Difference between revisions of "THE TENDERNESS OF GOD."
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<p><em>(John MacDuff, "The Night Watches")</em></p> | <p><em>(John MacDuff, "The Night Watches")</em></p> | ||
| − | "He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will <br /> | + | <p>"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 /> | to his heart. He will<strong> gently lead</strong> the mother <br /> | ||
sheep with their young." Isaiah 40:11</p> | sheep with their young." Isaiah 40:11</p> | ||
| − | How soothing, in the hour of sorrow, or bereavement, <br /> | + | <p>How soothing, in the hour of sorrow, or bereavement, <br /> |
or death, to have the countenance and sympathy of <br /> | or death, to have the countenance and sympathy of <br /> | ||
a tender earthly friend. Reader, these words tell you <br /> | a tender earthly friend. Reader, these words tell you <br /> | ||
of One nearer, dearer, tenderer still; the Friend that <br /> | of One nearer, dearer, tenderer still; the Friend that <br /> | ||
never fails;<strong> a tender God!</strong></p> | never fails;<strong> a tender God!</strong></p> | ||
| − | By how many endearing epithets does Jesus exhibit <br /> | + | <p>By how many endearing epithets does Jesus exhibit <br /> |
the tenderness of His relation to His people.</p> | the tenderness of His relation to His people.</p> | ||
| − | Does a <strong>shepherd</strong> watch tenderly over his flock? <br /> | + | <p>Does a <strong>shepherd</strong> watch tenderly over his flock? <br /> |
"The Lord is my Shepherd."</p> | "The Lord is my Shepherd."</p> | ||
| − | Does a <strong>father</strong> exercise fondest solicitude towards <br /> | + | <p>Does a <strong>father</strong> exercise fondest solicitude towards <br /> |
his children? "I will be a Father unto you."</p> | his children? "I will be a Father unto you."</p> | ||
| − | Does a <strong>mother's love</strong> exceed all other earthly <br /> | + | <p>Does a <strong>mother's love</strong> exceed all other earthly <br /> |
types of affection. "As one whom his mother <br /> | types of affection. "As one whom his mother <br /> | ||
comforts, so will I comfort you."</p> | comforts, so will I comfort you."</p> | ||
| − | Is the 'apple of the eye' (the pupil) the most <br /> | + | <p>Is the 'apple of the eye' (the pupil) the most <br /> |
sensitive part of the most delicate bodily organ? <br /> | sensitive part of the most delicate bodily organ? <br /> | ||
He guards His people "as the apple of His eye!"</p> | He guards His people "as the apple of His eye!"</p> | ||
| − | "He will not break <strong>the bruised reed</strong>."</p> | + | <p>"He will not break <strong>the bruised reed</strong>."</p> |
| − | When the Shepherd and Guardian of Souls finds <br /> | + | <p>When the Shepherd and Guardian of Souls finds <br /> |
the sinner, like a lost sheep, stumbling on the <br /> | the sinner, like a lost sheep, stumbling on the <br /> | ||
dark mountains, how tenderly He deals with him! <br /> | dark mountains, how tenderly He deals with him! <br /> | ||
There is no look of wrath; no word of upbraiding; in <br /> | There is no look of wrath; no word of upbraiding; in <br /> | ||
silent love "He lays him on His shoulders rejoicing!"</p> | silent love "He lays him on His shoulders rejoicing!"</p> | ||
| − | Reader, are you mourning over... <br /> | + | <p>Reader, are you mourning over... <br /> |
the weakness of your faith; <br /> | the weakness of your faith; <br /> | ||
the coldness of your love; <br /> | the coldness of your love; <br /> | ||
your manifold spiritual declensions?</p> | your manifold spiritual declensions?</p> | ||
| − | Fear not. He knows your frame! He will give <br /> | + | <p>Fear not. He knows your frame! He will give <br /> |
'feeble faith' tender dealing. He will "carry" in <br /> | 'feeble faith' tender dealing. He will "carry" in <br /> | ||
His arms those that are unable to walk, and <br /> | His arms those that are unable to walk, and <br /> | ||
will conduct the burdened ones through a path <br /> | will conduct the burdened ones through a path <br /> | ||
less rough and rugged than others.</p> | less rough and rugged than others.</p> | ||
| − | When "the lion" or "the bear" comes, you may <br /> | + | <p>When "the lion" or "the bear" comes, you may <br /> |
trust the <strong>true David</strong>, the tenderest of Shepherds!</p> | trust the <strong>true David</strong>, the tenderest of Shepherds!</p> | ||
| − | Are you suffering from outward trial?</p> | + | <p>Are you suffering from outward trial?</p> |
| − | Confide in the tenderness of your God's dealings <br /> | + | <p>Confide in the tenderness of your God's dealings <br /> |
with you. The strokes of His rod are gentle strokes; <br /> | with you. The strokes of His rod are gentle strokes; <br /> | ||
the needed discipline of a father yearning over his <br /> | the needed discipline of a father yearning over his <br /> | ||
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brethren, to 'speak roughly'; but all the while <br /> | brethren, to 'speak roughly'; but all the while <br /> | ||
<strong>there is love in His heart.</strong></p> | <strong>there is love in His heart.</strong></p> | ||
| − | The 'pruning knife' will not be used <br /> | + | <p>The 'pruning knife' will not be used <br /> |
unnecessarily. It will never cut too deeply.</p> | unnecessarily. It will never cut too deeply.</p> | ||
