Good morning church! And a very Happy Mother’s Day to all our Mothers, adoptive moms, and mother’s to be. So glad you are able to be us today!
Let me open in prayer:
Please turn with me to Isaiah 66:13.
“As a mother comforts her child,
so will I comfort you;
and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”
May God be blessed with the reading of His word.
Well, today is mother’s day. A special time when we reflect on Motherhood, even in a humorous way.
Actress, Reese Witherspoon pointed out;
“"I ALWAYS SAY IF YOU AREN'T YELLING AT YOUR KIDS, YOU'RE NOT SPENDING ENOUGH TIME WITH THEM.”
Someone else wrote;
“"SILENCE IS GOLDEN. UNLESS YOU HAVE KIDS. THEN SILENCE IS JUST SUSPICIOUS."
And from an anonymous writer;
“"HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOM! (AND WHILE I HAVE YOU, QUICK APOLOGIES FOR AGES 13-21.)”
Comedian, Phyllis Diller once said;
“"I WANT MY CHILDREN TO HAVE ALL THE THINGS I COULDN'T AFFORD. THEN I WANT TO MOVE IN WITH THEM.”
It’s humor that all mother’s can relate to because they know Motherhood.
Well, God knows Motherhood! Ladies that is important to keep in mind. God knows Motherhood, not just in the intellectual sense, but also in a deeper sense as part of His image. Remember in Gen. 1:27;
“So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.”
Both male and female are made in God’s image. Woman was not an after thought or a second-rate idea. Women bear the same image of God as any man. Now we are created with differences between male and female, thanks be to God, but we share God’s image.
This fact arises periodically through out Scripture. While God overwhelmingly speaks of Himself in the masculine, there are times He identifies with the feminine.
We see this most clearly when God wants to communicate something about Himself. Yet, God is so wholly other that we lack both the words and concept to describe Him as He really is if he did not chose to reveal something about Himself to us. In the 40th chapter of Isaiah the Lord poises a question, “To whom will you compare me?” He asks this not once but twice. Let me read some of that chapter that you may be impressed;
“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on the scales
and the hills in a balance?
13
Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord,
or instruct the Lord as his counselor?
14
Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
or showed him the path of understanding?
With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken him?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
23
He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
24
No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
25
“To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
26
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.”
This is our Majestic, Almighty God! Author and theologian, A.W. Pink wrote;
“Such a One is to be revered, worshipped and adored. He is solitary in His majesty, unique in His excellency, peerless in His perfections. He sustains all, but is independent of all…”
To which we can add the insight of A.W. Tozer;
“What is God like?” If by that question we mean, “What is God like in Himself?” there is no answer. If we mean, “What has God disclosed about Himself that the reverent reason can comprehend? there is, I believe, an answer both full and satisfying. For while the name of God is secret and His essential nature incomprehensible, He, in condescending love, has by Revelation declared certain things true about Himself.”
Many of those certain things in Scripture which refer to God are similes. A simile compares two things using words such as “like” or “as.” Because God is so entirely other the human mind cannot comprehend Him as He is. So God, in order to communicate with us, resorted to language we could understand and often uses similes. Here are a couple of examples;
Isa.30:33 describes His wrath: “The breath of the LORD, like a stream of burning sulfur sets it ablaze.”
The picture of burning sulfur gives us a picture with which we can make a comparison. Another is Isa.40:11 describing His gentle care; “He tends His flock as a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms.”
Or in describing His love, Isa.62:5 declares;
“As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.”
In using those comparisons we are able to go from the known to the unknown and better understand what God is like. This brings me to the simile for this special day, Mother’s Day, Isa.66:13;
“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”
Within the context of Isaiah God had threatened stern judgement upon Israel for their idolatry and how their hypocritical sacrifices were an abomination to the Lord showing their hearts were far from Him. However, God wanted to communicate to the Israelites that afterwards, He would comfort them and Jerusalem would be restored. So what would be the most poignant and powerful way to communicate His comfort? The best way was by identifying with something everyone could readily identify with; a mother’s comfort.
