Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
The Social Vision of a God-fearing Family
The musical
rendering of Psalm 128 in Malayalam - a beautiful melody, especially when sung
by a choir - with its specific focus on family, is a popular number at wedding
services in Kerala. There have been criticisms, however, in recent times on the
appropriateness of this song for the occasion. The entire psalm is addressed to
a man and his blessing is that “Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within
your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.” (v. 3).
Our vision of the family today, however, is one of a place where the members
are guided by mutual respect, love and shared responsibilities; not one lording
over another. In the American context especially, Indian women have long
ceased to be “fruitful vine within your house,” but many spend long hours
outside the home, often as the primary bread winners of the family, necessitating
men to shoulder several of the traditional “woman’s chores” within the house.
With regard to the children in the family too, we have rejected the Victorian
norm of “children are to be seen and not heard”. Today, children’s voices are
listened to and respected.
What is relevant
for all times, however, is the cosmic vision of this psalm that links the
well-being of the family to the well-being of the larger society. Our image of
the “family” is often that of an exclusive community in which we work
for our own prosperity. Some Biblical scholars have interpreted the
choice of imagery in verse 2 (“You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings
and prosperity will be yours.”) as indicating that God’s blessing is that one
should get enough to eat (and not unlimited food) and this should be the result
of the work of his/her hands. According to Rabbi Malbim, this is a subtle
indication that one should not desire too much wealth. Contrary to popular
notion, the Bible does not conceive of a state of blessedness that is merely
personal and private. “Prosperity theology”, so popular in our churches today,
is clearly contrary to the principles of God.
Verses 5 and 6
extend this social vision to include a larger canvas in which the blessing on
the family is closely linked to the well-being of the nation as well. God’s
blessing is at different levels - individual, household and nation – and is
extended from generation to generation. Accordingly, this short psalm has a
thematic growth: it begins with a blessed nuclear family as the microcosm of
the society but concludes with a grand vision in which God’s blessing
transcends generations and brings peace upon the nation. It is the fulfillment
of a life-cycle and faith-journey.
Prayer: Help
me, O Lord, to meditate upon your Word with the prayer: what does this speak to
me today?
Thought for the day:
Whatever the diverse responsibilities are that the various members of the
family have to bear from time to time and place to place, the commitment to
bring out the best in each other needs to be our guiding principle.
Dr.
Jesudas M. Athyal. Carmel MTC, Boston
.