David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the LORD,
    who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD is your keeper;
    the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
⁸ The LORD will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

China Pink Dianthus-#3 | Mercer Botanical Garden | March 2023

In the battle for Helm’s Keep in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Gandalf tells Aragorn and those who will face the vicious onslaught of the forces of evil, “On the third day, look to the east.” He is promising help will arrive. And sure enough, on the third day of a fierce battle, Gandalf comes to the aid of the embattled forces of good. It is a welcome sight to say the least. The tide turns. The enemies are defeated.

Where do you look for help? When the bills can’t be paid. When the wife just doesn’t understand. When the husband won’t listen. When the boss says you’re laid off. When you know you need help but don’t know what you need or how to ask. The psalmist tells us that our help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.

Tonight our Life Group (a small group that meets in our home) was looking for a Bible passage that we could pray on a daily basis. We settled on Jeremiah 33:3, where God invites (commands) us, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” 

We had no idea how appropriate this was until we learned that one of our group will be laid off in the very near future. We prayed that a door of which he now knows nothing about would be opened to him. How powerful to know that as we pray we can apply this verse specifically to our friend and brother in Christ!

So where do we look for help? Government? Medical science? A nearby friend? An escape to the mountains? I lift my eyes to the hills. Yes. But my help comes from the LORD. He created the world and all that is in it. He has is eyes on you. He will watch over you. And he will not miss a beat.

When trouble comes, God never says, “I didn’t see that coming!” There are no surprises in the courts of the heavenly realm. He has good plans for his people. Sometimes those plans are to help others in their time of need. Sometimes those plans are to strengthen our faith through trials and struggles. And sometimes his plans are to send help at an opportune time. In every case when we look to God for help, we are looking toward the right One.

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the LORD,
    who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD is your keeper;
    the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
⁸ The LORD will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

China Pink Dianthus-#3 | Mercer Botanical Garden | March 2023

In the battle for Helm’s Keep in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Gandalf tells Aragorn and those who will face the vicious onslaught of the forces of evil, “On the third day, look to the east.” He is promising help will arrive. And sure enough, on the third day of a fierce battle, Gandalf comes to the aid of the embattled forces of good. It is a welcome sight to say the least. The tide turns. The enemies are defeated.

Where do you look for help? When the bills can’t be paid. When the wife just doesn’t understand. When the husband won’t listen. When the boss says you’re laid off. When you know you need help but don’t know what you need or how to ask. The psalmist tells us that our help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.

Tonight our Life Group (a small group that meets in our home) was looking for a Bible passage that we could pray on a daily basis. We settled on Jeremiah 33:3, where God invites (commands) us, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” 

We had no idea how appropriate this was until we learned that one of our group will be laid off in the very near future. We prayed that a door of which he now knows nothing about would be opened to him. How powerful to know that as we pray we can apply this verse specifically to our friend and brother in Christ!

So where do we look for help? Government? Medical science? A nearby friend? An escape to the mountains? I lift my eyes to the hills. Yes. But my help comes from the LORD. He created the world and all that is in it. He has is eyes on you. He will watch over you. And he will not miss a beat.

When trouble comes, God never says, “I didn’t see that coming!” There are no surprises in the courts of the heavenly realm. He has good plans for his people. Sometimes those plans are to help others in their time of need. Sometimes those plans are to strengthen our faith through trials and struggles. And sometimes his plans are to send help at an opportune time. In every case when we look to God for help, we are looking toward the right One.

Please pray these psalms with me on this Lord’s Day.

Psalm 26:8

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

China Pink Dianthus-3 | Mercer Botanical Garden | March 2023

The word selah is a kind of mystery. It means, perhaps a musical interlude, or a pause in the flow of the psalm. I’ve written about selah previously. In 2009, I suggested it was a kind of STOP sign for us and quoted John Ortberg’s book (see below). More recently I wrote about how is an invitation to stop and think about what is just said. Today I want to invite you to pause and refresh your soul along your path of life as a follower of Jesus.

Resting is actually essential to a fully-productive life of a disciple of Jesus. And there are at least two issues we must face in this regard. First of all we’re not so sure we want to be fully-productive. We’d rather be at peace, happy, fulfilled, content, and enjoying life. So to offer this idea as a means of being fully-productive is potentially a non-starter for many. But this is God’s desire for us. Jesus desires that we bear much fruit as his disciples.

