More than parental love from
Thoughts of God by John McDuff 1864 How precious are your thoughts
unto me, O God! But Zion said, The Lord has forsaken
me, the Lord has forgotten me. Can a mother forget the baby
at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has born? Though
she may forget, I will not forget you. Isaiah chapter 49 verses
14-15 There are seasons in the experience
of many of God's people when, by reason of outward trials or
inward troubles, they feel desolate and desponding. Spiritual comforts
are gone. They have little of the hallowed
communion they once enjoyed with their Heavenly Father. Little
fervor or filial nearness in prayer. Little pleasure in reading
the Word or attending the sanctuary. A chilling blight has passed
over their spiritual being. In the bitterness of conscious
estrangement from the God of their life, they are led to harbor
the secret thought, the Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has
forgotten me. God points to the tenderest type
of earthly love, the mother with her infant hanging on her breast
or seated by its cradle, tending it in sickness. That infant's
cry may fail to rouse the hireling from slumber, but with wakeful
ear she anticipates its every need. For days and nights she
seats herself by the couch of the tiny sufferer, smoothing
every dimple in its pillow and kissing away the hot tears from
the fevered cheek. Such, says God, is the most touching
picture of tender human affection. Yes, he adds, they may forget. There may be exceptional cases
where a mother may be found untrue to her offspring, and nature
prove faithless to her strongest instincts. Yet, I will not forget
you. Think of this. If his dealings
should at times appear inexplicable, if amid baffling dispensations
we may be led at times to say with Gideon of old, If the Lord
is with us, then why is all this befallen us? Let us hush the
unkind misgiving by the remembrance that the affection of the fondest
human parent to her offspring is but a feeble shadow when compared
to that of him who pities as a father, comforts as a mother,
and loves as God alone can do. The earthly parent sees it needful
at times to employ beneficial rebuke and discipline. So does
our Father in Heaven at times consider it necessary to let
His tenderest affection to His covenant people take the form
of chastisement. But His faithfulness on that
account dare not be questioned or impeached. He chastens us
because He loves us. The time will come when all that
is now dark and perplexing will be explained and vindicated.
What a day is before us, writes one who has a glowing wish fulfilled,
when we shall be able to adore his faithfulness without the
teaching of it by a crossed will and disappointed prospects. Go, burdened one, fearlessly
on. He has said, I will never leave
you nor forsake you. That loving eye never slumbers.
That wakeful vigilance is never suspended. Do not dishonor God
by unbelieving distrust of His word and ways. Look back on the
past. Trace His footprints of love,
the unmistakable tokens of His presence and supporting grace.
Let these be encouragements for the present and pledges for the
future. The dearest earthly friend may
forget you. Distance may sever. Memory may
fail. The mind may become a blank.
The old familiar greetings may be met only by an unconscious
gaze. Death may have already, and at
some time will, put his impressive seal on the most sacred interchanges
of human affection. Yet, I will not forget you. Yet, I still belong to you. You are holding my right hand.