Tuesday, June 15, 2021
The Psalmist David compares God’s compassion for Christ-followers to a father’s compassion on their children.
Psalm 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. (NIV)
What a challenge faces parents — especially fathers — as the responsibility for the home rests upon them! What tone is proper in the raising of children? It must reflect restraint: not too harsh and not too lenient. God likens Himself to a father in Scripture . . . and there men can find a model for parenting!
God remembers that His children of the faith are “but dust” and daily struggle with the frailties of being human. In that example, fathers get a picture of when to punish and when to encourage. The word “fear” refers to a respect appropriate to a father, and to a certain extent — fear — that certain actions will have consequences. But, it is not a servile, groveling kind of fear.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™