God as a Mother

Text: Psa. 131:1-3; Isa. 66:13

Thesis: To note the mothering affection of God.

Introduction:

(1) Oswald Chambers said: “The mothering affection of God is revealed all through the Old Testament” (Oswald Chambers).

(2) In Psalm 131:1-3, the psalmist compares our relationship to God with that of a weaned child with its mother.

(a) Prior to the child’s weaning, the mother is the supplier of the child’s needs, primarily food.

(b) After the child’s weaning, the child learns to enjoy just being in the mother’s presence without hoping to get something from her.

(3) Let us note what it is like to be in God’s motherly presence:

Discussion:

I. God is Lovingly Intimate

A. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem” (Isa. 66:13).

B. God is the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3).

II. God is Fiercely Protective

A. God is pictured as:

1. A bear whose cubs have been taken away (Hos. 13:8)

2. An eagle guarding her nest (Deut. 32:11)

3. A hen brooding over her chicks (Matt. 23:37)

B. God is a jealous God (cf. Exod. 20:5).

III. God is Endlessly Devoted

A. God, like a mother, never forgets her children (Isa. 49:15).

B. In Luke 15:8-11, God is compared to a woman sweeping the house, frantically in search of a lost coin.

C. Story:

A young woman named Christina left her mother, Maria, to try her luck in the big city. But, in time, Christina turned to prostitution in order to make ends meet. Eventually, Maria went looking for her daughter. She went to several key locations searching for Christina, but she had no luck. However, she left pictures of herself at the places she had gone. One day, Christina happened to see one of the pictures of her mom. She picked it up and turned it over to read a message that had been left on each picture: “I love you. No matter what you have done, please come home.”

Conclusion:

(1) God, like a mother, loves you so much.

(2) Will you turn over your life to the God of endless love?