30 Days of Praying for Children and FamiliesНамуна

This psalm makes a bold claim: “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families…” (Psalm 68:5-6a, NIV)

But what did this mean in practice?

Because of the way society was structured at that time, a child’s loss of a father or a widow’s loss of a husband made them very vulnerable to marginalisation and exploitation. It could be a matter of life and death.

Instead, God is celebrated as the one who would ensure their survival and flourishing. We see in these verses a rejection of isolation and loneliness and the vulnerabilities these entail, and a move towards resilience.

Prayer

God of love,

You set the lonely in families.

Thank you for families of all shapes and sizes: immediate or extended, related by blood or united by love.

Thank you for the gift of children: for their limitless potential, boundless energy, and constant curiosity.

Help me to be your hands and feet, welcoming the lonely and inviting those I meet into community.