But, pausing to refresh is essential to a fully-productive life of following Jesus?!? That doesn’t make sense. It is counter-intuitive to think that pausing to refresh is essential to a fully-productive life of following Jesus. We would imagine that working harder and more efficiently is key to be more productive. This is where John Ortberg’s insights are so helpful:

In his book, The Life You’ve Always Wanted, Ortberg recalls a conversation with a spiritual mentor whose advise he is seeking.

“What is the next thing I should be doing if I want to deepen my relationship with God?” he asks [I am paraphrasing the conversation here]. His friend answers, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

John replies, “OK. Got that. What’s next?”

His kind spiritual mentor says, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

Ortberg says, “Yeah, I’ve got that. What else is there?”

The mentor says, “There is nothing else. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

Ortberg’s mentor, as I recall is Dallas Willard, a spiritual disciplines guru. He didn’t think this up from scratch. He got it from Jesus. Jesus makes it clear that abiding in him (pausing and being refreshed by his presence) is the key to bearing fruit (being productive in our lives as his followers).

[Jesus says,] “ I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:1-5

So pause today and remember to be still and know that God is God. He will be exalted among the nations and in all the earth. As we pause and refresh, we will discover not only the life we’ve always wanted, but also the gracious blessing of bearing fruit. All this for the glory of God, your joy, and the blessing of many. For now, though, enjoy the pause that refreshes. And just so you know, I’m not talking about having a Coke! I’m talking about pausing to reflect on God’s word, his promises, his goodness, and reign and rule, and his work in the world. This psalm helps us do just that.

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

China Pink Dianthus-2 | Mercer Botanical Garden | March 2023

It may be your favorite grandchild, best friend, closest neighbor, or your spouse. But for most people there is someone whose presence you truly desire. He lifts your spirits. She grounds your dreams. She offers grace. He understands. Warm fuzzies abound. Great comfort wraps you like a warm blanket on a chilly Saturday morning.

We might not think of God in quite that way – and rightly so. God’s presence is more far-reaching than a warm blanket or your favorite softie. The picture here is of God’s protective presence against the onslaughts of life, death, threat, or danger. I see children running into their parents’ room in the middle of the night after a loud crash of thunder. They want the comfort of their parents’ protective presence. So should we want the comfort of God’s protective presence.

More often we ask for the dangers to be removed and the threats to abate. More often we seek to find places of peaceful living in the face of the world’s crazy and fearsome threats. Sometimes we become so used to the threats and dangers of the world, we don’t notice the fierce dangers surrounding us.

I’m not a Chicken Little. I seldom run around saying the sky is falling. In fact, I’m everyone else in that story after hearing of the dangers for the 10th time, I’m numbed. The constant threat warnings become so much white noise. I chalk it up to fear mongering. They’re overreacting I think. It’s not that bad. We’ll be fine.

But then the threats become real.

• The diagnosis is grave and the prognosis is fraught with challenges. The treatments have horrific potential side effects.
• The slip is pink and you don’t know where you can possibly land.
• The bed is empty where the spouse should be and you don’t know if you’ve lost your mate to another.
• There is no word from a teenage daughter who has threatened to run away for the past 4 months.
• You discover drug paraphernalia in your son’s room.
• You see your life savings evaporate in a maelstrom of economic chaos and you don’t know if you’ll be able to stay in your home for more than a month.

God’s protective presence and his help are so very precious in those moments. And as the time unfolds and the diagnosis proves true and the prognosis worsens, and the bed stays empty, and the phone does not ring, and the sullenness of drugs’ stupor does not abate, two things become ever more clear.

1. We live in a fallen world where, as Jesus says, we will have trouble.
2. God’s presence is precious.

We’re all looking for paradise. We want to live in a garden of God’s favor and delight. We yearn for his true grace and goodness. We yearn for God himself to be present. This psalm points us to God. And 1500 years later God would speak through the Apostle John with this promise:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” – Revelation 21:3-4

This is our truest need and God’s gracious blessing.

