What the Lord Saith explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Divine Fatherhood

  The chapter emphasizes trusting and loving the Father as the source of life and bliss.

• Redemption and Grace

  The invitation to the sore-hearted and little ones to come to God reflects grace and redemption.

Characters to notice

• Jesus Christ

  The eldest-born who trusts the Father and invites others to come to God.

• God

  The perfect glory and light, the Father who is trusted and loved.

Key passages

• “Trust my father, saith the eldest-born; I did trust him ere the earth began; Not to know him is to be forlorn; Not to love him is⁠—not to be man.”

  The firstborn says to trust the Father, whom he trusted before creation; ignorance of Him leads to despair, and failure to love Him is to fail at being human.

  Establishes the foundational trust and love for the Father as essential to humanity.

• “He is with me; I am not alone; Life is bliss, because I am his child; Down in Hades will I lay the stone Whence shall rise to Heaven his city piled.”

  The Father's presence ensures I am never alone; my life is joyful because I am His child; I will place a foundation stone in the underworld from which His heavenly city will be built.

  Expresses confidence in the Father's companionship and the promise of building a heavenly city from the depths.

• “Come then with me; I will lead the way; All of you, sore-hearted, heavy-shod, Come to father, yours and mine, I pray; Little ones, I pray you, come to God!”

  Follow me; I will guide you; all who are weary and burdened, come to the Father who belongs to both you and me; I especially ask the little children to come to God.

  A direct invitation to all, especially the weary and children, to approach God through the speaker.