The World From Our Window: Aging Gracefully: A Psalmist's Look at Growing Old(er)!

Psalm 71: Aging Gracefully!


Excerpt:

I plead with you to listen, so that 30 and 40 and 50 years from now, your testimony will echo the writing of the Psalmist in verse 17 of this chapter (ESV).

“O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.”

Let us turn our attention to the hope-giving words of an aging believer in Psalm 71 … words which challenge both young and old alike to put their trust in God and to praise Him for sustaining His own!


Comment:

It's been my privilege to watch my Mother, now 86 and a half, age gracefully!

I hope that I can do as well!

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1. Kathee and I read Exodus 35 & 36 tonight. The following pertains to giving (context: for the Tabernacle)
   
   
   
   1. 35:4-5, "And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: ‘Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze ...'"
      
   2. 35:21-22, "Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the LORD"
      
   3. 36:3-7, "So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do.” So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” And the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done—indeed too much"
      
   
   
2. Kathee writing more reviews.
   
3. I am reading (the paper, a new book I received, Hodge)
   

I see in the above (offerings for the tabernacle) these principles:

1. God commanded (the construction of the tabernacle)
   
2. Moses presented (the need)
   
3. Moses invited (the people to give)
   
4. The Spirit stirred & the people yielded
   
5. The people gave (in abundance)
   

I see something else in the broader narrative. What the people gave had been given them by God. It was not properly "their own" as they had plundered the nation of Egypt. (Exodus 12:26, "Thus they plundered the Egyptians")