“As a mother comforts…I will comfort you.”
God knows Motherhood and chooses to compare Himself to a mother! Immediately we are drawn into reflecting upon the comfort our own mother showed us. Rare is the person who has not known a mother’s comfort.
What does it mean to comfort? It means to soothe, reassure, bring relief, to strengthen or to give hope.
COMFORT IS A RELIEF word. It can only exist in situations of distress, fear, tension, pain, uncertainty or hopelessness. As a child, when we skinned our knees in a fall, mom was there to soothe and wipe away the tears. Or as a teen when you had a break-up with that boyfriend and it seemed like the end of the world, but mom hugged you and reassured you it wasn’t, and turned out she was right. What daughter didn’t find mom’s comfort during pregnancy and delivery so, well, comforting!
“There was a cartoon in a Newspaper that had three frames. The first showed a little boy in tears, running to find his mother. The second frame shows the same boy encountering his dad—tears were gone—“Oh! Hi, Dad.” The third frame, with Dad gone, shows the same son back in tears continuing in his search to find Mom.
It’s true, isn’t it? There is no one else like Mom! No one else’s kiss can dispel those tears more quickly; no one else’s smile and hug can take away a problem’s sting better; no one else can put on that Band-Aid like she can; no one else can give comfort like Mom can.”
A Psychological study found, “Spending time interacting with, diapering and feeding the baby is important, but in order for infants to develop a sense of security, a secure attachment, it is essential for a parent to be there to provide comfort…Mothers, we find, more often provide emotional care. That emotional bond is critically important in adulthood. And the quality of that bond is what is transmitted to the next generation.”
The bond we have to our mothers is special for life. Isn’t that why, as the camera pans the athletes on the bench they smile and say, “Hi Mom!” That connectedness to one’s mother from birth is sustained throughout life and that is the way God designed it to be. God knows motherhood, and that connectedness reflects His bond with His children. Again, God uses the best example known, to express His deep comfort and connectedness, in that He also uses the example of a mother in Isa. 49:13-16 reads;
“Shout for joy, you heavens;
rejoice, you earth;
burst into song, you mountains!
For the Lord comforts his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me,
the Lord has forgotten me.”
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget,
I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.”
The LORD reassures Israel that, though times were hard, in that they had been conquered, He had not forgotten them. Times are exceptionally challenging for all of us during this pandemic, especially moms with the added responsibilities of home schooling, entertaining and managing the kids all day, while working from home combined with her usual responsibilities! But just as God’s word to the Israelites reassured them, it reassures us. And what was the best example to demonstrate His faithfulness? A mother.
To the original audience it was unthinkable that a mother would neglect or forget her child. Such a thought is repugnant as it goes against the created order. Such a picture is the antithesis of Motherhood! Yet, even though that might be possible, it would be impossible for God to forget His own. For as great as a Mother’s love for her child is, and why God uses it as the best example of His love, God’s love is even greater! He has His children, “engraved on the palms of His hands!” The word means painted, and we could say, “tattooed” on His hands. Their name is not going anywhere and neither is He.
God knows Motherhood. Since God does not hesitate to reference a mother’s love as a visible, tangible example of His love, mother’s, recognize both the blessings and the challenge that is yours. It is a blessing in that in your own comforting love your child can glimpse the “face of God!” When your child asks, “What is God like?” you can, with Scriptural confidence say, “He is like your mom who comforts you, only better!” What a honored role is motherhood!
While that is so true, motherhood is also a challenge. Recognizing your role is something of a bridge between your child and understanding God. You should take your role seriously, and with perseverance.
Indeed, these are high and lofty thoughts which you probably never really consider when you are changing diapers, mopping up spills, referring a fight, or realizing you can’t teach them the new math! Motherhood is a challenge.
