- [Carissa] If you tried to describe what God is like,
it could be difficult or daunting.
But when the people who wrote the Bible pondered the mystery
of God, they consistently described God's character
in this way.
"Compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger,
overflowing with loyal love and faithfulness."
The very first word used in this description
of God is "compassionate,"
or in Hebrew, "rakhum."
This word also appears as a noun,
"rakhamim," or compassion.
And what's fascinating is that both
of these words are related
to the Hebrew word for womb, "rekhem."
So compassion in the Hebrew Bible is centered
in a person's core,
and the word invites us
to imagine a mother's tender feelings
for her vulnerable infant.
So "rakhum" is a word that conveys intense emotion.
Sometimes it's even translated as "deeply moved,"
like in the story of King Solomon
who meets two women who've just given birth.
One of their babies sadly dies,
but then both women claim
that the baby still living is theirs.
As a test, Solomon says
to cut the baby in two
and give each mother a half,
and the baby's real mother is deeply moved.
She would rather the other woman take her baby
than see her child die.
And it's her compassion
that reveals that she's the true mother.
But "rakhum" isn't just an emotional word,
it also involves action.
And surprisingly, the word is used most often
to describe God's actions
motivated by his emotions.
Like when the Israelites are suffering and oppressed
in Egypt, God hears their cries
and is compelled by his compassion,
his rakhamim, to rescue them.
Then, as the Israelites travel
through the dangerous wilderness,
they're hungry and thirsty
and God is rakhum,
caring for them as his own child.
He provides everything they need,
food, water, and clothing,
as he personally guides them.
So it's no surprise
that when Yahweh reveals his character
to the Israelites in the wilderness,
he begins by saying he's compassionate.
But despite Yahweh's continual rakhamim,
the Israelites turn away from him time and again.
They reject Yahweh's compassion
and instead give their allegiance to other gods.
And rather than showing compassion to each other,
they do violence.
And their rebellion results in exile,
and they're scattered among the nations.
And it's in this dark moment in Israel's story
that we come to the book of Isaiah,
where Yahweh compares himself
to a mother
full of rakhamim toward her baby.
He says, "Can a mother forget her nursing child,
or have no compassion," or rakhamim,
on "the child of her womb?"
"Even if she forgets,
I will not forget you!"
God is full of motherly compassion,
and he will rescue his people.
And as you read further in Isaiah,
you realize that God is going to do this
by entering into the suffering of humanity.
And this points forward
to a time when Jesus comes on the scene.
He is Yahweh's deep compassion become human.
In Greek, the word "compassion" is "oiktirmos."
And as Jesus embraces the sick and cares for the outcast,
He's deeply moved by human suffering.
Jesus compares himself to a mother hen using her wings
to shield her chicks from danger
as he gathers people into his embrace.
And in the ultimate expression of oiktirmos,
Jesus is moved by compassion
to enter into humanity's suffering,
into death itself,
to rescue and bring us near to God.
And it's this same life of compassion
that Jesus calls his followers to imitate,
allowing ourselves to be moved by the pain of others,
to embrace the hurting,
and to participate in relieving suffering in the world.
In this way, we, too, can embody the compassion
of Yahweh, or in Jesus's words,
"Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate."
Now you can see how fitting it is
that "compassionate" is the first word God uses
to describe himself.
So, when we're in pain or see others suffering,
we can be certain that God is deeply moved to respond
and that he's there to meet us with his deep compassion.
(mysterious music)