| My Father Knows All About Me & Loves Me Still
Verse 13:
"As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him,"
Notice once again we have the phrase "those who fear him." "Those who fear him" concludes verse 13, just as it concluded verse 11. In verse 11 we read: "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him." Now in verse 13: "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him."
Verse 13 is an illustration. "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him."
I am reminded of the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. When the son finally comes to his senses and desires to go home, the Lord is pictured as an old man running to get his arms around that boy and restoring him to all the rights and privileges of sonship.
Job 10:12: "You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit" (NIV).
Isaiah 40:10, 11:
"See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young"
(NIV).
Ephesians 4:32:
"And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you"
(NIV).
I remember Howard Hendricks saying in class: "There are 2 things you always want to remember. (1) There is nothing you can ever do to get God to love you any more than He does right now. (2) There is nothing you can ever do to get God to love you less."
Verse 14:
"for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust."
In verse 14 we have the statement of reason for the fact that the "father has compassion on his children." There are 2 reasons: (1) "he knows how we are formed" and (2) "he remembers we are dust."
Because "he knows" and "he remembers" He can love us to the point of being compassionately involved in meeting our needs and graciously forgiving our sins.
Wareen Wiersbe said: "Where there is dust, there is potential. Where there is dust, there is opportunity for growth. Continue to yield to Him and His creative process in your life. Ask Him to mold you after His will."
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