Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19970511.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Seventy-One - Finding Security And Purpose For One's Waning Years
(Psalm 71:1-24)
  1. Introduction
    1. There are two times in one's life when he is noticeably incapable of handling what life dishes out to him -- both when he is very young and when he is very old.
    2. When one is an infant, he doesn't realize how vulnerable he is; however, the aged knows of his needs and feels very deeply about being viewed as out-of-date, useless, unwanted and vulnerable for being abused!
    3. Psalm 71:1-24 focuses on an unnamed, aged psalmist's concern for security in his waning years, and supplies edifying solutions for all of us who will be there one day if the Lord tarries (as follows):
  2. Finding Security And Purpose For One's Waning Years, Psalm 71:1-24.
    1. The unnamed psalmist starts off with a call for divine security from being shamed by enemies, Ps. 71:1-2.
    2. He is concerned about being able to find refuge in God at all times, a concern about the FUTURE, 71:3-4.
    3. The cause for these concerns is explained in Ps. 71:9: the psalmist is aging, and feels quite vulnerable to defeat at the hand of younger, more humanly powerful, influential enemies.
    4. In this state of agedness, the psalmist names his specific fears as follows:
      1. He fears being rejected as unwanted or unnecessary, and asks God not to cast him away as one would cast away an old, broken and useless pottery jar, Ps. 71:9a.
      2. He fears being left alone, abandoned by God and other helpers, Ps. 71:9b, 11-12.
      3. He fears being vulnerable to abuse when his physical, monetary or other forms of strength wane, 71:9c.
    5. Yet, he realizes a great value and purpose to his waning years, and asks God's help to utilize that value and its resulting purpose to other people, Ps. 71:14-18:
      1. The psalmist hopes in God and vows to praise Him more and more as he ages, Ps. 71:14.
      2. Since his youth, the psalmist has been taught of God's greatness in righteousness (71:15a, 16b), in His salvation (71:15b) and in His mighty acts and deeds (71:16a-17).
      3. Accordingly, he has a wealth of experience in his walk with the Lord to relate to the NEXT generation that is in need of knowing these things about God so that they also might find blessing in life, 71:18.
    6. Accordingly, the psalmist realizes his remaining mission in life and expresses his confidence in God's righteous purpose for the remainder of his years to ask God's help in his current need, Ps. 71:19-24.
Lesson: Though one's waning years (1) have the NEGATIVE threats of (a) rejection, (b) loneliness, (c) abandonment and (d) vulnerability to harm from loss of influence and financial or physical powers, (2) aged people (a) who have walked with God since youth (b) have a wealth of VALUABLE insight from their experience to share with a newer generation that is struggling to find guideposts in a shiftless, apostate world. (c) Accordingly, the aged can expect God to supply for their needs so they can minister to newer generations their helpful testimonies.

Application: (1) What is implied here is not often considered by man when he is in his prime of life, namely, that SINCE the womb, everyone has been vulnerable to rejection, loneliness, abandonment and to influence, financial and physical fa ilures ANYWAY, cf. Ps. 71:6. The elderly just happens to be more AWARE of this vulnerability than he USED to be! Thus, the dynamics for security in relationships, finances and purposeful ministry in old age are the SAME as they were when one is yo ung and isn't as AWARE of it then: WE NEED GOD FOR COMPREHENSIVE SECURITY AND MEANING THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES! (2) Since one in his older years is (a) simply more AWARE of that fact due to his weakness, and since his (b) experience of the past has often PROVED his need for God, (c) he is in the position to impress the younger genera tion more effectively than OTHERS to rely on the Lord! (3) If we are AGED, we are MORE valuable than EVER for new generations of guideless people: thus, keep serving the Lord as the years go by as HE opens ministry doors and SUSTAINS us by faith.