As a third year seminary student it would be easy to assume I agree with everything in the Bible. It would be easy to think nothing throws me any more. You could think that, but you would be wrong. This morning I read through Psalm 17. The first thirteen verses are pretty straight forward. David is oppressed by his enemies and asks for God to subdue those who mean David harm. David reminds God, that God has already tested David’s heart and found David worthy. David acknowledges when he calls to God; God answers. It is with confidence David asks God to continue to look upon David with favor and to hid David in the shadow of God’s wings as protection. David then compares himself with those who have already received their prize in this world. I struggled with this part because David specifically points to those who fill their lives with treasure and who are satisfied with children. I am a new father, and those words from verse fourteen leave me with a cold feeling. My first thought is to justify by asking what kind of father was David? David’s eldest son tried to take the kingdom, and while Solomon may have started out asking for wisdom, by the end his example of having many wives and altars to foreign gods set Israel on the course to destruction. Solomon’s son Rehoboam was responsible for splitting the kingdom. What kind of fathers were these? Then I recall David had many many children. Who is David to denounce those who take pride in their children? As I wrestle with this text I at last come to verse fifteen.
15As for me, I shall(X) behold your face in righteousness;
when I(Y) awake, I shall be(Z) satisfied with your likeness
My question then becomes in what do I place the most value. Is my son more important than my God, and if so in what way…? This is not an easy question for me, but here is the short answer. Having a son is not enough of a treasure for me to be happy. Leaving my son financial wealth will not bring me joy. The wealth I hope to leave to my son is a love for my God who can shelter my son on the cold snowy mornings of life.
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