Appreciating Godly Old Men - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2024

The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.
Proverbs 16:31

Appreciating Godly Old Men
As we read through the Bible, we encounter a number of old men who finished their lives in varying conditions of faithfulness. Moses .

Caleb too, because of his faithful testimony about Canaan when he went in as a spy, lived through the wilderness journey. Then, when most of the land was conquered seven years later, he asked for the portion God had promised him: "I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still this day strong And now give me this mountain, of which Jehovah spoke in that day; for thou heardest in that day that Anakim are there, and great fortified cities. If so be Jehovah shall be with me, then I shall dispossess them" (Josh. 14:10-12).

Jacob, near the end of his life, had the spiritual insight to bless Joseph's younger son rather than the firstborn, though his eyes were dim and Joseph placed his oldest son at Jacob's right hand (Gen. 48). By contrast, Isaac, when he was ready to bless his firstborn Esau, first wanted to enjoy the pleasures of the world, a meal from Esau's hand. His eyes too were dim so that he could not see properly, and he was deceived by Jacob (Gen. 27).

Eli—old, fat, and also with dim eyesight—had part in his sons' wickedness as he made himself fat from their wicked actions (1 Sam. 2:29; 4:18).

Solomon, the great wise king, when old, was led astray by his foreign wives and his heart was not right with God (1 Ki. 11:4).

We can learn much from these examples and from godly old men whom God has placed in our lives. How important it is to have such godly old men who remain faithful to the end! We should thank the Lord for them. What a challenge for older brothers and sisters! The Christian life is not a 100-yard dash, but rather a marathon.

Albert Blok