1135 God, suffering of
God suffers on account of the failures and pain of his people, and especially through his Son, Jesus Christ. Scripture often likens God to a parent who suffers pain and grief on account of children.
God feels real suffering
He suffers pain because people sin Ge 6:6 See also 1Sa 15:10-11,35
He is angered because people sin Ps 78:58 See also Dt 32:15-16; Jdg 2:12-13; 1Ki 21:22; Eze 8:17; Hos 12:14
God identifies with suffering
He suffers with his chosen people Isa 63:9 See also Ex 3:7; Jdg 10:16; 2Ch 36:15
He suffers with all humanity Isa 16:11 pp Jer 48:31 See also 2Sa 24:15-17 pp 1Ch 21:14-17 God suffers even with those who endure punishment from his own hand; Isa 16:9; Jer 48:32-36; Hos 11:8-9
He suffers as a parent Jer 31:20 An indication that God suffers in both disciplining and loving. See also Isa 42:14; Isa 49:15; Hos 11:1-4
God’s plan of salvation causes him suffering
He suffered in giving his Son Ro 8:32 See also Isa 7:13-14; Jn 3:16; Ro 3:25-26; Ro 8:3; Gal 4:4; Heb 1:2; 1Jn 4:14
He suffers because he endures the rejection his Son suffers Lk 10:16 See also 1Pe 2:4
God’s creation reflects his suffering
Ro 8:22 See also Ro 8:19-21
God’s people share his suffering
Ro 8:17 There is a sense in which the sufferings of Father and Son are indistinguishable. See also Mt 16:24 pp Mk 8:34 pp Lk 9:23; Mt 20:22-23 pp Mk 10:38-39; Php 1:29; 1Pe 2:21
