Gold Nugget 251 - Honor in Old Age

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      On speaking of himself as “old and grey-headed,” Samuel immediately afterwards made reference to his childhood.  “I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.”  He loved to linger (as old men are wont) over his early days; and in his case there was every reason for doing so, for they were surpassingly pure and beautiful.  One of the chief lessons of his life is that a well-spent childhood and youth conduces greatly to a happy and honored age. …

      Among the Spartans, when a hoary-headed man entered their assemblies, they all immediately rose, and remained standing till he had taken his place; and it is enjoined in the law of Moses:  “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man”.  But this injunction assumes the possession of godliness, without which old age neither deserves nor receives appropriate reverence. …

      “An old disciple, or “such an one as Paul the aged”, is like a veteran soldier bearing on him the scars of many a hard-fought battle, and wearing the honours conferred by a grateful country.  He is like a giant of the forest, standing erect when the storm has laid his companions in the dust. …

      Wisdom is proverbially associated with age.  Those who have seen and heard much of the world, and had long experience of life, may be expected to know more than those who are just starting out in their course.  Their judgment is less influenced by passion and impulse; they look at things in a clearer light, and in a calmer frame of mind, and are more likely to perceive the truth concerning them. …

      Let the aged cherish the dispositions by which it is made beautiful and useful.  Let the young honour the aged, and not forsake “the counsel of the old men”.  Let them also remember that they will grow old, and so live that they may then be honoured and happy.

The Pulpit Commentary, I Samuel p. 219-220, I Samuel 12:2, (C. Chapman)

See also:  Leviticus 19:32, Acts 32:16, Philemon 9, I Kings 12:8

Gold Nugget 251

Honor in Old Age   

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