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TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks on Home Ideals (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 43. Father Language.
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Father Language.
Though God is called a father in the Bible, He is never called a mother. Yet what we think of as the mother language is used of Him frequently. The phrase in the Psalms, "under the shadow of his wings," (Psa_17:8; Psa_36:7; Psa_57:1; Psa_61:4; Psa_63:7; Psa_91:4 <http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+17:8>; Rth_2:12 <http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ru+2:12>.) with its variations, is of course the mother language from bird and farm life. There is a quaint homeliness in the words of Jesus, as He is pouring out His distress over Jerusalem, that goes with peculiar power into one's heart. He said, "even as a hen gathereth her brood under her wings." (Luk_13:34 <http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lk+13:34>; Mat_23:37 <http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+23:37>.) That was the father-mother heart of God in Jesus crying out its grief over prodigal children.
The word "brooding," which is so characteristically a mother word, both before the birth and afterwards, is almost the very first word used of God in that great first Genesis chapter. (Gen_1:2 <http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+1:2>.) Revision, margin.)) It is actually the second. There is a great touch of realism, and of that which touches the human heart most, and most quickly, in that early vivid picture of God.
Why is the word mother not used for God? Simply because "father" means "mother," too, with God. We call this sort of language mother language, because it is so with us. But with God it is father language. Father means mother, top. Ah! who among us has grasped the full sweet dignity of being a father, a mother; a father and mother together united in one, that so God's own great word "father" may stand truly for the two in one. No higher dignity was ever conferred upon man. It is a taking of us up, by God, to the level with Himself.
Now, of course, this fatherhood of God is what the theologians would call His creative fatherhood, which includes all the race. There is still a higher, His redemptive fatherhood, which includes all who come back home to the Father through Jesus. Man became a prodigal. He left his Father. He still remains a son creatively, but has cut himself off from the Father by sin. When he returns he becomes a son in a new higher sense also, a redeemed son. The Holy Spirit puts the child spirit into his heart, and he instinctively calls God Father again. (Rom_8:15 <http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ro+8:15>.)
We are talking here about God's creative fatherhood, which began in Eden, and has continued through every generation, and still does. John's words about that higher fatherhood come all anew as we think of the only less wonders of God's creative fatherhood. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called children of God; and we are." (I.) Joh_3:1 <http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+3:1> Revision.) And He is Father. And we, too, are to be fathers in His meaning of the word, by His fatherly help. So we enter into the inner heart of God. Behold what love, and what honour bestowed upon us!