Softly and Tenderly

For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. (2 Samuel 22:32-37 ESV). Our text today was the words of David near the end of his life. God certainly had blessed David’s life in so many ways. He had been taken from caring for his father’s sheep to ruling the nation of Israel. He had seen great military victories with the help of God, including the slaying of Goliath. The Lord had given a host of mighty men to serve with and under David. God used David to write many of the Psalms. With the help of God, David became one of the greatest men to ever live. David said to God, “your gentleness made me great.” When we think of God and all of His powerful attributes, we might not consider His gentleness. The Bible records for us numerous examples of God’s might and power. We see such demonstrations as the lightning and thunder on Mt. Sinai, the earth opening and swallowing the rebellious Korah, the dividing of the Red Sea, the feeding of Israel with manna, or the floodwaters covering the wicked in Noah’s day. However, just as surely as God is powerful, He is also gentle. If He so desired, God could always act in overpowering might, but it is not His choice to do so. God’s choice was to send His beloved Son to be the propitiation for our sins; to restore our relationship with him in a way that nothing could ever break it again. The work of Christ could have been one of judgment rather than redemption. That will be his work when he comes again. However, when he took humanity into himself, becoming a man himself, he came with gentleness and compassion. We should not take that gentleness for a lack of justice. In fact, the cruelty of the cross speaks of the depth of the justice demanded by the holiness of God in regard to our sin. Sin is serious, however, God is great. This is revealed in His gentleness. He can as easily speak in a still small voice as in the thunder. God is not overbearing or brutish. He is not cruel, unkind, or unreasonable. He does not act impulsively or inconsiderately. God is approachable and kind. God could accomplish His will by being forceful and demanding, but that is not the way He acts toward us in this day. Will Thompson wrote the perfect hymn to summarize this wonderful truth: Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me; See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home, come home, you who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home! Come on home! That’s where you will be forever secure!