As a Father Has Compassion – Psalm 103:11-13

The sermon opens with humorous observations about differences between men and women in thinking, communication, and emotional expression. The pastor notes that wives typically seek to be heard and understood rather than to receive solutions, while husbands tend to approach situations with cold rationality. These differences directly affect how love is expressed in the family, both between spouses and between parents and children.

The middle section focuses on what husbands need from their wives, particularly gentle words and respect. The pastor uses the story of Michal despising King David as he worshipped before the Lord (2 Samuel 6) to illustrate the destructive power of a single sarcastic word, contrasting it with Abigail (1 Samuel 25), whose wise and gentle speech defused David's rage. Proverbs 15:1 and 1 Peter 3:5-7 are cited to emphasize the importance of soft speech and mutual respect in marriage.

The central portion of the sermon examines three attributes of God found in Psalm 103:11-13 that husbands and fathers are called to embody. The first is kindness (mercy), illustrated through the story of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables and Abraham's gracious attitude toward Lot. The second is forgiveness, seen in Abraham's rescue of Lot after the younger man had chosen the better land. The third is compassion, illustrated through the parable of the prodigal son, the story of a mother pleading with Napoleon for her son's life, and Jesus's gentle treatment of sinners including the woman caught in adultery.

The pastor concludes that these three qualities are not only what wives and children need from husbands and fathers, but also what men themselves need to receive. However, because men tend to demand fairness and logic, they often lack tenderness and compassion in family relationships. Blaise Pascal's observation is quoted—'The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of'—as a reminder that family love cannot operate on logic alone.

The sermon was delivered on Father's Day, June 15, 2013, and draws on survey data showing that nearly two-thirds of fathers say what they want most from their partner is verbal acknowledgment and recognition. This grounding in practical family research reinforces the theological message that husbands and fathers, like everyone else, are sustained not by justice alone but by kindness, forgiveness, and compassion.