We have heard it with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. – Psalm 44:1

Today's Scripture Reading (September 17, 2025): Psalm 44

I am lucky. In my library, which is getting smaller as I cull books that don't bring me joy, I have sermons that were written by my Great-Grandfather, Hallett Mullen, a man who died a couple of years before I was born. I also have writings from my Grandmother, and a family history that was written by someone on my maternal Grandmother's side of the family tree. I also possess recordings of my paternal Grandfather singing, along with recordings from a Great Uncle and my Great Grandparents. One of my regrets is that I never had the chance to sing and play with my Grandfather. Maybe I can make up for it by playing in a worship band with two of my grandsons. William (drums) and Henry (guitar) are young, but they are also becoming good, solid musicians, and I am excited to see where their talent will take them in the future.

Among the treasures is also a recorded testimony of my Grandfather and what God had done in his life. Along with memories of things that he has said over the years in various situations, I have some solid memories from the generations that have gone before. I remember my Grandfather, a professional singer, telling me that he didn't see what he did as a concert. He was uncomfortable standing on a stage, surrounded by his fans (I am sure that is not what grandpa would call them), singing like Bing Crosby or Dean Martin. (My Grandfather did pattern his voice after Bing, and I still hear grandpa singing whenever I hear Bing, something that often happens around Christmas time.) He regarded himself as more of an Ed McMahon setting up for his version of Johnny Carson. I know that he had a few favorite speakers with whom he loved to work.

David says that he has heard of the legacy of God with his own ears; that the legacy has been passed down through the generations to him. I think David is speaking of an oral tradition that we miss in our culture. I am thankful for what I have, but I wish it were more of a normal situation. David heard the stories of God from his Father, Jesse. Perhaps David, like me, had heard God stories from his Grandfather, Obed. Obed, in turn, would have heard the tales of God from his Father, Boaz, a significant figure in the story of Ruth.

Today, I think we often believe that we know more than the generations that went before us. And in some areas we do, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't open our ears and listen to their stories. We need these stories. We need to hear the stories about how God moved in the lives of those who lived in the days before we existed. These stories need to be passed down to future generations, so that we can echo the words of David and say that we, too, have heard the stories of what God did in the days of our ancestors.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 84