Psalm 71 The Message
71 1-3 I run for dear life to God,
I’ll never live to regret it.
Do what you do so well:
get me out of this mess and up on my feet.
Put your ear to the ground and listen,
give me space for salvation.
Be a guest room where I can retreat;
you said your door was always open!
You’re my salvation—my vast, granite fortress.
4-7 My God, free me from the grip of Wicked,
from the clutch of Bad and Bully.
You keep me going when times are tough—
my bedrock, God, since my childhood.
I’ve hung on you from the day of my birth,
the day you took me from the cradle;
I’ll never run out of praise.
Many gasp in alarm when they see me,
but you take me in stride.
8-11 Just as each day brims with your beauty,
my mouth brims with praise.
But don’t turn me out to pasture when I’m old
or put me on the shelf when I can’t pull my weight.
My enemies are talking behind my back,
watching for their chance to knife me.
The gossip is: “God has abandoned him.
Pounce on him now; no one will help him.”
12-16 God, don’t just watch from the sidelines.
Come on! Run to my side!
My accusers—make them lose face.
Those out to get me—make them look
Like idiots, while I stretch out, reaching for you,
and daily add praise to praise.
I’ll write the book on your righteousness,
talk up your salvation all the day long,
never run out of good things to write or say.
I come in the power of the Lord God,
I post signs marking his right-of-way.
17-24 You got me when I was an unformed youth,
God, and taught me everything I know.
Now I’m telling the world your wonders;
I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.
God, don’t walk off and leave me
until I get out the news
Of your strong right arm to this world,
news of your power to the world yet to come,
Your famous and righteous
ways, O God.
God, you’ve done it all!
Who is quite like you?
You, who made me stare trouble in the face,
Turn me around;
Now let me look life in the face.
I’ve been to the bottom;
Bring me up, streaming with honors;
turn to me, be tender to me,
And I’ll take up the lute and thank you
to the tune of your faithfulness, God.
I’ll make music for you on a harp,
Holy One of Israel.
When I open up in song to you,
I let out lungsful of praise,
my rescued life a song.
All day long I’m chanting
about you and your righteous ways,
While those who tried to do me in
slink off looking ashamed.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
When I Am Growing Old and Feeble … Stand By Me
When the storms of life are raging
Stand by me
When the storms of life are raging
Stand by me
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship out on the sea
Thou who rulest wind and water
Stand by me
When I’m growing old and feeble
Stand by me
When I’m growing old and feeble
Stand by me
When I do the best I can
And my friends misunderstand
Thou who never
Lost a battle
Stand by me
Thou who never lost a battle
Stand by me
Author: Charles Albert Tindley (1905)
What More Is There For Our “Grey Headed” Spirituality?
Psalm 71:9-18 Authorized (King James) Version
9 Cast me not off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength faileth.
10 For mine enemies speak against me;
and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,
11 saying, God hath forsaken him:
persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.
12 O God, be not far from me:
O my God, make haste for my help.
13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul;
let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually,
and will yet praise thee more and more.
15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day;
for I know not the numbers thereof.
16 I will go in the strength of the Lord God:
I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth:
and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.
18 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 ( AKJV) reads, “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.”
This verse is a poignant plea to God for strength and guidance, even in old age.
The unacknowledged , unidentified psalmist acknowledges the inevitability of old age and the challenges that come with it, but also the psalmist expresses a deep desire to continue to serve others and glorify God throughout their life.
There are several key themes and layers of meaning in this verse, which can be explored in detail to gain a deeper understanding of its significance.
One theme that stands out in this verse is the concept of age, resilience and perseverance. The psalmist is acknowledging their age and the challenges that come with it, yet they are not asking, praying, for relief from those challenges.
Instead, they are asking for God to not forsake them, to continue to provide strength and guidance so that they may continue to fulfill their purpose in serving God and showing His strength and wisdom unto future generations.
This speaks mightily to the idea of the psalmist’s enduring faith and dedication, despite the mounting “grayheaded” difficulties and limitations of his old age.
Another theme present in this verse is the irresistible covenant requirement to be passing on of his “grayheaded” faith and wisdom unto future generations.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Amplified Bible
4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one [the only God]! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]. 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your [a]children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up. 8 And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (forearm), and they shall be used as [b]bands (frontals, frontlets) on your forehead. 9 You shall write them on the [c]doorposts of your house and on your gates.
The psalmist expresses a deep desire to show God’s strength and power to the next generation and to all who are to come.
