Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
There's More to Do
Today’s Verse:
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. ~Psalm 71:18
Psalm 71 was written by David during the time his son Absalom revolted against him. The tone of this psalm reflects an older believer who is clinging on to God in faith and dependence. He recognizes his insecurities and weaknesses more than ever before. He does not want the adversarial situation that he is facing to be his end. He is praying and asking God to come alongside of him because there is more to do. There are three things David teaches us about being greatly used of God as we grow older.
We see the experience.
In verse 17, David said, “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.” David remembered that everything that he knew about living a victorious spiritual life was ingrained in him when he was younger. When we go back to 1 Samuel 16, we see that, even as a youth, David had a good reputation for faith, courage, talent, wisdom, and conviction. The many virtues he was taught helped make him a king. If you are a young Christian, take advantage of every opportunity to let the Lord teach you in all things. If you have been saved for many years, don’t let go of the valuable things you were taught.
We see the exposure.
The older we get, the more our times of trials and hardships increase. We are exposed to things that will either harden us or draw us closer to God. In this psalm, we have an older David who is still clinging to God in faith. Consider in verse 5, where he says, “For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” Throughout this psalm, David speaks about God being his hope. His hope was not in the mass of accumulations that he was blessed with. Running from Absalom showed him how temporary and vain the worldly accumulations were. He had no other refuge and hope than what he had in the Lord. He was being criticized and maligned, but he kept clinging to the Lord. Don’t let the disappointments associated with getting older make you cynical: determine that these things will increase your submission.
We see the explanation.
David had faith that things would turn around. He was not sure at that moment how, but he knew that God would not forsake him. David knew that there was more to do. In verse 18, he is asking God not to write him off yet. He is asking for extended time to show this generation the strength and power of God. He could not fight the battles like before, but he had valuable experiences to share that could help show those who were fighting how God could help them. Are you living a life of dependence upon God that will help the next generation to learn to lean on the Lord through thick and thin?
There’s more to do! Don’t get tired of the work of God. Keep going strong. Take everything that God places in your life as a gift to increase your experience. Let your experience be the asset that you pass down to the younger generation. As someone younger in the faith, take advantage of seeking the wisdom, experience, and blessings of someone who has traveled the path ahead of you.
Have a faith-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Job 40-42
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