We know the importance of a good foundation for building a house. We also know that we need skilled trades people as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, even decorators to build upon that foundation. If everyone does their job well, we are left with a solidly built house.
The psalmist isn’t talking about a physical house in our text; a family is what is being sung about. Yesterday, we talked about family trees; today, we talk about the family units on that tree. But I’d like to expand that to include not only our nuclear and extended families, but our spiritual family (the Church), and the human family (nations) as well.
Families are fragile units; we witness their breakdown almost daily. Divorce, siblings not talking, churches splitting, and nations constantly bickering and at war. The psalmist observed the same and indicates that there is a better way. The way? The Lord is to build the house. A house built by the Lord—family, church or nation—has as its foundation the principles identified in Wednesday’s devotion, namely, justice, loving kindness and humility. It is up to us to be the skilled builders who, under the direction of God’s Holy Spirit, build wisely upon that foundation.
Holy Spirit of God, give us the skill to be master builders upon your foundation. Amen. —