Proverbs 4:3 “when I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother”
In a children’s home I lived in as a young boy we used to get up to all sorts of crazy stuff. Sometimes harmless [like the time at Halloween when all the boys – eight of us – climbed down the fire escape, dropping the last bit to the garden at the back of the home and then ran through all the neighbour’s gardens at 2 in the morning covered in pillowcases and sheets, pretending to be ghosts]. Sometimes not so harmless – we will talk about those another day perhaps.
One summer school holiday day a few of the children all decided it would be good to have a picnic. So we snuck down into the kitchen, it was adjoined to the staff accommodation so we had to be super quiet.
We had to find a way past the padlock on the pantry door, which we did. And then try and find some food that would be good for a picnic. We took some apples, some crisps, and some cooking chocolate. Then up into the attic, out the attic window and scramble up onto the roof [when I think about it now, how easily we could have slipped and died…..yikes].
So we are all up on the roof having a picnic, and I have to mention that cooking chocolate was not all that I thought it would be! Needless to say, an apple core was thrown from the roof, which alerted the staff to our whereabouts. A few minutes later a head popped up at the side of the roof – the oversight – we were commanded to attend a meeting in the office and to bring our pillowcases of loot with us.
We all clambered back down, loot in hand and sheepishly made our way to the office. We lost our privileges, our bedtime was changed, and we were all grounded.
In hindsight, it was done tenderly, and I think the staff maybe had a good laugh at us as well when we had left the office.
KNOWLEDGE
The writer is setting the scene again, calling us back to remember the familial relationship at the heart of the writing, and the centre of the relationship, and at the middle of the instructions.
There is gentleness portrayed, a sense of safety and love. This is a safe place that we can live in. For some of us reading this, this scene may evoke memories that are quite different to the picture painted here – maybe we never knew this sense of peace, of protection, and provision, our family life may have been quite different, difficult or even dangerous. There is no denying the facts of our human family, however, they do not have the last word in our life. God, who formed us [Jer 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”] is the God who loves us intensely – [Zeph 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”]
Regardless of our start in life, there is a safe place for us with God, a place where we are rejoiced over, where we will find hope and guidance and strength. A place where we can recognise our own weakness and still be accepted, still be valued, still be lifted up. We will find all we need in this place, no matter what is missing in other places of our life.
Now is a good moment to either call out to God for forgiveness and restoration or in gratefulness and gratitude for what he has already done through His son Jesus – our Lord and Saviour.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The word “tender” appears 18 times in the Old Testament [ESV], and in the Hebrew language, it is pronounced “rak”. It’s translated into the English words, tender; weak; frail; fainthearted; gentle, inexperienced; irresolute; and, soft. God knows us so well!
WISDOM: what’s missing in your life today?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Relator as a Strength treats confidences with great care, bringing guidance and mentorship. Be inclusive with those God directs you to.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version – [when I was a child that was rejoiced in, cared for, disciplined and trained by my father, I was gentle, soft and faint-hearted, a precious, unique and beloved one. My caregiver was always turning towards me, facing me.]
PRAYER: Father, thank you for today. Help me today to remind myself of how you have been with me since the very beginning, how you are always looking over and after me, and that you have kept me safe into eternity.
I so love feedback – please do scroll down and use a few moments to bless me……..
Thank you pastor Allan. Enjoyed your story very much haha 😂
There is a safe place for us with God, a place where we are rejoiced over, where we will find hope and guidance and strength. A place where we can recognise our own weakness and still be accepted.
Beautiful, love this.
I remember as a child I used to pray earnestly usually in bed that God will always watch over me and be there for me no matter what. Over the years and been through lots of difficult periods in my life and doing my own thing. Getting over those difficult moments, I become grateful that God heard my childish prayer to be there for me no matter what. God knew me before I was even created in my mother’s womb. Wow. Thanks Pastor Allan for today’s thought provoking message.
Can you please share the rest of your story with us soon Ps Allan lol.
I really enjoyed reading that story. It reminds me alot of when I was young during youth campus.
This is so true, there is always a safe place for us with God.
I really got encouraged by this – Relator as a Strength treats confidences with great care, bringing guidance and mentorship. Be inclusive with those God directs you to.
I’m very grateful to my God for his mercy and grace towards me.
Where he gave me a new hope and life in Him .
I pray God continue to give me strength to face my battles and continue to live in His will for my life .
How marvellously the Lord watches over us and protects us!
The Faithfulness of God even when we are clueless is absolutely amazing.
I love AUV of this proverbs 4:3.
Thank you.
Thank you once again Pastor Allan!
I see in this verse the protection strength & security of Father God from a male perspective shown with a tender heart towards his child. Also it’s interesting how He alludes to being like a mother where a good mother brings added dimension to a man’s life impacting his emotions affection & walk with God. Having a balance between the two promotes a good foundation for developing faith love & compassion in a person’s life. Jesus expressed His compassion for people when He likened himself to a mother hen desiring to gather her chicks under her wings for comfort & protection. From this spiritual place regardless of what has happened to us as children or adults whether good or bad we can live in a safe place of healing love hope guidance strength & being able to freely forgive & find restoration for our lives.
Great word Allan . Thank you
And a good reminder that our father in heaven isn’t anything like the world we know relationally . Knowing that our Father is always turned toward us , not distracted , but with his full attention toward me in love . Beautiful message to meditate on
Pastor Alan, even though I never lived in a children’s home, I can imagine the laughs that U all got up to, Jus enjoying the challenges of life, I see all things things are learning curbs about life and all these things are building blocks for the man you are 2day 👏🏽👏🏽😂👍🏾
Than you for the word, I’m so greatful to be a child of God, to know and feel his love for me has changed my life. He is an awesome God and wonderful Father.
A happy story of the pranks that children get up to everywhere. It is wonderful to know that our Father knew us before we were conceived and was there every step of the way and still is , guiding and protecting us as we walk through life. He will always be there for us.
I was so encouraged by this thought Allan… “We will find all we need in this place, no matter what is missing in other places of our life”……there are days when it feels like so much is missing from these ‘other places’ but Gods word assures is that when we find ourselves in the arms of Jesus, fully aware of his love and devotion… those gaps are filled and we are indeed fulfilled.
It is one of the things I love the most about our GOD – HE is safe 🙌🏼🕊️