Father's Day

God As Father In Hebrew Scripture

Out of the massive symphony of Hebrew Scriptures ( Old Testament,) only a quiet whisper
is heard of God as Father. In just seven scriptures out of hundreds of pages is God called Father.

Perhaps you have never seen these few scriptures. For a little Father's Day Bible study I have included them for you.

Deuteronomy 32:6 "Is not he your Father who created you, who made you and established you?"

Psalm 68: 5 "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation."

Psalm 103:13 "As a Father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him."

Isaiah 63:16 "For thou are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; thou O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name."

Isaiah 64: 8 "Yet, O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou art our potter; we are all the work of thy hand."

Jeremiah 3: 19 "And I thought you would call me, My Father, and would not turn from following me."

Jeremiah 31:9 ". . . for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first born . . . "

To the best of my knowledge this is the complete list of Old Testament scriptures that speak of God as Father. If anyone knows of another Old Testament scripture that calls God Father, please share the scripture and its reference in the comment section.

Jesus Magnifies God As Father

It is Jesus who so greatly magnifies God as Father. Indeed, the fatherhood of God is one of the central teachings of Jesus.

Jesus makes "Father" the key concept of prayer. "Do not heap up empty phrases as the heathen do, or think that you will be heard because of your many words for your Father in heaven knows what you need before you ask him." Of course, the Lord's Prayer begins "Our Father in heaven."

To understand God as "Our heavenly Father" is to start a spiritual revolution. Old, crude concepts of God that picture the Lord as an oriental despot of cruelty and arbitrary power are displaced. Also,purely philosophical concepts seem like thin soup compared to God as Father. Here is feeling and compassion. Here is the waiting father who rejoices when the prodigal finally comes home. (Parable of the Prodigal Son is found in Luke 15: 11 - 32.)

Much spiritual insight can be gained simply by meditating upon God as Our Heavenly Father. Many difficulties both practical and intellectual can find their solution by meditating on God as Our Heavenly Father.

Happy Father's Day.

Your friend and blogger,
Bruce Williamson