Father of the Fatherless – Psalm 68:5-6
Pastor Tan Thai · Jun 17, 2012
This Father's Day sermon explores the deep longing every person has for a father's presence and love. Though no earthly father is perfect, God declares Himself the Father of the fatherless, filling every void left by absent or imperfect fathers.
The sermon opens by affirming that the longing for a father is universal. The father is compared to a great mountain — stable, majestic, and the pillar and foundation of the family — providing protection, teaching, and a model for children to follow. The preacher recounts Ernest Hemingway's story of 800 young men named Paco who rushed to a hotel hoping to meet a forgiving father, powerfully illustrating the deepest human longing: everyone needs a father and longs to be forgiven by one.
The second section presents the sobering truth that no earthly father is perfect. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible shows that celebrated fathers such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David each had failures and shortcomings in their role as fathers. Michael Jackson is quoted speaking about his painful lack of a father's affection — he never heard his father say 'I love you' or experienced playful bonding. The congregation is called to accept their fathers with all their faults, to forgive them, and to place their full trust in the heavenly Father.
The central message of the sermon is that God is the Father of the fatherless. Multiple Scripture passages are cited to confirm that God specially cares for orphans and widows: Psalm 68:5-6, Exodus 22:22-23, Deuteronomy 10:18, 24:19, Jeremiah 49:11, John 14:18, and James 1:27. God not only knows the pain of those who have lost a father but genuinely empathizes and acts to protect and provide for them.
The sermon concludes with the story of the widow of Zarephath, illustrating how God sent the prophet Elijah to care for and bless someone without earthly support. The practical message for the congregation is clear: whether you grew up without a father or never received love from your earthly father, the heavenly Father is ready and willing to fill that void completely for all who trust in Jesus Christ.