A Mother's Love

There is a common myth among women that says “having children makes one a mother.” This notion is as silly as believing that having a piano makes one a musician. That’s because it takes a special kind of woman to be what the Bible defines as a mother.

The biblical word translated “mother” is the Hebrew word “AME” (pronounced “ah-may”), and means, “the bond of the family.” “The word also signifies a force that strengthens and holds things together.”

Though we don’t wish to lessen the importance of the father’s role in the family, I think we must confess today that mom is really the glue that holds the family together.

A father tells the story of when his family moved cross-country and he and his wife had to drive both of their cars.

His eight-year-old, worriedly asked, "How will we keep from getting separated?"

"We'll drive slowly so that one car can follow the other," the father reassured his son.

"Yeah, but what if we DO get separated?" his son persisted.

"Well, then I guess we'll never see each other again," he joked.

"Okay," said his son. "I'm riding with Mom."

In Isaiah 49:15 the question is asked, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?” There is something about a mother’s love.

* It is the love that causes a graduate to look in a crowd of thousands for the face of his or her mother.

* It is the love that causes an athlete on national television to say to the camera, “Hi Mom!”

* It is the love that makes a crying baby hush when he hears Mama’s voice.

Today we are going to turn to the Bible to learn more about a mother’s love.

1.) A Mother’s Love Protects Her Child

2.) A Mother’s Love Provides for Her Child

3.) A Mother’s Love Promotes Her Child

4.) A Mother’s Love Preserves Her Child

1.) A Mother’s Love Protects Her Child

King Solomon was one of the wisest men outside of our Lord Jesus Christ who was wisdom personified. You may remember where the Bible records the LORD appearing to Solomon during the night in a dream and saying to him, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

Solomon asks God for discernment to govern God’s people and to distinguish between right and wrong.

In 1 Kings 3:11 -13 God says to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both riches and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings”.

It wasn’t too long before Solomon would have to use this gift of wisdom. The Bible says that two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. One of them said, "My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us.

During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him. So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son--and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne." The other woman said, "Are you crazy! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours."

But the first one insisted, "You must be on crack! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine." And so they argued before the king. (Brooks’ paraphrase)

So then Solomon says, "One of you says, 'This is my son, who lives, and your son is the dead one'; and the other says, 'No! But your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.'"

Here is when we see the Wisdom of Solomon on display. Solomon says, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other."

Now here is where we see a mother’s love in action. The Bible says, “ Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, "O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!" But the other said, "Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him."