Even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me. ( Psalms 71:18 18 Yea, even when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, Until I have declared thy strength unto `the next' generation, Thy might to every one that is to come. )

I do not want to be a grumpy old man.

God threatens terrible things to those who grumble ( Psalms 106:25 25 But murmured in their tents, And hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah. –26). Murmuring dishonors God who promises to work all things together for our good ( Romans 8:28 28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, `even' to them that are called according to `his' purpose. ). Complaining puts out the light of our Christian witness ( Philippians 2:14 14 Do all things without murmurings and questionings: –15). And a critical, anxious spirit dries up joy and peace ( Philippians 4:6 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. –7). That is not the way I want to grow old.

I want to be like the aging man in Psalms 71 Chapter 71 1 In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge: Let me never be put to shame. 2 Deliver me in thy righteousness, and rescue me: Bow down thine ear unto me, and save me. 3 Be thou to me a rock of habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; For thou art my rock and my fortress. 4 Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. 5 For thou art my hope, O Lord Jehovah: `Thou art' my trust from my youth. 6 By thee have I been holden up from the womb; Thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: My praise shall be continually of thee. 7 I am as a wonder unto many; But thou art my strong refuge. 8 My mouth shall be filled with thy praise, And with thy honor all the day. 9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; Forsake me not when my strength faileth. 10 For mine enemies speak concerning me; And they that watch for my soul take counsel together, 11 Saying, God hath forsaken him: Pursue and take him; for there is none to deliver. 12 O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me. 13 Let them be put to shame `and' consumed that are adversaries to my soul; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt. 14 But I will hope continually, And will praise thee yet more and more. 15 My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness, `And' of thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers `thereof'. 16 I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Jehovah: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. 17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; And hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 18 Yea, even when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, Until I have declared thy strength unto `the next' generation, Thy might to every one that is to come. 19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high; Thou who hast done great things, O God, who is like unto thee? 20 Thou, who hast showed us many and sore troubles, Wilt quicken us again, And wilt bring us up again from the depths of the earth. 21 Increase thou my greatness, And turn again and comfort me. 22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, `Even' thy truth, O my God: Unto thee will I sing praises with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. 23 My lips shall shout for joy when I sing praises unto thee; And my soul, which thou hast redeemed. 24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long; For they are put to shame, for they are confounded, that seek my hurt. Psalm 72 `A Psalm' of Solomon. . We know he is getting old because he prays; “Even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me” (verse 18). “Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent” (verse 9).

Looking at this man’s approach to old age I have formed some resolutions:

1) I will remember with wonder and thanks the thousands of times I have leaned on God since my youth. “For you, O LORD, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth, upon you I have leaned from my birth” (verse 5). “O God from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds” (verse 17).

2) I will take refuge in God rather than taking offense at my troubles. “In you, O LORD, I take refuge” (verse 1).

3) I will speak to God more and more (not less and less) of all his greatness until there is no room in my mouth for murmuring. “My praise is continually of you” (verse 6). “I will praise you yet more and more” (verse 14).

4) I will hope (doggedly) and not give in to despair, even in the nursing home, and even if I outlive all my friends. “I will hope continually” (verse 14).

5) I will find people to tell about God’s wonderful acts of salvation, and never run out, because they are innumerable. “My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge” (verse 15). “I will proclaim your might to the next generation” (verse 18).

6) I will remember that there are great things about God above my imagination, and soon enough I will know these too. “Your power and your righteousness reach the high heavens” (verse 18).

7) I will count all my pain and troubles as a gift from God and a path to glory. “You who have made me see many sore troubles will revive me again” (verses 20).

8) I will resist stereotypes of old people, and play and sing and shout with joy (whether I look dignified or not). “I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel” (v. 22). “My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to thee” (verse 23).