And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come." Psalm 71:18
Psalm 71 is written by an unnamed aged writer. There is much to be gleaned from His writings. He prays with confidence for God’s deliverance based on his lifelong experiences of God’s faithfulness in his life. This is the advantage of having lived life long enough to allow God to reveal His wonderful attributes in your life personally. One of the most important responsibilities of the older believer is to declare God’s wondrous deeds to the younger generation.
If we choose to walk with God throughout our lives at a young age we are able to proclaim the faithfulness of God as He has been a rock of habitation to which we have continually come. In verses 5-6 the writer lets us know his hope is in God who has been his confidence from his youth and sustained him from birth. He has always taken refuge in God in times of trouble.
He now cries out in verse 9:
"Do not cast me off in the time of old age. Do not forsake me when my strength fails."
He continues to pray for deliverance from his enemies who have spoken against him and are saying God has forsaken him. He prays his adversaries will be ashamed and consumed. He then declares in verses 14-15:
"But as for me, I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of your righteousness and of Your salvation all day long, for I do not know the sum of them."
I can relate to this Psalmist. I have learned to hope in my Father continually. It has become a way of life through the years. You realize there is only one true God. My love increases for Him the longer I live, and yes, I find myself praising Him more and more. All of our mouths should be declaring the righteousness of our God and of the salvation He offers which protects us from sin and its consequences. We shall never be able to know the greatness of our God until we see Him face to face. How I look forward to that day.
I leave those who are of the older population with a challenge to declare the glory of God to the next generation. His glory is His goodness. Live a life of intimacy with the Trinity that you might impart who God really is to those around us. Let us all, no matter our age, seek Him with all our hearts, and He will let Himself be found. The beauty of entering into the winter season of life is to know you will see Him soon and truly be home where we belong with our Lord and Savior! Let us all look forward to our future with Him!
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
One of my greatest joys is declaring the greatness of our God to our youngest generation of grandchildren. These are my three youngest: Catherine Johanna 2, Caleb Hayes 3, and Levi Benson, 10.
