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No word better brings home the truth of Divine lovingkindness than pity — the pity of the Lord. There is love and mercy shown in passing by our sin, and forgiving us; but it is the love shown in the pity of the Lord that touches us most directly, and at once reaches the quick of our nature. And the reasons for this are not difficult to understand.

I. THE PITY OF GOD IS CONDESCENDING LOVE. It is the love of one who is infinitely our superior. Abject penitence on the one hand, and reliance upon the Divine compassion on the other — that is the truest and best relation in which the sinner and God can stand.

II. THE PITY OF GOD IS UNDERSTANDABLE. The pity of God is most welcome to us, because it is that which best corresponds to our own thoughts concerning ourselves. It is true, we are unworthy; and so unworthy, the very thought of it often repels us from God and makes us ashamed to seek His forgiveness and help; but we can say very sincerely that, however great our sins may be, there is need so great, weakness and helplessness so great, that, apart from our deserts, we ought to be the objects of the pity of a compassionate and loving God.

III. GOD'S INTEREST IN HUMANITY. The wounds of the patriot who has bled for his country become eloquent appeals to his countrymen if he come to be in want; the distresses of the poor become appeals to our hearts, even when they are brought about by their own sin. In the hour of distress we fail to be judges. There is only one feeling of compassion to a fellow-creature in distress. Shall not God be as much moved by the sight of human need as we are?

(James Ross.)

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KJV: Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

WEB: Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.