Thank You Mama!!
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Isaiah’s prophetic writing addresses two overarching topics, judgment and restoration of Israel and Judah. Isaiah 49 is among the section of restoration or comfort prophecies in which GOD is revealing how he will bring restoration to Jerusalem through his servant, the Messiah, after their punishment in captivity. But as with any seemingly prolonged punishment, children can become despondent, feeling a loss of hope or love. That’s exactly how Israel was feeling and was expressing that GOD had forgotten about them. So GOD responds to their claims through Isaiah, and in GOD’s response he uses the nature of a mother to illustrate his loyal love to his people. It is from this part of GOD’s response that I want to preach from the subject “Thank You Mama!!” I intend for this message to praise GOD for how he crafted our mothers, express gratitude to our mothers, and motivate all children to honor their mother’s on this day and moving forward.
GOD responds to Israel’s despondency or lack of hope with a question. His question is intended to draw their intention to something they all should be well familiar, a mother. Whether it is a biological mother, grandmother, step-mother, relative or woman who assumed the mother role, what GOD describes has application to all. Well what is it that GOD emphasizes about a mother? He asks is a woman able to forget her infant child? The first attribute of our mothers that I want us to recognize is her Commitment. GOD wants them to reflect all the way back to when they were infants and consider a mother’s ways. Does she develop the habit of ignoring her infant child?
Application: Absolutely not! Her complete schedule revolves around the life of her child. 3 things her commitment hinges on - CARE: She spent 9 months carrying another life inside of her, feeling every move we made, scrambling and kicking at late nights. It is a distinct nature to do such a thing. She realizes she has facilitated life into this world, and it drives her motor of care. - PRIORITY: Because she cared to the level that she did, she placed us as a priority. To the point that she became self-less and focused on us. Much of the activity she used to spend her time on changed, why? Because of her children. Some delayed higher education, took off work, no more partying or sensual pleasures of life, why? Because her kids were her priority!! - RELIABILITY: I believe GOD placed himself in women to wholly realize that this life is fully dependent on them. She realizes that she must be dependable, because if not, her child or children will suffer. And because she cares so much, they become her priority, she’s just always there! You name a situation for our childhoods, and consider the mother in your life, and count how many times she wasn’t there!!! Food, when we needed baths, making sure we slept safely, sicknesses and injuries, our first words and steps, birthdays, laughs to make her laugh, cries to make her cry. This commitment of our mothers demonstrates they knew how much they were needed, and they hopped up to the task at hand! Thank GOD for the commitment of our mothers!!
Then GOD continues with a second part of his question. He asks can a woman have no compassion on the children that came from her womb? The second attribute of our mothers that I want us to recognize is their Compassion. Again, GOD wants them to reflect on their entire childhood and take note of how compassionate their mothers were. Compassion is when they look at their children with the tenderest affection and love. It comes deep from the soft place in a human being. And it is an emotion oriented toward a specific action. That means that our mothers were highly equipped, not to just tell us they loved us, but act upon us with love!! Also, the word is in the Piel voice, meaning that they showed this emotion in such an effective manner that the child feels their action!! Contextually, this sort of compassion is toward an afflicted child because of their wrong and the pain brought on by it and others.
Application: What feelings did we exhibit and our mothers didn’t feel it themselves? It is an unique ability for a mother to take on the feelings of us children and do whatever it takes to resolve it and bring us to safety and joy. First I want us to know that in this compassion, there is - Discipline: Because our mothers love us to such a high degree, they would not see us go our own way. See Proverbs 29:15 says the belt imparts wisdom, but a child out of control brings his mother shame. Thus there was no hesitation to apply the belt when it was needed. Our wrong impacts them heavily, and the belt is how they showed us love. - Mercy: But thank GOD they were not angry forever. It’s amazing to see how we still yearned for our mothers even after she put some whelps on our backsides. And she went right back to all the routine acts of love. Even in our teenage and older years, our mothers can feel what we feel and knew just how to address it in mercy. All my guilty ways, pains from life, times of loneliness, feeling rejected. My grandma Dorothy will still say, I tried to tell you, so when everything hits the fan, don’t come running to me. But it’s amazing that with those same children or grandchildren, when we are dealing with life’s problems, it weighs down her heart. That is the heart of a compassionate mother, who will give warning after warning, and even when we’ve suffered for a while because of our own mess, she treats us with mercy. I can remember times in High School and college that I got into stuff I had no business, and it’s just something about talking to my mother that caused me to call her first. Likewise with my grandmothers. Not only do they feel our pains, but they always share our praise, joy, and fun.
Then GOD reveals a reality. He has asked a question that is supposes it is unnaturally impossible. But the reality is, that there is a possibility that some mothers may forget their children, for whatever reasons. He does this to emphasize how much he cares for those who are his. So even in the unnatural cases where a mother was not present, GOD assures that he will never forget!!!
Application: Some who are watching and listening may have fallen into this case. Whether it was willful/forced abandonment or death. What GOD is emphasizing is that he never forgot you!! Psalms 146:9 says GOD supports and cares for orphans. If you too intensely reflect on your life, you too will see that GOD did just that through the one you can call mother. Whether your adopted mother, step-mother, grandmother, aunt, etc. GOD has shown, just like a mother, that he will never forget those who are his.
What should you and I do in response? Tell your mother, Thank You Mama!! Give her her flowers today, and appreciate how GOD placed his character in the instinct of every mother!! I pray that all mothers feel the love, joy, and recognition they deserve today. Amen!