A GOD OF COMPASSION

Offering: Hebrews 13:5-6

Illustration: What animal is the best mother? Then there are lions, who make especially benevolent mothers. In fact, each lactating mother in a pride will allow any offspring, including other females’ cubs, to nurse from her. Cheetahs are the best mom!

Text: Exodus 34:6-7

The word in the Hebrew is RAHUM- Merciful, gracious, compassionate

Rahamin- Describes an emotion or being deeply moved: Picture of a mother caring for Her child

Describes the quality or character of a merciful or compassionate person or being. Sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. (Websters dictionary.com). The act or capacity for sharing the painful feelings of another

synonym=kindheartedness

God’s reveals his compassion in three ways:

Closeness, Concern, and Commitment

Closeness to us

Ex: Child afraid of the dark

i. Psalm 119:151 “But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.”

ii. Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Near to the broken

iii. Isaiah 57:15 “For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Contrite To be humble and repentant before God. Crushed by the sense of guilt and sinfulness

Near to the fearful

i. Isaiah 41:10 “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Ex: Getting out of the military

ii. Isaiah 43:5 “Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.”

Whatever the next chapter in life, whatever that next large step to take God is with you!

Near to the outcast

We marginalize the outcast of society! God move towards the outcasts of society

i. Mark 1:41 “Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.””

Jesus was labeled a friend of sinners. Leprous is also a picture of sin

God will not abandon You

Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””

Ex: Footprints in the sand

Concern for us

1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Ex: Jaxsen said the other day that God doesn’t answer prayers because He’s busy

For our problems

Do you believe that God cares?

i. Luke 7:13 “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.””

ex: Hagar is to name the son Ishmael (the lord hears) Hannah names her son Samuel (the lord hears).

“God cares about the little things.”

Ex: Praying for my baseball glove and finding it

For our well being

i. Matthew 15:32 “Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.””

ii. Matthew 6:30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Ex: so many examples of how God has opened up a door to provide for our needs. i.e Checks in the mail

Jeremiah 29:11

Commitment to us-

He is merciful

Forgiveness

i. Isaiah 54:7 “For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you.”

ii. Micah 7:19 “He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

iii. Psalm 77:8-9 “Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah”

Sanctification

i. Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

ii. Psalm 138:8 “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”

300 Quotations for Preachers from the Reformation Confide in God’s Mercy and Distrust Our Own Strength

Let us not trouble about our fears nor lose heart at the sight of our frailty, but strive to fortify our humility and be clearly convinced of how little we can do for ourselves, for without the grace of God we are nothing. Let us confide in His mercy and distrust our own strength in every way, because reliance on this is the root of all our weakness.