Reflections for Lent

Psalm 22:23-31 NRSV

You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations. To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

This scripture really resonates with me because I will be a first time Grandfather in May 2024. This Psalm is about praising God for who he is and what he has done for all the descendants of Israel, now and in the future. It is a proclamation of duty for us. I am thankful that I was raised in a Christian home by Godly parents. I saw my parents live out their faith, and they were an example to me. As charter members of Covenant Presbyterian Church, they knew the responsibility of being that example to me and my siblings. 

For example, they did not drop us off at church on Sunday but were involved in the church each Sunday. As the Psalmist says in verse 23 and 26, "you who fear the Lord, praise him." "Those who seek the Lord will praise him - may your hearts live forever." I saw that fear and praise from my parents when they were living. I have tried to be an example of showing that fear and praise to my children. But now, I pray that I will be able to pass that example down to my grandchild. Because the Psalmist tells us that all of us who are descendants must fear God, honor God and Revere God. 

The last part of Verse 25 says "I will fulfill my vows." Verse 30 says "future generations will be told about the Lord." Verse 31, "they will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!" It is very clear to me what my role must be as a Granddaddy. How about you? 

~Briton Williams~