Lamentations 3:33-36
For He does not afflict [j]willingly (literally with His heart)
Or grieve the sons of men.
To crush under His feet
All the prisoners of the [k]land,
35 To [l]deprive a man of justice
In the presence of the Most High,
36 To [m]defraud a man in his lawsuit—
Of these things the Lord does not [n]approve.
Lamentations shows two things:
1. God desires with His heart the absence of having to grieve those whom punishment is well deserved, as in Jerusalem.
2. God's heart's desire is the absence of sin.
Matthew 23:37
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
Lamentations 3:33-36 allows us to split God's will into two categories. Especially when combined with texts like
Matthew 23:37. God has what He does with His heart in it and what He does with His heart not in it.
Notice how this varies from Calvinism's two wills. A Declarative and permissive will. What God desires and what God allows.
The problem is why is God's heart unwillingly making decrees He does not desire? God's declarative will cannot be against His heart or will, otherwise why decree it to happen.
Thus, there is something wrong with children of wrath in the sense that God seems unpleased with the idea. He could of course make children of wrath and mercy of those already fallen, this serves the purpose of making the knowledge of His glory and wrath known to all. However, where did sin come from that God does things his heart are not in?
We might argue He derives some pleasure of any sort in having children of wrath. Traditionally, this argued to be the revelation of His wrath and glory. Wrath to sinners unjustified by Christ. Glory known to sinners justified by Christ.
This breaks down though.
1. God according to scripture does not with His heart will, desire with His heart, or take pleasure in judgment upon the wicked. He hates sin in His creation. Then, how can God want sin in His creation with His declarative will? Why not decree a nonsinful creation. What good is sin and evil to the God of scripture, who does not want sin and whose heart does not will judgment upon the wicked except when His heart is not in it?
2. Ezekiel shows God's good pleasure is not served by sinners condemned to judgment. Notice God uses His title of the Sovereign YHVH in Ezekiel 33:11. Literally Adonai Yahweh. This mystery is profound and God hits it with an exclamation point.
In the OT how many wondered at the fact the Sovereign Creator has his chosen nation in rebellion.
A key logical question remains, why did Yahweh allow sin if He receives nothing from it in terms of pleasure? But instead must do what His heart is not in.
Ezekiel 18:23 NASB
Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “[k]rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?
Ezekiel 18:32 NASB
"For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live."
Ezekiel 33:11 NASB
"Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord GOD, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?'
3. Where does the sin of the serpent, Adam, and the angels come? This is not secondary or tertiary to Calvinism, it refutes the whole idea as presently understood. Sin is accounted for in Arminian thought due to choice between obedience or disobedience. We can argue if the idea of "free will" is biblical, but it does explain things logically as Irenaeus' soul making theodicy or more recently Platinga's free will defense make clear.
Calvinism on the other hand is left with a logical hole. A very big one at that.