As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.
— Psalm 103:13
Compassion. The dictionary says compassion is “to recognize the suffering of others and then take action to help.” We could say compassion is a tangible expression of love and understanding for those who are suffering.
But this verse refers specifically to the kind of compassion a father has for his children. Here’s what a father’s compassion is not: it is not pity, anger, shame, impatience, intolerance, or rejection. The scripture tells us a father’s kind of compassion is what God, our Heavenly Father, gives to us as His children. He cared enough for the pain and struggles of His Creation to send His son Jesus to enter into our world and dwell among us.
Can I just tell ya something? It is important to recognize one key phrase from this verse: “those who fear Him.” In other words, this compassion is for those who have a reverential awe of God. He does not express this same father’s compassion for those who reject Him.
Can I just tell ya something? It is important to recognize one key phrase from this verse: “those who fear Him.”
We become adopted children of the Father of Compassion when/if surrender our lives to Him, obey Him, honor Him, revere Him, worship Him and trust Him.
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