A Tender God by John Macduff
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 40.11 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, and tenderer still, the friend who 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 most
sensitive part of the most delicate bodily organ? He guards his people
as the apple of his eye. When the shepherd and guardian
of souls finds the redeemed 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 upbraiding. In silent love he lays him on
his shoulders rejoicing. 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 those who are unable
to walk in his arms, 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, confined
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 at 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 with 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 both lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord, make me live in safety. Psalm 4 8.