Sharon W. Betters - Aging with Grace: Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture

Thinking Biblically

Psalm 71

Susan

Elizabeth

This quote is countercultural and counterintuitiveit values aging and is not self-centered. Mrs. Prentiss was thinking biblically and living covenantally. Throughout the Old Testament we are told that one generation shall commend your works to another (Ps. 145:4).

I think Mrs. Prentiss expressed the same heart-posture as the writer of Psalm 71. The author is not named, but commentators agree it is the prayer of an old man. Many think it is likely Davids prayer at the time of the insurrection of his son Absaloma sordid story of rape, murder, and conspiracy blowing up any facade of family unity (2 Sam. 1318). Yet, this is a prayer of one who is flourishing in old age. It may sound extreme, but I think its true: there is no growing in grace apart from prayer.

A Prayer of the Aged for the Ages

Psalm 71:14

In you, O L ord , do I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame!

In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;

incline your ear to me, and save me!

Be to me a rock of refuge,

to which I may continually come;

you have given the command to save me,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,

from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.

Remember the painful context, and reflect on the following characteristics of this psalmists prayer:

• Submission to Gods will
• Tender intimacy with Godnote the personal pronouns.
• Knowledge of and trust in Gods character.
• Hope in God.
• Continual praise.

Scripture tells us, Wisdom is with the aged, / and understanding in length of days (Job 12:12). Biblical wisdom increases the longer we know and trust Jesus . Length of days gives a long-view perspective of the redemption story God writes in our lives. From my eighty-year-old perspective I can now look back and see that nothing was random; nothing was wasted. God used, and continues to use, everythingmy sin, the sin of others against me, the disappointments, sorrows, grief, suffering, times of rejoicing, and times of weepingto shape me into his image. I would not change anything because each thing drew me nearer to him.

David is not paralyzed by feeling failure as a parent or the shame of this public rejection, because his hope is not grounded in people or circumstances. His reference point and refuge is God. A refuge is a place of safety and protection, a sanctuary. David thinks and acts biblically. He flees to God in prayer. We who have fled [to God] for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone (Heb. 6:1820 ).

Growing in Grace

There is no age, sin, or suffering that negates the prayer promise of Hebrews 4:1416: Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,... Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. If we are in Christ, we have access to the inner place behind the curtain where we find grace to grow and flourish in every relationship and situation.

Remembering

David begins to reminisce, a favorite activity of the elderly. John Calvin wrote that Psalm

Pastor George Grant writes:

One of the hazards of the fall is forgetfulness. All of us need regular reminders of the truth of Gods Word and the fidelity of His character in order to persevere in our callings.... And that is why the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers is primarily to bring to our remembrance the Word of Truth (John

Mama was ninety-nine when she died. Her memory was sharp to the last day. Our children and grandchildren were fascinated with the things she remembered, and Mama loved telling stories. In her last years her perspective became more pronounced. Even when she talked about the Great Depression, or all her brothers serving in World War II, or the hardships when she and Daddy lost the farm and moved to a new place to start a new business, she always said, It was hard, but God made it all turn out good. Mama remembered Gods benefits, as David did when he talked to his own soul.

Bless the L ord , O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love [ hesed ] and mercy,

who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagles. (Ps. 103:25 )

Growing in Grace

Thinking biblically means thinking big and longthinking big thoughts about God and praying for spiritual eyes to see his long story of redemption being written in our lives.

Remembering His Youth

Psalm 71:58

For you, O Lord, are my hope,

my trust, O L ord , from my youth.

Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;

you are he who took me from my mothers womb.

My praise is continually of you.

I have been as a portent to many,

but you are my strong refuge.

My mouth is filled with your praise,

and with your glory all the day.

Remembering Gods character inspires David to declare Gods sovereignty and his hope ( tikvah ). Lord , Adonai, means master, the one who has all authority. Lord , or Yahweh , is his personal name of covenant faithfulness and steadfast love ( hesed ). Our knowledge of God reminds us that he formed us in our mothers wombs and gave us our first breath and every breath since that moment. We are his workmanship (Eph. 2:10). Before we knew God, he knew and loved us (Eph. 1:45 ).

Growing in Grace

Going behind the curtain where Jesus is, and remembering his covenant faithfulness and love, ignites hope and fuels praiseelements of flourishing.

Remembering Midlife

Psalm 71:914

Do not cast me off in the time of old age;

forsake me not when my strength is spent.

For my enemies speak concerning me;

those who watch for my life consult together

and say, God has forsaken him;

pursue and seize him,

for there is none to deliver him.

O God, be not far from me;

O my God, make haste to help me!

May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;

with scorn and disgrace may they be covered

who seek my hurt.

But I will hope continually

and will praise you yet more and more.

Many commentators suggest these verses refer to the middle portion of Davids life, which was characterized by enemies, battles, and successes. I asked a group of midlife women what characterizes their lives. Their words included busy , stretched , cuteness (babies), chaos (teens), careers , transitions , tired .

Looking back fortifies David to face the realities of old-age weakness, suffering, and sorrow. Perhaps he remembers that when he walked through valleys of death, God was with him (Ps. 23). The Lord was always the stronghold of his life (Ps. 27), the one who even used the sin of his adultery and murder to teach him about the grace of repentance and the mercy of forgiveness and restoration (Ps. 51).

A long view helps us see Gods gracious hand of

Psalm 71:14 is a testimony of how remembering results in an unbroken hope and a mature praise.

Growing in Grace

We flourish in old age when we look back and praise the Lord that all things worked together according to his purpose to make us more like Jesus, and nothing ever separated us from his love (Rom. 8:2839). This long view of the redemptive story God is writing in our lives equips us to help the younger generation see the beauty and significance of each part of their story.