| − | The 'furnace' will not burn more fiercely than is <br /> | + | <p>The 'furnace' will not burn more fiercely than is <br /> |
absolutely required. <strong>A tender God</strong> is seated by <br /> | absolutely required. <strong>A tender God</strong> is seated by <br /> | ||
it, tempering the fury of its flames.</p> | it, tempering the fury of its flames.</p> | ||
| − | And what, believer, is the secret of all this <br /> | + | <p>And what, believer, is the secret of all this <br /> |
tenderness? "There is a Man upon the Throne!" <br /> | tenderness? "There is a Man upon the Throne!" <br /> | ||
Jesus, the <strong>God Man Mediator</strong>; combining with <br /> | Jesus, the <strong>God Man Mediator</strong>; combining with <br /> | ||
the might of Godhead, the<strong> tenderness of spotless</strong> <br /> | the might of Godhead, the<strong> tenderness of spotless</strong> <br /> | ||
<strong>humanity.</strong></p> | <strong>humanity.</strong></p> | ||
| − | Is your heart crushed with sorrow? so was His!</p> | + | <p>Is your heart crushed with sorrow? so was His!</p> |
| − | Are your eyes dimmed with tears? so were His? <br /> | + | <p>Are your eyes dimmed with tears? so were His? <br /> |
"Jesus wept!" Bethany's Chief Mourner still wears <br /> | "Jesus wept!" Bethany's Chief Mourner still wears <br /> | ||
the Brother's heart in glory!</p> | the Brother's heart in glory!</p> | ||
| − | Others may be unable to enter into the <br /> | + | <p>Others may be unable to enter into the <br /> |
depths of your trial; Jesus can; Jesus does!</p> | depths of your trial; Jesus can; Jesus does!</p> | ||
| − | With such <strong>a tender God</strong>.... <br /> | + | <p>With such <strong>a tender God</strong>.... <br /> |
caring for me, <br /> | caring for me, <br /> | ||
providing for me, <br /> | providing for me, <br /> | ||
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"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, <br /> | "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, <br /> | ||
O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8</p> | O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8</p> | ||
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'''Back to [[GOD'S NATURE]]''' | '''Back to [[GOD'S NATURE]]''' | ||
Latest revision as of 20:43, 6 December 2012
Back to GOD'S NATURE
(John MacDuff, "The Night Watches")
"He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will
carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close
to his heart. He will gently lead the mother
sheep with their young." Isaiah 40:11
How soothing, in the hour of sorrow, or bereavement,
or death, to have the countenance and sympathy of
a tender earthly friend. Reader, these words tell you
of One nearer, dearer, tenderer still; the Friend that
never fails; a tender God!
By how many endearing epithets does Jesus exhibit
the tenderness of His relation to His people.
Does a shepherd watch tenderly over his flock?
"The Lord is my Shepherd."
Does a father exercise fondest solicitude towards
his children? "I will be a Father unto you."
Does a mother's love exceed all other earthly
types of affection. "As one whom his mother
comforts, so will I comfort you."
Is the 'apple of the eye' (the pupil) the most
sensitive part of the most delicate bodily organ?
He guards His people "as the apple of His eye!"
"He will not break the bruised reed."
When the Shepherd and Guardian of Souls finds
the sinner, like a lost sheep, stumbling on the
dark mountains, how tenderly He deals with him!
There is no look of wrath; no word of upbraiding; in
silent love "He lays him on His shoulders rejoicing!"
Reader, are you mourning over...
the weakness of your faith;
the coldness of your love;
your manifold spiritual declensions?
Fear not. He knows your frame! He will give
'feeble faith' tender dealing. He will "carry" in
His arms those that are unable to walk, and
will conduct the burdened ones through a path
less rough and rugged than others.
When "the lion" or "the bear" comes, you may
trust the true David, the tenderest of Shepherds!
Are you suffering from outward trial?
Confide in the tenderness of your God's dealings
with you. The strokes of His rod are gentle strokes;
the needed discipline of a father yearning over his
children the very moment He is chastising them.
The gentlest earthly parent may speak a harsh
word at times; it may be, needlessly harsh. But
not so God. He may seem, like Joseph to his
brethren, to 'speak roughly'; but all the while
there is love in His heart.
The 'pruning knife' will not be used
unnecessarily. It will never cut too deeply.
The 'furnace' will not burn more fiercely than is
absolutely required. A tender God is seated by
it, tempering the fury of its flames.
And what, believer, is the secret of all this
tenderness? "There is a Man upon the Throne!"
Jesus, the God Man Mediator; combining with
the might of Godhead, the tenderness of spotless
humanity.
Is your heart crushed with sorrow? so was His!
Are your eyes dimmed with tears? so were His?
"Jesus wept!" Bethany's Chief Mourner still wears
the Brother's heart in glory!
Others may be unable to enter into the
depths of your trial; Jesus can; Jesus does!
With such a tender God....
caring for me,
providing for me,
watching my path by day, and
guarding my couch by night,
"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone,
O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8
Back to GOD'S NATURE