The fatherless findeth mercy.
The sorrows of human life are many, and some of them are, by us, largely inexplicable. The relation of father and son is an obvious provision of Divine wisdom and goodness, and beautifully symbolizes the relation between God and his dependent children. Yet there are the fatherless, deprived of the care and protection so urgently needed. Why should it be permitted that any should be placed in a position so painful and pitiable? We cannot tell. Still the case of such furnishes an opportunity for the intervention of him who is the Father of the fatherless.
I. WHAT THE FATHERLESS NEED. To understand this we must consider:
1. Of what they are deprived. They are without a father's kindness, wisdom, and bounty.
2. To what they are exposed. How many are the ills which befall the orphan! He is exposed to neglect; poverty may prevent his enjoyment of a suitable nurture and education. He is exposed to injustice and wrong. If he has property, he is liable to the cupidity of a selfish guardian, tie is exposed to actual ill treatment. The cruel may take advantage of his defenseless position to treat him with violence for which there is little or no redress.
II. WHAT THE FATHERLESS FIND. They may look for help to man, and look in vain. But in God the fatherless findeth mercy. That which is denied by earth is accorded by Heaven.
1. God raises up friends who, to some extent, take the father's place. Pity leads Christians to adopt orphans into their own families, or to found asylums where they can enjoy the blessings of kind supervision and liberal education.
2. God, in his providence: opens up before the fatherless careers of usefulness and honor in life. How many orphans have occupied distinguished and serviceable positions in society! It is by the mercy of God that what, from a human point of view, seemed so unlikely, has come to pass.
3. God, by his Word and his Spirit, often reveals to the fatherless the riches of his own fatherly love. In him are compassion and affection deeper and vaster than a human heart can know. He dries the orphan's tears, supplies the orphan's wants, and enriches the orphan's nature with the treasures of his grace and love.—T.