“Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.” (Isaiah 63:16)
Solomon wrote that “the glory of children are their fathers.” (Prov. 17:6) Certainly, Solomon could have gloried in his father David. David was a rare man – whose life and exploits could make a son proud. Not everyone has such a father to celebrate. For many the lines have not fallen in pleasant places. (Ps. 16:6) Our father is not the cause of our glory, but our shame.
But no matter how wonderful our father has been, he cannot be God to us. Neither David or any of the patriarchs could help the children of Israel in Isaiah’s day. In their trouble they needed to turn to the eternal God for refuge; His everlasting arms needed to be underneath them. (Deut. 33:27)
Whether your father was nowhere to be found in your life and disappointed you greatly; or wonderfully involved and fondly remembered, each of us needs to know the Everlasting Father. Will you look to Him, knowing His eyes are upon you? Will you trust in Him when there is no one else you can depend upon? Will you discover His help and experience His loving care? If you do, you will have a Father in heaven to celebrate and glory in. You will sing of your good, good Father!