GOD OUR FATHER

The psalmist makes a very meaningful and tender statement: “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him”, v. 13. Again, concerning the orphan, the psalmist speaks of God as a father of the fatherless, thus showing His tender care, 68. 5.

Yet not even David the psalmist could address God as “Father”. These touching analogies were anticipating the time when the sublime truth of the Father would be revealed by the Son. “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world”, He said to the Father, John 17. 6.

“Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us”, said Philip, John 14. 8. Such a revelation is supremely satisfying. That is the believer’s portion now, for “now are we children of God”, 1 John 3. 2 R.V. The Spirit of sonship in our hearts witnesses to this, leading us to cry, “Abba, Father”, the very address that our Lord used in Gethsemane, Mark 14. 36; Gal. 4. 6.

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son”, Gal. 4. 7; the prodigal would have been content to be a servant, but the Father’s heart would be content with nothing less than a son in the family and near His heart. The son would serve, but in a true spirit of sonship.

How delighted our Father is in hearing us address Him thus in all meaningful sincerity! When we are delivered from the sophistries of the world’s thoughts about God, it is as babes that we receive the Father’s revelation, Luke 10. 21.

In time of need, “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him”, Matt. 6. 8, yet “Give us this day our daily bread” is the prayer of a dependence which is truly felt. Our Father who feeds the sparrows and clothes the flowers will much more attend to our needs. To doubt His heart is to be as pagans, and earns His rebuke, “ye of little faith”, v. 30.

In time of severe trial, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee” acknowledges His illimitable power; “nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” owns His perfect wisdom, Mark 14. 36. How good to see these expressed in perfect harmony in the life of the Son.

In fellowship with other members of the same family of believers, “let brotherly love continue”, Heb. 13. 1; Eph. 3. 15.