Standing like an enemy, He has bent His bow. With His right hand, like an adversary, He has slain all who were pleasing to His eye. On the tent of the daughter of Zion, He has poured out His fury like fire. The Lord was like an enemy. He has swallowed up Israel, He has swallowed up all her palaces. He has destroyed her strongholds, and has increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of Judah. Lamentations 2:4-5
We may liken the wrath of God to a pot of water on a hot stove which is slowly brought to a boil by the wickedness of mankind, and then poured out in fury on them on the day of judgement. He has poured out His fury like fire.
We may also (or rather?) liken the wrath of God to the stove itself, dangerously hot to be sure, but only to those who approach it in a careless manner. The Lord is like an enemy. He actually is the lover of mankind. Not the enemy. But if in our foolish and rebellious hearts we regard Him as the enemy, there are consequences.
