Night Watches by John McDuff
The Tenderness of God 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 chapter 40 verse 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 abrading. In silent love he lays him on
his shoulders rejoicing. When Peter falls, he does not
unnecessarily wound him. He might have repeated often
again the piercing look which brought the flood of penitential
sorrow, but he gave that look only once. And if he reminds
him again of his threefold denial, it is by thrice repeating the
gentlest of questions. Do you love me, 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. He can, He 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 verse 8