Day 17: Like a Father to His Children
Bible passage: Psalm 103:13–14; Psalm 145:8–9; Isaiah 49:10–13; 2 Corinthians 1:3–4
A King Who Is Gentle
Today is Sunday 14th of April 2019, Palm Sunday. Welcome to Day 17 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. On this day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, a King who came gently. It is a good day to look at the compassion of God.
David, who was a father himself, reached for the closest picture he knew. “The Lord is like a father to his children.” Psalm 103:13 (NLT)
He goes on to say that the Lord is tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.
The Compassionate God
He Remembers That We Are Dust
David tells us why God is so gentle with us. He knows how weak we are. He remembers that we are only dust (Psalm 103:14).
We often expect more of ourselves than God does. We are surprised and ashamed when we fail. God is not surprised. He made us, and He knows what we are made of. A good father does not despise a small child for falling over. He picks the child up.
Good to Everyone
In another psalm David widens the picture. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is good to everyone, and He showers compassion on all His creation (Psalm 145:8–9).
His compassion is not rationed out to a deserving few. It reaches everything He has made.
He Leads Them Home
Isaiah describes what that compassion does. God’s people will not go hungry or thirsty, and the scorching sun will not reach them, because the Lord in His mercy will lead them beside cool waters. He will make His mountains into level paths for them (Isaiah 49:10–11). Then all creation is called to sing, because the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on them in their suffering (Isaiah 49:13).
Compassion is more than a feeling. God acts. He leads, He provides and He clears the road.
Comforted to Comfort
The Source of All Comfort
Paul had suffered a great deal, and he begins one of his letters with praise. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we can give them the same comfort that God has given us (2 Corinthians 1:3–4).
Nothing we go through is wasted. The comfort God gives you in your hardest season will be what somebody else needs from you later on.
Three Steps for Today
Praise Him. Thank God for particular times when He has been gentle with you.
Be as kind to yourself as He is. Is there a failure you keep beating yourself up over? Remember that He knows you are dust, and receive His compassion.
Pass it on. Ask God to bring to mind one person who needs His compassion today. Ring them, visit them or write to them.
Prayer for Today:
Father, thank You that You are tender and compassionate, and that You know how weak I am. Thank You for every time You have picked me up. Thank You for the comfort You have given me in my troubles. Bring to my mind someone who needs that comfort today, and help me to give them what You have given me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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