The third title to consider from the Isaiah 9 prophecy this Advent is “Everlasting Father."
As Christians, we confess that Jesus is the fulfillment of that prophecy, and we further confess him to be the Son of God, the Word made flesh. As a consequence, this particular title might cause confusion. How can the Son be the Father? As we discover, the title refers (as do all in the passage) to the promised davidic king, who ushers in a reign of justice, righteousness, and peace. This title anticipates the fatherly nature of his rule.
That God was a father to his people is evident in the compassion that he felt toward them. In Psalm 103, the writer gratefully acknowledges this: “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.” (see As dust, humans are finite, limited, and woefully ignorant. And the psalmist suggests that God took this into account in his merciful dealings with his covenant people, despite generations of rebellion and idolatry. That remembering on the part of God is an expression of abundant grace, prevailing pity.
A consistent portrayal of God is that he cares for the poor, the fatherless, the widow. These represent those most vulnerable to the abuse of power. Israel’s kings were to reflect God’s compassion as they exercised their authority. There were few that did, however. The overwhelming testimony is that they “made [Israel’s] yoke heavy.” (1 Kings 12:4). The promise of a king who exercised fatherly care for his people must have fueled their longing daily. Doesn’t it yours?
And as the king was to the people so the father is to his children. We, too, are to reflect God’s character. As we can see, compassion is a vital component of parenting. The children put under our care are as vulnerable as those whom Jesus looked upon and considered like sheep without a shepherd (Mark 6:34). He was filled with compassion for them and we should be for our children. This does not excuse bad behavior but it should temper our anger. It apparently does so for God. The writer of Hebrews observes that discipline from a father is a sign of love. It follows, therefore, that love should govern our discipline, not anger. What a tragedy to think that our un-compassionate parenting might create longing in our children similar to that of Israel. Rather, may we seek God for the grace to make our parenting a foretaste of the Messiah’s fatherly care.
