Old and Flourishing

 

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in their old age, they will stay fresh and green.

—Psalm 92:12-14

Our culture has numerous ways of casting a different view of old age than the Psalmist did in the Scripture verse at the beginning of this blog post. Today, when choosing people for important work in the marketplace or church, more likely than not, the younger person gets the nod.

When even the older people view retirement, instead of hoping for a useful and productive time in their lives, they far too often gravitate toward filling their lives full-to-overflowing with “the good life”—the country club, the golf course, the garden, visits with family and friends, or a pleasureful season of constant cruises and perpetual vacations.

When we look into what the Bible has to say about this matter, we see that God used very old people to accomplish some of His most important work. For example:

• Abraham and Sarah, nearing 100 years of age, became parents of a son who would become a key individual in the birth line of the Messiah.
  
  
• King David wrote Psalms from the perspective of old age.
  
  
• Moses carried out his most impressive assignment after the age of 80.
  
  

After Moses had endured the Israelites’ wandering in the desert for forty years, he penned Psalm 90, which in verse 17, he asked God to “establish the work of our hands.” Even then, Moses didn’t “go into retirement” and quit. He asked God for something new to accomplish. He had seen what appeared as futile drifting by his people, and he wanted to warn them that life is short, and God had work for them to do.

When we study the young mind of Moses in the Book of Exodus, we quickly learn that, although God prepared him to some degree for the work ahead of him, God wanted a mature, seasoned man who had experienced the sad disappointments of life. These disappointments had prepared Moses for the task of leading an entire nation to a new home.

By that time, Moses felt inadequate! He had gone from self-assured at forty (see Exodus 2:11-14) to this humble, cautious man, whom God could use at eighty (see Exodus 3). Then, close to 40 years later, he penned Psalm 90, in which he was asking God to establish his, and the Israelites’ work for them!

When we feel as though God can no longer use us at 65, or 75, or 95, we need to take a look at His servants in Scripture. Read Psalm 71, a Psalm, probably by David, about old age. In verses 17 and 18, David prays:

Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Certainly, we can say that God used Moses in the very manner that Moses’ prayer had requested. In like manner—whether we are young, or middle aged, or old—God wants to use us, as well. Moses, the great intercessor for his people, shows us that even when physical limitations may persist and may hamper our efforts, God can do great things through our prayers.