View source for THE TENDERNESS OF GOD.

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<p><em>(John MacDuff, &quot;The Night Watches&quot;)</em></p>
        <p>&quot;He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will <br />
          carry the <strong>lambs</strong> in his arms, holding them close <br />
          to his heart. He will<strong> gently lead</strong> the mother <br />
          sheep with their young.&quot;  Isaiah 40:11</p>
        <p>How soothing, in the hour of sorrow, or bereavement, <br />
          or death, to have the countenance and sympathy of <br />
          a tender earthly friend. Reader, these words tell you <br />
          of One nearer, dearer, tenderer still; the Friend that <br />
          never fails;<strong> a tender God!</strong></p>
        <p>By how many endearing epithets does Jesus exhibit <br />
          the tenderness of His relation to His people.</p>
        <p>Does a <strong>shepherd</strong> watch tenderly over his flock? <br />
          &quot;The Lord is my Shepherd.&quot;</p>
        <p>Does a <strong>father</strong> exercise fondest solicitude towards <br />
          his children? &quot;I will be a Father unto you.&quot;</p>
        <p>Does a <strong>mother's love</strong> exceed all other earthly <br />
          types of affection. &quot;As one whom his mother <br />
          comforts, so will I comfort you.&quot;</p>
        <p>Is the 'apple of the eye' (the pupil) the most <br />
          sensitive part of the most delicate bodily organ? <br />
          He guards His people &quot;as the apple of His eye!&quot;</p>
        <p>&quot;He will not break <strong>the bruised reed</strong>.&quot;</p>
        <p>When the Shepherd and Guardian of Souls finds <br />
          the sinner, like a lost sheep, stumbling on the <br />
          dark mountains, how tenderly He deals with him! <br />
          There is no look of wrath; no word of upbraiding; in <br />
          silent love &quot;He lays him on His shoulders rejoicing!&quot;</p>
        <p>Reader, are you mourning over... <br />
          the weakness of your faith; <br />
          the coldness of your love; <br />
          your manifold spiritual declensions?</p>
        <p>Fear not. He knows your frame! He will give <br />
          'feeble faith' tender dealing. He will &quot;carry&quot; in <br />
          His arms those that are unable to walk, and <br />
          will conduct the burdened ones through a path <br />
          less rough and rugged than others.</p>
        <p>When &quot;the lion&quot; or &quot;the bear&quot; comes, you may <br />
          trust the <strong>true David</strong>, the tenderest of Shepherds!</p>
        <p>Are you suffering from outward trial?</p>
        <p>Confide in the tenderness of your God's dealings <br />
          with you. The strokes of His rod are gentle strokes; <br />
          the needed discipline of a father yearning over his <br />
          children the very moment He is chastising them. <br />
          The gentlest earthly parent may speak a harsh <br />
          word at times; it may be, needlessly harsh. But <br />
          not so God. He may seem, like Joseph to his <br />
          brethren, to 'speak roughly'; but all the while <br />
          <strong>there is love in His heart.</strong></p>
        <p>The 'pruning knife' will not be used <br />
          unnecessarily. It will never cut too deeply.</p>
        <p>The 'furnace' will not burn more fiercely than is <br />
          absolutely required. <strong>A tender God</strong> is seated by <br />
          it, tempering the fury of its flames.</p>
        <p>And what, believer, is the secret of all this <br />
          tenderness? &quot;There is a Man upon the Throne!&quot; <br />
          Jesus, the <strong>God Man Mediator</strong>; combining with <br />
          the might of Godhead, the<strong> tenderness of spotless</strong> <br />
          <strong>humanity.</strong></p>
        <p>Is your heart crushed with sorrow? so was His!</p>
        <p>Are your eyes dimmed with tears? so were His? <br />
          &quot;Jesus wept!&quot; Bethany's Chief Mourner still wears <br />
          the Brother's heart in glory!</p>
        <p>Others may be unable to enter into the <br />
          depths of your trial; Jesus can; Jesus does!</p>
        <p>With such <strong>a tender God</strong>.... <br />
          caring for me, <br />
          providing for me, <br />
          watching my path by day, and <br />
          guarding my couch by night, <br />
          &quot;I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, <br />
          O Lord, make me dwell in safety.&quot; Psalm 4:8</p>


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