A PROMISE TO THE ELDERLY!

Psalms 92:12-15 NLT
[12] “But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. [13] For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. [14] Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. [15] They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”

No one told us who wrote this psalm, but it sounds like something David would have written. If it was David, he had a word for old people too. Perhaps he wrote this when he was old, speaking, as usual from his own vast experience of God from early childhood.

God loves old people. The Bible has much to say about old people. For example, some of the elderly have wisdom and experience gathered over many years of godly living.

Proverbs 16:31 NLT
[31] “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.”

It may also be true for some, that grey hair is a sign of decadence, like Israel when they refused to live inside God’s covenant. Instead, they worshipped idols, causing decay in their lives which they hadn’t even noticed.

Hosea 7:9 NLT
[9] “Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Their hair is gray, but they don’t realize they’re old and weak.”

However, the Word of God also has special promises for grey-haired old people. Isaiah reassured the elderly in Israel that God had cared for them from before their birth and would continue to do so into their old age.

Isaiah 46:3-4 NLT
[3] “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. [4] I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

Old age is a time of rest and reflection. God’s faithfulness fills the memories of the elderly…so many time of crisis or need when God answered their cry for help. Again, David testified to God’s goodness throughout his life.

Psalms 37:25 NLT
[25] “Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.”

No matter where he was or what his circumstances, God watched over, protected, fed, and cared for His son, David… and he knew it.

Solomon also had a word…for the young. With apt description, he urged them to honour the Lord in their youth., “Don’t wait until old age eats away at your body and mind. Honour and fear God now, while you can.”

Ecclesiastes 12:1-6 NLT
[1] “Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant any more.” [2] Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. [3] Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly. [4] Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint. [5] Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral. [6] Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well.”

Solomon certainly felt the ravages of old age in his body!

God also has promises for old people…The elderly don’t have to go out like a spent candle. When God called Moses home, he was still as strong at 120 as he was when he was young. He died because his work was finished.

Psalms 92:14-15 NLT
[14] “Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. [15] They will declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”

Can we, too, like Moses, not aspire to be good finishers, doing God’s work until He calls us home? What an honour to be fruitful until the end of life, flourishing in the presence of God and in the company of His people! What a testimony to God’s faithfulness! Never a single moment when the Lord did us wrong!

The next generation needs the witness and example of godly men and women who have run the race, stayed the course, and never given up through thick and thin. They have gone on in the assurance of a rich welcome into God’s eternal kingdom.