Into The Breach – Christian FatherhoodSample

Day 5 — God understands

Read: Psalm 103:10-18

A father’s relationship with his children is not based on a legal contract with prescribed penalties for infractions. Rather, it is rooted in God’s personal covenant with his own children. Just as God does not deal with us as our wrongs deserve, so also fathers do not treat their sons and daughters based on their violations of his rules. A family relationship is based on mercy, forgiveness, and compassion. 

To emphasize the extent of these three complementary aspects of God’s relationship with us, the psalmist offers three comparisons. The first speaks of vertical spaciousness: “as the heavens tower over the earth,” so great is God’s mercy (v. 11 NABRE). The second conveys horizontal spaciousness: “as far as the east is from the west,” so wide is God’s forgiveness (v. 12 NABRE). And the third expresses the depth of fatherly care: “as a father has compassion on his children,” so deep is God’s compassion for us (v. 13 NABRE). 

The psalmist goes on to explain that God does not deal with us according to strict, contractual rules because he knows the frailty and brevity of human existence. He recalls the creation narrative of Genesis: “For you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (v. 14; Genesis 3:19 NABRE). He also evokes the words of Isaiah: “The grass withers, the flower wilts” (v. 15; Isaiah 40:7 NABRE). In contrast, God’s mercy encompasses generation after generation and his salvation extends to our children and grandchildren (v. 17) for those of us incorporated into God’s family through his covenant. 

REFLECT: How does the brevity and fragility of human life impact the way I raise my children? 

PRAY: O God, whose mercy is without end, teach me the frailty of my own existence and the depths of your compassion. Help me to express your forgiveness to my children.