OUR DEFENDER

God as Father ~ means I am well taken care of.

Definition: a mentor or provider; an originator; God’s relation to his children

God the Father considers me the apple of His eye. Providing a strong shoulder and a gentle voice of love and concern, He laughs with me and cries with me. As His child I can go to Him with every need, knowing that He has the power to move heaven and earth. Through the tenderness of His Spirit and the rebuke of His Word, He beckons me to rest in His covering.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. ~Psalm 68:5 ~

Take a few minutes to read 2 Samuel chapter 6, which is mentioned as a cross reference to this verse. In these passages, King David attempts to have the Ark transported back to Jerusalem in order to ensure God's blessing over the nation of Israel. A couple of slip ups along the way turn deadly. But overall, this mighty and terrifying act generates shouts of praise from all of the people - the fatherless and widows included.

When have you felt fatherless? Was it when your own earthly father sent a disappointment or two in your direction? Was his love conditional and withheld? How about in light of a widow? Terrible heartbreak, abandonment and all traces of security ripped out from under you. If you've walked any length of time on this earth, chances are you have probably felt some of these stings.

A twinkle of hope flickers as we look to God the Father. We serve a God who has chose to adopt us into His family. We were picked out and scooped up long before the foundations of the world. God the Father doesn't put conditions on His love, it is always available - in purest form. This kind of love is never withheld. As a loving Father, God is fully capable of meeting every need you have. As the apple of His eye, you are loved beyond measure.

~ Heavenly Father, you are holy and so worthy to be praised. We see in the Old Testament an absolute necessity for reverence and respect - of You. We offer that same kind of submission today as our hearts carry your message with careful steps. This broken world in which we live has caused some of us to feel fatherless on the inside. Tragedy and broken homes have ushered in the desolation of a widow. But this very day, just like all of those centuries long ago, we choose to join David in song and dance. Make us psalm-singing fools for a God who's plan has always been to scoop us up. ~