Abba Father

by

Donald G. Hayter

THIS GRACIOUS WORD, "Abba", occurs but three times in the Greek Scriptures, and not at all in the Hebrew, though it is a word derived from the latter. It is an extension of the Hebrew Ab, (Father) and is a young child's way of addressing his beloved father. It is one of the simplest words to utter, simply an expiration of breath, cut short by a closing of the lips. God, our Father, has made the utterance of His name relationship to us so simple that all can say it, the youngest child and the most ignorant adult. But the Hebrew child extends ab into abba, making it into an equivalent of "Dadda" or "Daddy". Because we are sons, our spirits cry to our Father in times of stress, "Abba". Thus the Lord in the extremity of His sufferings, before the cross, when it loomed before Him terrifying and awful, and the cup seemed more than He could take, cried to His God, ",Abba, Father, all is possible to Thee. Have this cup carried aside from Me. But not what I will, but Thou." Then it was that in His darkest hour He was nearest to His Father and in greatest need of His love and presence. Then He cried as a beloved Son to a dearly loved Father, "Abba". It is the same spirit in us that cries in times of stress, "Abba, Father, Help". He will never fail to answer. Always He will hear and strengthen us. His grace is sufficient for every need, and His love makes staunch the most timid heart.

"Abba, Father", our heart cries out,
No room for terror or nervous doubt;
In time of trouble He will hear,
Always, ever He is near.