Psalm 127:5

“Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. Such men will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.”

The family shepherd here is intentional. He has ‘filled his quiver’ with arrows. The arrows didn’t just end up in the quiver by the grace of God. In this context, he and his wife have made the faith decision to do what they can to fill their home with children, whether through adoption or childbirth or extended family living together. This is a happy home because the man has intentionally filled it with children.  

And it remains a happy home because these same children influence the father’s relationships.  His position and his posture in the community is partly a product of his large family. Security and safety come from the Lord who provides to the man these same children. The gate is where decisions and judgments are made. It is the public place of debate and the man with many children and grandchildren will likely have increased public exposure, posture and credibility in this community. There would be no shame to the man with a large extended family but rather he would be seen as capable and competent and a recipient of God’s favor. 

Children are a blessing to the family shepherd and the reasons why they are a blessing are endless. It is  time for the God’s Church to counter the lies of the culture and teach young people this truth.