“Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.” Psalm 127:3-5 NIV
I have always enjoyed archery. When I was a kid, my parents bought me a wooden recurve bow. I would often take off through the pasture searching for things to shoot at. Recently, my brother sparked the interest once again by organizing a family archery contest. My boys and I have been practicing and it has provided a great way for us to get outside doing something together. I believe my seven-year-old is the best shot out of us all.
The other day as we were shooting, the verse above came to my mind. I came across this verse after my first son was born and it has always been one of my favorites. If you look for this verse now, the updated translations have replaced the word “sons” with “children,” but it was originally translated into English as “sons.” It is referring to a father, a warrior, and his sons, his warriors in training, growing together. The warrior begins having sons as a young, inexperienced, man full of life, energy, and bravery. He trains his sons in the way of a warrior. Over time, they grow together. The warrior, the father, begins to transition from his original and primary role as protector and provider to now a wise sage releasing his young warriors into the world.
In turn, his young warriors, his sons, have also grown and are in a transition of their own. They have watched their father, learned from their father, and are now battle ready like their father once was. They are now preparing to be launched into the world by their father, just like a warrior who reaches into his quiver, grabs an arrow and shoots at his target.
It is important to note that a warrior does two things before releasing an arrow.
- He spends time forming his arrows. He takes into consideration the weight, the size, and the arrow-dynamics. He chooses the correct stone to shape and sharpen for the head. He finds the right kind of wood to create the shaft. He secures the fletching to give the arrow the correct drag and accuracy during flight. When he is finished creating the arrow, he then tests them and trains with them, making adjustments and repairs to ensure that they will be battle-ready.
- He aims his arrow at his intended target. The warrior has spent time perfecting his arrows and makes sure that he is intentional when he launches them. He does not release them at random. He has practiced with them many times and knows what they can do. He releases them at his intended target with full confidence they will do what they were created to do. These arrows are special. They were handcrafted. Each one is slightly different and unique yet serves a specific purpose. Knowing his arrows, I can imagine that he may even select a specific one depending on the situation.
What a great depiction of a father and his sons. Men, whether you realize it or not, you are a warrior and you are raising warriors. Your boys are your arrows. Are you shaping them, sharpening them, training with them, and getting them ready for their release at the intended target? If you are not, then they will be launched aimlessly. When arrows are released at random, they can unintentionally hurt or destroy. We see this in full view today. Arrows in the hands of a warrior are needed for our world to maintain its intended balance. These arrows do not need to be replaced, restructured, or canceled from the battle. They need to be trained. The warrior, the father, must realize who he really is and how vital his arrows are.
Be the warrior you were created to be so that your sons may be launched fully equipped when it is time for battle. It starts with you, dad. It is time for you to rise up and become a Man Among Boys.