I like the account of the young mother pushing her cart through Wal-Mart. Her daughter, riding in the cart, was constantly screaming and demanding things. Her mom kept saying COMFORTING words… “Now calm down Ellen. It will be alright Ellen. It’s almost time to go home Ellen. Take a deep breathe Ellen. One of the checkout clerks witnessed this and said to her, “Ma’am, you are to be commended at how patient you are with little Ellen.” The mom replied, “Lady…I’m Ellen!”
Yes, Motherhood has its challenging times.
As young children we found our mother’s arms a haven of comfort in which we felt love, protection and encouragement. God uses that experience to communicate His comforting love for us.
In 2 Cor.1:3-4 we read;
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
How does God comfort us? With His love, protection and encouragement. Jer.31:3 states His love;
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”
Ps.5:11 reads of His protection;
“Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”
As does Jn.10;
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
And Jesus encouraged in Jn.14:1-3;
““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
“Do not let your hearts be troubled…” Were there ever more comforting words! Our God is The God of all comfort shown to us through Christ Jesus. Then, in Jn.14:16 Jesus promises;
“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth;”
The word, “another” is important. First, it shows us that Christ Himself is a comforter who will send “another.” Second, the word “another” means, “of the same kind.” This speaks to the divinity of the Holy Spirit being as much God as Christ. Have you paused to consider the often used maternal language used of the Spirit? Jesus said in Jn.3:7-8;
“‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
Comfort is a Trinitarian concern.
When we in fear or sadness, turmoil or uncertainty, pain or hurt, flee to His loving arms we find comfort. The comfort of His presence and the comfort of His word. Again, isn’t this the picture Jesus gives us in Lk.13:34 in speaking of Jerusalem;
“how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
In a motherly aspect, Christ longed to gather, embrace and protect His children then, and continues to desire to do the same now. Sadly, that verse tragically ends with the words;
“and you were not willing.”
You know, after a lifetime of providing comfort and love, of self-sacrifice, surrendering their dreams so her children could fulfill theirs, too many mothers are too often neglected and dismissed, almost forgotten.
I recall very early in our marriage, about 50 years ago, a family that Helen used to babysit for as a teen contacted her out of the blue. The family was very wealthy and was having a large family celebration at a banquet hall on the North Shore. The whole extended family was going. So why call us? They asked us to drive into Queens to pickup their mother from the Nursing Home where she lived! I said to Helen, “You mean the whole extended family is gathering but not one of them could, or would, pickup the mother?” To me that was dishonoring to this aged woman. We did pick her up and she was lovely and very thankful, never saying a word of disappointment with her family. Yeah, mother’s are like that, always trying to think the best of their family.
Too often the life that our mother’s have poured out on us goes unappreciated, undervalued, and sometimes forgotten. God knows this aspect of Motherhood as well.
Regarding God, this was Israel’s recurring sin. In Jer.2:31-32 it reads;
“You of this generation, consider the word of the Lord:
“Have I been a desert to Israel
or a land of great darkness?
Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam;
we will come to you no more’?
Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
a bride her wedding ornaments?
Yet my people have forgotten me,
days without number.”
Israel took God and all His blessings for granted and forgot Him.
I hope your mother is not saying today, “Yet my children have forgotten me, days without number!” Since we have grown up with our mother’s comfort as an example of God’s comfort, should we not be eager to return comfort to her in her old age? Has life become too busy, too distracting that we cannot phone or zoom or visit with mom? You know she won’t be around here forever!
“A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived two hundred miles away.
As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing.
He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother.
But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars."
The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I'll buy you a rose."
He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers.
As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home.
She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother."
She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.
The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother's house.”
Don’t put off honoring you mom, certainly today, but let her know often, in your words and actions how much you love and appreciate her.
God knows Motherhood. And mother’s you should feel very special and blessed in that your nurturing, comforting love is the example God applies to Himself in order to communicate His comforting love for His children. Mother is a noble title. Prov.31 draws to an end with such words;
“Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Honor her…”
Thank you Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.
And Thank you God, that you love and comfort us vastly more than our mother!
Let’s pray.
