"The Tender Compassion of Our God"-Conclusion of What Is Compassion?

It is difficult to imagine that a mother would forget to nourish and care for her nursing child. After all, an infant  is helpless; night and day a baby needs its mother's attention and affection.  Sad to say, however, maternal neglect is not unheard of, especially in these "critical times" characterized  by a lack of "natural affection."  (2 Timothy 3:1, 3)  "Yet," Jehovah declares, "I will not forget you."  The tender compassion that Jehovah has for his servants is unfailing.  It is immeasurably stronger than the most tender natural feeling that we can imagine-the compassion that a mother normally feels for her infant child.  Little wonder that one commentator said of Isaiah 49:15:  "This is one of the strongest, if not the strongest expression of God's love in the Old Testament." 

Is tender compassion a sign of weakness?  Many imperfect humans have held that view.  For instance, the Roman philosopher Seneca, who was a contemporary of Jesus and a leading intellectual figure in Rom, taught that "pity is a weakness of the mind."  Seneca was an advocate of Stoicism, a philosophy stressing calmness that is devoid of feeling.  A wise person may help those in distress, said Seneca, but he must not allow himself to feel pity, for such a feeling would deprive him of serenity.  That self-centered view of life allowed no room  for heartfelt compassion.  But that is not all what Jehovah is like!  In his Word, Jehovah assures us that he is "very tender in affection and compassionate." (James 5:11)  As we will see, compassion is not a weakness but a strong vital quality.  Let us examine how Jehovah, like a loving parent manifests it.

Next time: "The Tender Compassion of Our God"-When Jehovah Showed Compassion to a Nation

From  the book: Draw Close to Jehovah