Today’s Scripture Reading (September
1, 2013): Psalm 45
For some
people, the highlight of the summer was the birth of a baby. And what makes
this a little strange is that this baby has a following of people (admitted
mostly ladies, but a few men) that he will never get to meet. In fact, he
already has a following of people who his parents do not know. And, within
hours of his birth, he already had a Wikipedia entry all his own. And all he
done up until that time was breathe (he has probably added poop and drink to
his repertoire by now.) His name is George. The name is a little unassuming,
but it is a family name. And the world has already come to know him as George
of Cambridge. And George of Cambridge at the time of his birth sat number three
on the chart of people that could possibly ascend to the throne of the British
Empire. In fact, he is the third of only three people on the list that are certain
to become king if they live long enough. The three certainties are Prince
Charles (the Prince of Wales and the son of the reigning monarch Elizabeth II),
Prince William (the Duke of Cambridge and the oldest son of Prince Charles),
and Prince George (the oldest and currently only son of Prince William.)
Everyone else on the chart of ascension will only become king (or queen) if all
three of these men die – and only if they die before George is able to have a
son of his own. Right now we know the probable monarchs of the British Empire
for the next seventy to eighty years – and their names are Elizabeth, Charles,
William and George.
We have
tried to spiritualize this passage and make it relate to the coming Christ. For
some, the way that this is phrased connects David (standing in the position of
Father) with Jesus (assuming the position of the sons.) And the whole idea of
the passage is that David stands as the model king, and he will stand as the
model king until the coming of the Messiah. Only then will David be replaced.
And maybe that is there somewhere in the background. But the surface thought is
fairly simple – the youngest son will probably become the elder statesman of
the family – it is something that is true in absolutely every family on earth. Sons
replace their fathers and their grandfathers. And the purpose of everything
that we do with our sons (and daughters) during their growing up years to
prepare them for the task that is in front of them – the task of replacing us.
My grandfather
anxiously awaited for his first born grandson. He was not a king, but in his
mind he wanted someone who would “carry on the Mullen name.” It was important.
But I don’t think it was just the name. He wanted someone who could carry on
the respectability of the family. The grandfather awaited the arrival of the
grandson – and he was not alone. Grandfathers have been doing that since the
beginning of time. Because it is the sons and the daughters that are destined
to become princes and princesses of the family. And our family is continued
through their lives. It is the way it has always been.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalm
46 & 47
No comments:
Post a Comment