Growing Old God's Way (2020)

SERMON OUTLINE:

• Theme #1: Develop a Knowledge of God.

• Theme #2: Develop Good Habits.

• Theme #3: Develop a Lifestyle of Serving God.

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• Growing old has been described as the, ‘metallic age’.

• That is when you get silver in your hair, gold in your teeth and lead in your feet.

• They say the expression; “See no evil, hear no evil & speak no evil”

• Becomes even more true as you get old it

• “See no evil” because you’ve lost your glasses again!

• “Hear no evil” because you forgot to turn on your hearing aid”

• “Speak no evil” because you forgot to put your teeth in again!

• TRANSITION:

• To some people the prospect of growing old is not humorous but frightening:

• i.e. An aging body which is more susceptible to illness.

• i.e. Declining strength; feelings of uselessness (especially after retirement).

• i.e. The loss of friends and loved ones through death.

• i.e. The reality of one’s own death drawing nearer.

• i.e. Loneliness; feelings of alienation from one’s children and grandchildren,

• Who are busy with other interests and pursuits.

• i.e. And, very often, financial concerns due to dwindling income.

So, for some old age is a gloomy thought.

• This unnamed psalm explores the subject of ageing,

• And it explores it positively with great openness and honesty,

Psalm 71 is the Psalm of an old man (verses 9, 17 &18):

“Do not cast me away when I am old;

do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”

“Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvellous deeds.”

“Even when I am old and grey,

do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your mighty acts to all who are to come.”

Psalm 71 is the Psalm of an old man (verses 9, 17 &18):

• Quote:

• “The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills, wills”.

• Quote: Someone has wisely said:

• “Don’t ever complain about growing old, so many people never get the chance”.

Note: According to Bible scholar H.G. Leupold.

• “No two commentators divide the psalm the same way”.

• Leupold splits it into two parts – verses 1 to 12 & 13 to 24.

• Some scholars divide it into four, five and even six parts.

• The N.I.V. Bible divides it up into six stanzas.

• (Verses 1 to 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 11, 12 to 16, 17 to 21, 22 to 24.)

• Now because it is a difficult psalm to divide up.

• I intend to look at its themes rather than its outline.

• I see three clear themes in this psalm.

Theme #1: Develop a Knowledge of God.

• The reason that the psalmist could handle his problems so well in his later years,

• Was because he had developed a walk with God in his younger years.

Notice: The Psalm is permeated with a deep knowledge of God.

• Just scan the psalm and you will see this.

• i.e. In verse 17 he tells us: He had been taught of God “from his youth”

• i.e. Verse 1 he testifies that he knew God as his “refuge”.

• In fact, in verse 7 he increases his description to “strong refuge,”

• i.e. Verse 2:

• He states that he knew God as “his righteous Saviour”.

• i.e. He also knew God’s faithfulness.

• The great Bible scholar John Calvin argues that God’s righteousness,

• Which is frequently mentioned in the Psalm (vs 2, 15, 16, 19, 24),

• Refers to God’s faithfulness to his own people in keeping his promises.

• i.e. Verse 3: He calls God his “rock” and his “fortress”.

• The King James Bible uses the phrase: “rock of habitation”.

• i.e. Verse 5: He declares that God is “his hope” and “confidence”.

• i.e. Verse 20: He realized that it was God who allowed troubles in his life.

• But it was God who delivered and restored him.

• i.e. Verse 21: He discovered God was his source of comfort in these trials.

• i.e. Verse 23: God was his deliverer.

• i.e. Verses 8, 22, 23 & 24: He could testify.

• That his mouth was filled with God’s praise and glory and righteousness all day long.

As you read this psalm you can only come to one conclusion:

• This man knew his God!

• It is obvious that he had known him for years,

• And had proved God’s faithfulness again and again in numerous situations.

• This Psalm was not penned in a cosy office by an inexperienced poet,

• It is born out of experience.