This, then, is the family line of Perez:
Perez was the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz,
Boaz the father of Obed,
Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of David.
I have a fondness for stained glass windows and always have done, apparently York Minster has the largest collection of medieval stained glass in the UK. For me walking around a place where worship has happened through the centuries, marvelling at the craftmanship and beauty displayed is a delight.
One of the windows I came across is called the Jesse window and it appeared to me a little strange, there is a man lying at the bottom of the window with a tree growing out of his middle. Not the most flattering of ways to be depicted in art, however the point is made, and it shows his linkage to David but also in the lineage of Jesus Christ as well. However, there are many others who are also included within the line, and each with their part to play and their story to tell but about whom we often know nothing.
Throughout the Bible there are occasional genealogies recorded to remind the reader where King David, and then Jesus came from. Each name included is important, and yet as we read the names some are familiar, and others have no resonance for us. Having joined with others studying Ruth we thought afresh about the importance of each name and their contribution within history. Obed’s mother being Ruth the Moabite a woman who came from another land, with a different faith who became the great-grandmother of David.
Most will have known nothing of the future King David and their part in history. Often those who have helped us in our walk of faith are unaware of the encouragement, direction, or challenge that they have given us and of its impact on our thinking and acting. Over the years since first committing myself to becoming a disciple of Jesus there have been many preachers, teachers and friends who have helped shape my faith, and have encouraged me to live as a Christian.
However, l will always remember with gratitude and thanksgiving those who first helped my faith, the elderly gentleman who encouraged me to write articles for the Woodbridge Link, the man who paid so that I could attend an MAYC weekend in London, the lady passionate about teaching faith, and the woman who prayed. All special people in my life whose small acts of kindness, care and generosity helped to encourage my faith.
A prayer
Lord God, thank you for the many who have encouraged my faith, who have challenged me to live out daily my discipleship in visible and distinctive ways.
May I provide the encouragement, the finance, the example that bring those around me closer to you.
Amen