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

China Pink Dianthus | Mercer Botanical Garden | March 2023

The Mississippi River was my definition of a river. It flowed past my home town with a constancy interrupted only by occasional and sometimes devastating flooding. For many years it was severely polluted by raw sewage from towns all along its banks. That practice has abated, but it does not run clear like the Current River (in southern Missouri). But it’s not as silt-laden as the Red River. One thing it is: mighty. That’s it’s nickname: The Mighty Mississippi. It was a lifeblood for many along its banks – polluted and dirty as it may have been. When I see other smaller streams that are called rivers, I have to recalibrate my understanding of the term.

The psalmist says,

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.

But there is no river in Jerusalem; either by name or by significance. There are a few small streams, but no river in the city. This psalm speaks of the river which is prophesied of in Ezekiel 47. The riven there flows from the temple of God outward. As it flows it gets deeper and more life-giving. It has a profoundly positive impact on all it touches.

I notice that this river makes glad the city of God. It is a joy to have a positive impact in others’ lives. The river in Jerusalem is not merely for the refreshment of its inhabitants. It refreshes all it touches – as far as it flows.

This is the secret of true gladness. It’s not about getting, it’s about giving. True happiness, gladness comes from blessing others; not just being blessed.

Jesus has the same to say about his followers.

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”  (John 7:37-38). It’s the same thought as when Jesus told his disciples, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25) He provides the perfect example of this reminding his followers that he came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

God’s desire is for his people to be fully blessed, completely glad. Experiencing his grace and love is the essential beginning of that gladness. The completion of it comes when we pass along those blessings to others. Such is the river of gladness: It flows to us with great and gracious blessing, and from us to others as we give that which we have received from God.

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Yellow Spring Flowers | Mercer Botanical Garden | March 2023

Don’t be afraid. This word of encouragement (see how “courage” is central to that word!), is an invitation to God’s people to keep things in perspective – no matter what may be happening around them.

An angel appears to Zechariah in the temple, and offers the assurance, “Do not be afraid.” (Luke 1:13)

An angel appears to Mary and greets her, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you.” Mary was troubled by this greeting. She didn’t know what it actually meant. The angel then encourages her, “Do not be afraid…” (Luke 1:28-30)

The angels appear to the shepherds on that first Christmas night. Their greeting: “Fear not…” (Luke 2:10)

The women discover an angel at the empty tomb on the first Easter. His greeting, “Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 28:5)

Three times in Matthew’s gospel, three times in Luke, and 30 times in the Old Testament the phrase, “Do not be afraid,” is found. Whether to Abraham, Joshua, Elijah, David, or Mary, Joseph, or the women at the tomb God’s command is also an invitation: Do not be afraid. 

Jesus himself says, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) We should fear and love God… says Martin Luther as he explains the Commandments.

Somehow we are to fear God, yet be encouraged by his protective power in the face of trouble. We are to see him as a raging fire, the supreme King of kings, and Lord of lords, and yet want to be with him, in his presence to experience his help and protection in the face of earthquake, fire, and storm.

I’m wondering whether I need to lean more on the fear of God, or the protective blessing of his presence. There are days when I don’t do something evil out of fear of God. And there are days, sadly, when fear of the world’s powers influences me more that it should.

Seems I need both a reminder of God’s fear-worthiness as well as the encouragement to draw near to him when the world’s dangers threaten. Whether it’s direct threats of violence and natural disaster, or the subtle influences of peer pressure or temptation, I need God’s help and a reminder that he is worthy of healthy and godly fear. That may be a secondary motivation to faithfulness, but it is still a good one. The greatest motivation is love and faith itself that recognizes and believes in the ultimate goodness of God.

Because of that goodness, we need never fear when we are in his protective and powerful care.

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Bee on a Yellow Flower-2 | Mercer Botanical Garden | March 2023

There are beautiful stained glass windows that honor Cpl George N. Holmes Jr., a young United States Marine who was killed in the failed rescue attempt of the Iran hostages in 1980. You can see those windows only when you are leaving the sanctuary. There are also windows high above the altar of the church. These windows allow light to come into the space. But they are not visible except from right under the large cross hanging above the altar. Some have called the sanctuary a tomb. Others have called it a fortress. When viewed from the outside it appears to be a large and formidable entity – almost as though it could bowl over anyone in its way. In so many ways that building was a mighty fortress.

