Age With Sage

AGE WITH SAGE: THE OLD MAN AND THE PSALM (PSALM 71)

Less than three months before my retirement age in August this year (2025), I was asked to say a few words at a fellowship’s anniversary, so I told them my three golden quotes on future retirement I had shared with my good friend Hartman Cheng days ago, though my contract was extended for a year:

1. “Better work than not!” These were the first words I said to Cheng when he visited me in hospital in 2018 for a minor stroke.

2. “If not work now, then when?” It’s better to work before dementia, debility and diseases pay a visit!

3. “If it’s easy, you’re not needed!” These were the golden words from my wife in response to a friend’s complaint.

I almost wanted to title this sermon as “The Old Man and the Psalm.” Psalm 71 talked about “old” (vv 9, 18) more than any chapter in the Bible, but it’s for the young, too, because there’s more talk of “youth” than any psalm. The noun “old” occurs six times in the Bible; two (vv 9, 18) in this chapter, more than any chapter in the Bible.

Have you found yourself losing devotion, direction and development as you age? How are you wiser as you age? Why is aging a friend and not a foe?

Lord, Be Our Passion and Praise

1 In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; 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, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men. 5 For you have been my hope, O 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 like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge. 8 My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.

Three weeks before my retirement age, I sent this note to brothers and sisters: “Prayer collection is one third done. I will rest till mid-August retirement date, but my contract was extended one year with thanksgiving!”

Later, I asked my staff if the message was OK. One said, “In thanksgiving, there is no need of “BUT!”

Psalms 71 is a very expressive and earnest psalm to engage the Lord. The cohortative or the first person imperative “Let me never/not” (v 1 “) as well as “let me never + be put to shame,” as the first verse in the Psalms occurs only twice in the Bible (Ps 31:1, 71:1). The strong, staunch and steely negation “Let me never” is a literary device from Psalms on (25:2, 20), and not the books before. The verb “ashamed” starts, covers and ends Psalm 71 (vv 1, 13, 24). The first occurrence of the word in the Bible is for Eve and Adam were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not “ashamed” (Gen 2:25). Ashamed in Bible is to be confounded, confused and contradicted. It means not to feel disapproved, disgraced and discredited.

Verse 2 has the most “me” in one verse in the book of Psalms. The two imperatives in verse 2 (“turn your ear to me and save me”) are “turn” and “save.” Turn is to bow or bend and bring oneself lower. It is not narcissistic or neurotic, but to connect, call and cry to the Lord for His presence, protection and perseverance.

Verse 3 has three nouns and objects– “refuge/habitat,” “rock” and “fortress.” There is an all-important reason (ki) in the verse before “rock” and fortress.” Refuge is shelter and rock is stone, while fortress is stronghold. Refuge is on the inside, rock is on the outside and fortress is upward.

Rock Fortress

Stone Stronghold

Out Up

Bedrock Bulwark

Verse 3 and 4 have the imperatives “Be” (v 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) and “Deliver” (v 4 DELIVER me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of evil and cruel men. 5 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth). Verse 3 describes objects and verse 4 people. Just as there are three objects in verse 3 – rock of refuge/habitation, rock and fortress, there are three types of people in verse 4 – the “wicked” or unholy person, the evil or immoral, and the cruel, or unleavened or unmoved person.