Psalm 71:9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
This Psalm is not attributed, but it seems quite similar to several that are clearly ascribed to David. In verse 5 it speaks of trusting God from youth, which certainly agrees with David, and verse 6 pegs that to even before birth (which is another slam at the whole idea of abortion). Then this verse carries that through to old age. Devotion to God isn’t just for one season of life! We experience life one day, one second at a time, but God sees it all at once, and He treats us accordingly. It has been said that the only true constant is change, and materially speaking, that is true. However, God is Spirit, and as He tells us, He doesn’t change. (Malachi 3:6) The Psalmist, whether David or not, could be assured that the same God who took him from his mother’s womb would still be there to his last breath, and we can be assured that extends for all eternity. We get anxious about all sorts of things, but the Bible is rightly scattered with instructions not to do so. The word itself isn’t frequent, but Jesus went into detail in Matthew 6 in telling us not to worry, which is the same thing. Paul famously wrote to the Philippians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6) There is much in the world today that can and does provoke anxiety, so we need to take Jesus’ and Paul’s instructions to heart. This verse is asking God not to throw the speaker away when he might seem useless, but we don’t have to even ask that. After all, an infant is totally helpless, yet is totally valuable, and the old and feeble are equally valuable. The devil fights against that valuation, from abortion through euthanasia, but we are to stand firm against his lies. (James 4:7)
When I am a couple of weeks past my 78th birthday, this verse rather jumped out at me! I can certainly identify with verses 5-6, since my parents were missionaries, and I now identify with this verse as well. I am still quite active and healthy for my age, but I recently had a warning flag, and will be having a major physical next month. I certainly don’t have the same body I had in my 20s! However, that isn’t the measure of my value, and I’m not to look at others that way either. I deal with a lot of senior adults – the oldest member of this church is 101 – so this is quite pertinent. We are all here temporarily, and we need to remember that. However, God put us here with very good intentions, and we need to trust Him for that as long as He keeps us here.
Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the level of health with which You have blessed me. Help me be a good steward of that, as well a of every one of the multitude of blessings You have poured out on me, so that all of Your purposes for me may be accomplished, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!