I served Trinity Lutheran Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas from 1983-1993. It was my desire that the church would be a refuge for hurting people and a place of celebration of God’s faithfulness, goodness, grace, and love. That’s my wish for any church. My idea of the church is less that of a fortress, and more of a place of light, joy, celebration, and grace.

Sometimes, though, we need a place of refuge. Wars rage. Kingdoms are shaken. Troubles loom. Enemies threaten. This psalm is for those times. And God is our place of refuge, safety, comfort, and help.

Too often we look to other helpers. FDIC bails out banks. Fire insurance covers catastrophic losses. Well-diversified stock portfolios keep our retirement accounts safe. Masks keep out pollen. Airbags keep us from crashing through the windshield. We alarm our homes. Many have firearms at the ready for personal security. We have so many safety valves, contingency plans, fall-back positions, and security blankets. I have them all. But I wonder whether we’ve so complicated our lives that we lose God in all the clutter and protections we have gathered around us.

I’m not saying we should throw away all these things, but I wonder whether we should lean on God more fully, and not just as a last resort. Shouldn’t God be our first line of defence? He is our true refuge and strength. He is ever present. We can depend on his help in tough situations.

I’m trying to understand what that means for me today. When I hear of a friend’s severe and life-threatening illness, I turn to God in prayer in his behalf. When I struggle with guilt and shame over past sins and current temptations, I turn to God, rather than running away from him. When I see that I have no power to overcome obstacles to good things God wants me to do, I seek his help. When I sputter in my prayers, I take refuge in his promise that he will not snuff out a smoldering wick (cf. Isaiah 42:3).

The world sees God as an interloper, an intrusion, and a killjoy. All they see is the outward formidable expression of God’s refuge and strength. Those of us who are inside that refuge, know it to be a place of beauty, joy, life, comfort, and true security.

Trinity Lutheran Church | Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Please pray these psalms with me on this Lord’s Day.

Psalm 19:1-11

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Psalm 90

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
² Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

³ You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
⁴ For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.

⁵ You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
⁶ in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.

⁷ For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
⁸ You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

⁹ For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
¹⁰ The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
¹¹ Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?

¹² So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
¹³ Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
¹⁵ Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
¹⁶ Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
¹⁷ Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!

Bee on a Yellow Flower | Mercer Botanical Garden | March 2023

The Apostle John writes, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4). This is the last time that word comes up in his three letters. But he has used the word 16 times previously in these letters. The term is obviously important to him. He considers fellow Christians his children because he was their spiritual father and took responsibility for the safety of their faith. That meant he would challenge and correct as needed, but never do so without great love and encouragement. John is the kind of spiritual father many of us would wish to have. Both his gospel account and these letters are favorites of mine. He touches my heart with God’s love, and instills in me a desire that others would be touched by that same love. Such is John’s legacy: an enviable one at that.

Moses prays that God would

Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
¹⁷ Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!

Moses is praying for a legacy of faithfulness to be his. He wants to see the truth and grace of God take root in the lives of his children – all of them and us. Note how he prays that God’s work would be shown to his servants and their children. He is not concerned only for his own children, but for all people to know of God’s great love.

Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes wrote the song, The Blessing. It comes straight from Scripture, Numbers 6:23-26. It is beautiful and richly refreshing to me. They then add several “amens” to the song, and ultimately a wish for this blessing to be upon “your children…” Beautiful words adorn the ancient blessing:

May His favor be upon you

And a thousand generations

And your family and your children

And their children, and their children

May His presence go before you

And behind you, and beside you

All around you, and within you

He is with you, He is with you

In the morning, in the evening

In your coming, and your going

In your weeping, and rejoicing

He is for you, He is for you…

Oh how I long for this to be true: May His favor be upon you | And a thousand generations | And your family and your children | And their children, and their children.

This would be my legacy’s hope, more than money, fame, power, or even health. For God’s favor makes all the difference in all of life. Without it we are lost. With it we can weather all storms and most fully enjoy the blessings when the boundary lines of life fall for us in pleasant places (cf. Psalm 16:6-8).

Even if you don’t have children of your own, I pray that you are able to leave such a legacy to those who have known you and loved you.