Father!

Father!

As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].
Psalm 103:13 AMPC

It is quite important to note here that God is presented as a Father, not a judge, fire or terror. It is the symbol of relationship; the epitome of love. God could have been called other names to show his authority, dominion and power, yet, even in the symbol of Fatherhood, the message is clear  and it is this: we can approach God and enjoy the benefits and blessings that come from Him, simply because He is a Father, but then, we do it in fear of the understanding we have of who He is and what He can do.

The words 'love and pity' are so strong here.  You can pity someone from a position of authority and superiority; man won't really be nice to someone you know you are above. With God, it is fundamentally different; his authority is founded on his knowledge about our weaknesses and inadequacies; He knows we are prone to sin and error. That's why both his love and pity apply at the same time and in equal measure of grace. If God were to mark and punish every sin, we all would be dead. It is his love and pity that hold out, giving us the opportunity to approach the throne of grace with confidence, sure and certain that we will get what we need.

And the warning: God expects the right response to his love, which is a heart of fear. You do not want to test God to see the end of his love and pity. You do not want to take grace for granted. As much as love and pity is available to all, so also is the command to fear God given to all men. If I will enjoy the fullness of God's mercy and grace, my heart has to be right. If mortal men can love and pity natural children, imagine how the heavenly father loves and pities his creation. Just as a mortal father will punish disobedience, imagine then how the heavenly father will handle rebellion against his command. We have been warned. His time of favour is here.