This reflects a deep sense of responsibility and a recognition of the importance of passing on the knowledge and experience of grayheaded faith unto others.
It speaks to the idea of leaving a lasting legacy of faith and a commitment to spreading the message of God’s power and goodness to future generations.
The context of this verse is also important to consider.
The book of Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs that express a wide range of emotions and experiences. Many of the psalms were written by King David, who faced numerous trials and challenges throughout his life.
In this particular psalm, the writer is seeking God’s protection and deliverance from stronger enemies, as well as expressing their trust in God’s faithfulness.
In the midst of their struggles, they are also reflecting on the passage of time and the great challenges that come with old age, and they are seeking God’s continued presence and strength to carry them through.
Symbolism is also present in this verse, particularly in the imagery of old age and gray hair.
In many cultures, old age is symbolic of the accumulation wisdom, experience, and the accumulation of knowledge.
By invoking the image of being old and grayheaded, the psalmist is hereby acknowledging the wisdom and perspective that comes with age, the value of that wisdom in serving God and teaching future generations.
The gray hair symbolizes a life well-lived, lessons well learned and the desire to continue to be of service and value to God, future generations, even in old age.
Why Is Spiritual Growth Important? – Senior Living
Romans 12:1-2 Amplified Bible
Dedicated Service
12 [a]Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].
Recently, on my Social Media feed, someone posted this story which hit me;
In the mid-1700s, a shipload of migrants landed on the northwest coast of America. Their first year, they established a site on which they’d build their village. The second year, they elected a village government. The third year, the village government made the risky decision to build a road stretching five miles westward into the wilderness.
In the fourth year, the townspeople tried to overthrow their own government because they believed building a road five miles into the wilderness was a waste of money. The very same people who saw thousands of miles across an ocean and overcame hardships to get there couldn’t see five miles down the road!
They had gone too far, reached the outer limits and so, refused to go further.
Many Christians are a lot like those townspeople.
They reach “their limit” a point in their walk with Christ and think they have no further to go, more to offer. It’s they’ve become “close enough with God to be comfortable,” so they go into “maintenance mode” and stop moving forward.
Our comfort in Christ comes from the fact that throughout our life, through our experiences, both good and bad, through faith, we are firmly planted in Him.
2 Timothy 1:3-11 Amplified Bible
3 I thank God, whom I worship and serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 and as I recall your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I remember your sincere and unqualified faith [the surrendering of your entire self to God in Christ with confident trust in His power, wisdom and goodness, a faith] which first lived in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am confident that it is in you as well. 6 That is why I remind you to [a]fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment] which is in you through the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].
8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or about me His prisoner, but with me take your share of suffering for the gospel [continue to preach regardless of the circumstances], in accordance with the power of God [for His power is invincible], 9 for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago], 10 but now [that extraordinary purpose and grace] has been fully disclosed and realized by us through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who [through His incarnation and earthly ministry] abolished death [making it null and void] and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher [of this good news regarding salvation].
But as we grow and mature, we surrender daily as we are transformed more and more into His image. We cannot be content in just yesterday’s spiritual growth.
The message from the “grayheaded” Psalmist in Psalm 71 is move continually forward in sharing your faith and surrendering your life to Christ day by day!
Prayer Challenge
From where ever you are in becoming “grayheaded” ask God to show you how, when, why, to surrender each day to Him so you’ll continue growing in Christ.
Questions for Thought
As your “grayhead” becomes more “evident,” why do you think becoming spiritually comfortable is such a common tendency among believers?
As those gray hairs become more obvious to you, others, what are some things you can do daily that will help you continually give your life over unto Christ?
In conclusion, Psalm 71:18 ( AKJV) is a powerful expression of faith, resilience, and a deep, ongoing, never ending commitment to serving God, even in old age.
It speaks to the enduring nature of faith, the importance of passing on wisdom and knowledge to future generations, of future generations to continue to pass on, and the symbolism of old age as a time of continued service and dedication.
However old we are, this verse serves as a encouraging, empowering reminder to all believers to seek God’s strength and guidance throughout their lives, and to continue to be a light and example of faith to those who’ll come after them.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 103 The Message
103 1-2 O my soul, bless God.
From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
don’t forget a single blessing!
3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
6-18 God makes everything come out right;
he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
as they follow his Covenant ways
and remember to do whatever he said.
19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
he rules over us all. He’s the King!
So bless God, you angels,
ready and able to fly at his bidding,
quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
everything and everyone made by God.
And you, O my soul, bless God!
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 