The God who Weeps

This article was first published in French at TPSG.

We live in an age in which the doctrine of the holiness and of the transcendence of God has fallen on hard times. In our generation, many Christians tend to focus on God’s imminence, his nearness, the ways in which he is like us and with us. Some even call God their buddy, their homeboy. When we do this, however, we lose some of the reverence and awe that we ought to have towards our great God and King. 

Recovering a Vision for the Glory of God

In response to this, many within our Reformed tradition have written and preached with particular emphasis on God’s holiness, his sovereignty, his aseity, his simplicity, his incomprehensibility. These are all essential attributes to grasp, and I am grateful for the pastors and scholars who have given us such a vision for the glory of God. 

God’s Attributes are not in Competition

Yet, over the past 30 years of my Christian life, at times I came to see God as so powerful, so holy, so set apart from us, that I lost sight of his nearness, his humanness, his meekness and lowliness. We don’t, however, have to choose between these two sets of attributes. They are all equally reflected in our Triune God. No one attribute can trump all others. We can delight in our great God for both his sovereign power and gentleness. We can cry out, “Holy, holy, holy” (Is. 6:3) and we can cry out “Abba, Father” (Ga. 4:6). 

A Song about the God who Weeps

A few years ago, on a trip to visit family in Colombia, my husband and I got to attend a concert by a Christian singer named Santiago Benavides. With sincerity and depth, his music articulated truths about God in refreshing and edifying ways. One song in particular struck a chord with me.  It was this song that inspired these reflections. For those who understand Spanish, I recommend this video. Otherwise, here’s the translation:

God Also

God was also an immigrant.

God also had to seek refuge.

God was also displaced (Mt. 2:13-15).

He was depressed and discouraged to go on (Mt. 26:36-46).

God also lost his child (Jn. 3:16, Lk. 15:11-32).

God also experienced loneliness (Is. 53:3, 15:33-34).

God was also left friendless when he most needed their solidarity (Mk. 14:50).

God also

God also

God also experienced pain (He. 2:18, 4:15).

God also

God also

God also wept (Jn. 11:35, Lk. 19:41-44).

God also was imprisoned (Jn. 18:1-19:16).

God also suffered for giving love (Jn. 13:1).

God also was criticized for not casting the stone and opting for forgiveness (Jn. 7:53-8:11).

God was also a cheated spouse (Ho. 2:1-23).

God was also an outcast child

God was also a rejected youth (Mt. 25:40, 18.5-7).

God also had wayward children (Is. 53:6, Lk. 15:11-32).