16th May 2025

One of my favourite Old Testament texts is Psalm 16:6: ‘The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.’ In his helpful, little commentary on the Psalms, Harry Mowvley suggests that the worshipper saying these words was a Levite, one of the Israelite tribe set apart for the service of God, but deliberately not given any land in Canaan by which they might support themselves and their families. Instead, they would be sustained from the offerings brought to the sanctuary in worship of God by the other tribes. Even if the psalmist has no actual land granted to him, still he delights in this special provision for his tribe and, indeed, in all God’s care of him.

The ‘land’ allotted to most of us is similarly metaphorical, and, speaking personally, like the psalmist, I feel I’ve been well-provided for. Things may not have always worked out as I’d hoped – yes, there were some definite disappointments on the way, and not every door I tried opened to me – but I think I’ve done pretty well, all told. I’m actually grateful that some of my prayers weren’t answered in the way I hoped at the time, and if you ask me what I’d change if I could, I’m not sure I’d want to risk what I have now by fiddling with any of it! I’m grateful for the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve been through, the opportunities I’ve been given, all that I’ve learnt on the journey, and, above all, for the generous love I’ve received. The places of my habitation have indeed been pleasant!

Ken Stewart