Walther, L&G (2010), 366: People who speak in this way picture God, the Holy and Righteous One as a feeble, old man like Eli, who saw his sons sin and merely said, “No, my sons,” thinking that he had already done his full duty. True enough: God is love. But He is also holiness and righteousness. For the people who rise up against Him, God becomes a terrible fire, and His fiery wrath follows these sinners into the depths of hell.