
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Is the Old Testament About Love or Punishment?
In previous posts, I’ve made the suggestion that (for some) the God of the Old Testament may appear harsh (even cruel), sometimes dictatorial, and (in general) unloving. How might one reach that conclusion? Well, if you look at God’s actions from the perspective of a child, God’s actions may suddenly make sense. For example, when a parent disciplines their child, how does it appear to the child? Some may see their parent as unfair (even cruel) or overly strict (even dictatorial) to the point of seeming unloving. But, taking a line from the 1970 movie “Love Story,” sometimes “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” And good parents never apologize for trying to do what is in the best interests of their children. No one knows what is better for their children than their creator, God. For the past six sessions, we have studied the foundational principles espoused in the Old Testament. We have learned that these principles don’t just apply to the Jews (although they were the central character that inspired all of them), but that they represent some universal lessons that involve all of us. Let’s review:
God’s Lessons of Love
We have just concluded studying six of the seven principles of the Old Testament. Let’s go back for a minute and review what theme binds them all. The first lesson we studied was Winnowing. From a parents perspective, winnowing is the equivalent of a parent trying to protect their child from the things they feel will hurt them. They know there is evil and danger in the world and, if they love their children, they want to keep them protected from the damaging effect such influences will have on them. Then comes the issue of Faith. Faith grows when it accumulates evidence that the object of our faith is worthy and will absolutely never let us down. Faith is rooted in love and trust. And faith is strengthened when we have Patriarchs who can add to our limited experiences and tell us stories of how God sustained them over many generations because of His love. Part of the history shared in the Old Testament are the many Covenants God made with our ancestors. God made these promises because He loved us and wanted us to know that He was faithful and would never leave us nor abandon us. There is great comfort in receiving promises from those we love and whom we know love us. Children believe in, rely on, and expect their parents to keep their promises. When they do, they have their undying loyalty and support. Parents would Sacrifice almost anything to protect their children. We know that life always has its ups and downs. Some of it is due to our own failings. We cannot escape the Cycle that engulfs us with a constant stream of temptations. The voices in our head pull us first one way, then another, creating confusion. We need the direction and Love of a parent who can save us from the cycle. Someone who will grant us the grace we don’t deserve. What the Old Testament teaches us is that this parent is the one and only true God, our creator, and His son, Jesus Christ.
Understanding Love
One of the difficulties we have in understanding God’s love is due to a language barrier. In English, we use the word, “love” to describe all types of love. For example, we say that a man may “love” a woman and that a parent may “love” their child. But, does a man love a woman in the same way a parent loves their child? Obviously not. Fortunately, when the Bible was translated from Hebrew into Greek, the translators were able to use a range of Greek words to separate out some of the nuances behind the word for “love.” Basically, the Ancient Greek philosophers identified six forms of love:
- Storge: which describes the love one has for a family member.
- Philia: used to describe the feelings one might have for a friend (often referred to as platonic love)
- Eros: this is the pure, romantic love two people might feel for each other.
- Philautia: used to describe self-love.
- Xenia: the feeling we might have for a guest in our home.
- Agape: reserved for divine love–the type of love only God can show. A totally unconditional love not based on what we do (or don’t do), but strictly based on the fact that we are part of God’s creation. ((Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love))
God is Love
The Bible is full of verses that speak of the immeasurable love our God has for us. Many have taken comfort in these verses for countless generations. I would advise that you read them first, then meditate on them, then ask how you can claim this love for yourself. It isn’t that hard–it only requires a simple decision to believe, accept, and have faith in His Son, Jesus. I hope you will be impressed with all the ways God has chosen to express His love, and the number of times He has done it (and, trust me, this is only a small sample!)
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- God is Love: And so we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16
- A Faithful God: So know that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God. He will keep his agreement of love for a thousand lifetimes for people who love him and obey his commands. Deuteronomy 7:9
- A Forever Love: Praise the Lord! Thank the Lord because he is good. His love continues forever. Psalm 106:1 Give thanks to the God of gods. His love continues forever. Psalm 136:2
- A Personal Love: God, my strength, I will sing praises to you. God, my defender, you are the God who loves me. Psalm 59:17
- A Parents Love: The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children. 1 John 3:1
- A Sacrifical Love: “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. John 3:16
- The Author of Love: Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become God’s child and knows God. 1 John 4:7
- A Restful Love: The Lord your God is with you; the mighty One will save you. He will rejoice over you. You will rest in his love; he will sing and be joyful about you.” Zephaniah 3:17
- A Real, True Love: This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God’s love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins. 1 John 4:10
For the Jews, God has a special message: “You will never again be called the People that God Left, nor your land the Land that God Destroyed. You will be called the People God Loves, and your land will be called the Bride of God, because the Lord loves you. And your land will belong to him as a bride belongs to her husband. Isaiah 62:4
And, for ALL His People, God Says: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5
Finally, as the timing of this post is to be published just four days before Christmas, I would be remiss in my duties if I did not mention that the story of Christmas is all about LOVE. One of the verses quoted above is John 3:16, one of the most recognizable verses in the Bible. In one all-encompassing sentence, the author shares with us that God, in His role of a parent, sacrificed His only son, Jesus, just so all of humanity would have the chance to escape the bondage of sin. My prayer is that you will recognize the love behind this gift and accept it with gratitude. It will change your life! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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