AGE TO AGE
Opening Prayer
Thank You, God, that the more I know You, the more I want to know You. Be known in me today.
Read Psalm 71
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Psalm 71
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
7 I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.
9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.”
12 Do not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
13 May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.
14 As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 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.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
20 Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.
22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How deep is your relationship with God? How long have you known him?In his book, Falling Upward, Richard Rohr addresses the subject of Christian discipleship in the second half of life. He challenges us that the “containers” that held our theology, practice and understanding in earlier years may need to be exchanged for ones that reflect changes and opportunities.
This psalm echoes something of the realism that comes with aging. The psalmist is anxious that God may overlook him in his old age (9,18) and reminds God that he has been a disciple since he was young (17). In a wider culture that often celebrates and notices young people, it can also be with the church. I know from firsthand knowledge that there are many people of mature years who feel overlooked and forgotten. Their prayer is this psalm. Maybe it’s your prayer too. And like the psalmist we need to capture the audacity of faith. “I will come and proclaim Your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim Your righteous deeds, Yours alone” (16).
Apply
What season are you in with your relationship with God? Are you in the newness of spring? The frozen winter of waiting? Take time to talk with God and just work on building your relationship.
Closing prayer
Father, I have lived through different seasons, but today I turn to You for a fresh encounter.
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