Do you find this an interesting verse? I certainly find it in contradiction to the way we think of our aged in these modern times. When I was young, we learned that as people aged, they grew wise and we were taught to honor our elders. In fact, the church turns to elders for leadership. How is it that we have come to revile our older population? Why have we accepted a paradigm that expects, even insists, that people become mentally deficient with age?
I believe part of the problem is that we have predetermined that people over a given age have little to offer. Therefore, when they speak, we have already minimalized their contribution before we even hear the words, much less consider them.
This is not in keeping with Biblical teaching. Moses’ ministry didn’t even begin until he was eighty years old. Abraham was eighty when God spoke with him. I believe it is post-retirement that we become of the greatest value. Before that, we spend a greater part of our lives working and raising children. When we retire from occupations is when we should devote ourselves to leadership and to the things of the Spirit.
The problem is, who is going to listen to a sixty-five year old? We are ready to put them on a shelf. Everyone who is old was young at one time. That means they have been there and done that. They have seen the struggles of youth and learned from them. How, though, do you shift an entire culture? There is but one way, I think, we must pray. Youthful vitality is a wonderful thing; even better when paired with seasoned wisdom. I believe we need to relearn to honor our aged for our own good. Further, I think that is why our Lord told us to give them honor. I believe He is, as ever, looking after us. He knows we lose our sense of history and direction when we fail to incorporate the wisdom of the elderly. Be vigorous in your youth and be wise in your age. Let the two have their synergy to move us forward as a civilization.