In Wordsworth's words 'an old age serene and bright" we find something of cheer for old age, and it is good to know the promises God has given for such a time, and embrace the promise, before it is too late. It is good to also have an understanding of old age as how the Bible describes, and also do certain things that we are called to do while we still can.... Read on...
Firstly keep this promise of God in your heart... "EVEN TO YOUR OLD AGE I AM HE, AND EVEN TO HOAR (white hairs) HAIRS WILL I CARRY YOU."..Isiah 46:4 ..He is a loving God who never leaves nor forsakes you and carries you in even during your grey hair days...
If you have a bible you may refer, else I have keyed them for you here. Turn with me to Ecclesiastes Chapter 12: verses 1-7
"The years draw high, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." Dwelling in these verses give us a peek into old age.... As we get old there are different kinds of failure of vital organs and the body becomes feeble for service and sometimes the mind also gets clouded to appreciate God. It is therefore better to appreciate him now and in the present.
"the keepers of the house shall tremble" Our body is the house and the keepers are our hands who at one time are our strong providers and source of defense. We need our hands for so many things. As we get old the hand start trembling and our hands are not as strong as before, ridden with decrease in nervous power and so on and until in fact our hands become so fragile and weak like that of an infant. I do a lot of crochet and work at the computer and also play the piano sew and quilt etc and I praise with my hands as much as I can while I still can. Some who work extensively with their hands develop carpal tunnel pain etc.... The Word does explain this so beautifully. You can see some of my work here with my hands, in my art journal....click HERE
"The strong men shall bow themselves--"
Our legs are the strong men and as we age they bend, and the 24 vertebrae akin the strongmen also get shriveled with loss of elasticity in them and we bend forward and our shoulders droop too.
"The grinders cease" because we loose teeth and there are few or none left the actual grinding activity cease. The double teeth are the ones that that chew, and in their absence the gums act as chewing mechanisms. The molars ..a name that has come from the term "mola" refers to the grinding in a mill with the ridges and depressions akin in a corn mill...with the passing of time the teeth are all worn and smooth..and lose their ability to grind.
"Those that look out of the windows be darkened" The eyes out of the sockets akin windows are deep set and darkened too.
"The doors shall be shut in the street "
Our lips maintain their shape as they are actually supported by our teeth. When the teeth are not there, to support the lips the lips bend inwards locking, and not bend outwards. This is nature's way of locking in the food so that the food does not fall out while the old without teeth are processing the food inside the mouth. Instead of the grinding sound it is a different kind of sound produced which is actually the sound of the gums. The doors are thus said to be shut.
"He shall rise up at the noise of the bird" Sleep patterns becomes different now, being light sleepers now the little noise of the bird also awakens them.
"The daughters of music shall be brought low.."
Our ear and voice organs can be said to be the main daughters of music. One produces beautiful music while the other can appreciate the sounds. With advancing age even the most famous musicians have to bid a painful adieu to their once famous talents, and thus is said to be brought low. Music appreciation and singing etc reaches an all time low.
"They shall be afraid of that which is high" As we get older we are afraid of climbing up a ladder or steep heights. (it is so nice..I can relate to all this in varying degrees!!!!)
"Fear shall be in the way" Because of fear of tripping or falling and so on the eyes are bent forward and cautious and fear certainly takes its place before every step.
"The almond tree shall flourish" The almond tree flowers are pure white in color. The head of a old person is now fully white with grey and silver white hair. Hair that has lost its natural color has actually therefore decayed in in turning color from what it was. To me it is almost akin the fall leaves in autumn that change color and drops before and has in reality decayed. Soak an almond in water and see how the almond is smooth and white..many grow as bald and smooth or white as this metaphor. Refer back to the promise that God has given for such a time as this.
"The grasshopper shall be a burden" The sound of the grasshopper which is quite negligible in normal times irritates and becomes a burden to the ear. Even the sound and behavior of this small insect can now turn into a burden.
"Desire shall fail" Certainly the desires now are not as they were before. Everything changes. The entire landscape and attitude and perspective changes.
The mourners go about the streets" The person finally leaves the world, and dies, and mourners mourn their absence. The manner in which they leave may be gradual as explained or abrupt and sudden with no indication of approaching departure, even to the extent of producing distress to the departed.
"Silver cords loosed, Golden bowl broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain" Departure can be so sudden as an abrupt cessation of life, akin the breaking of a golden and useful and prized silver cord and a pitcher of great present utilitarian value broken, descries untimely death, that comes before the gradual cessation of life.
In view of this we are encouraged to, as early as we can and now is the time to remember the creator in our youth and while we still can.
Hold on to God's promise, and may the peace that passeth all understanding fill you and keep you!
God Bless you.
In Christ
Shanti
Firstly keep this promise of God in your heart... "EVEN TO YOUR OLD AGE I AM HE, AND EVEN TO HOAR (white hairs) HAIRS WILL I CARRY YOU."..Isiah 46:4 ..He is a loving God who never leaves nor forsakes you and carries you in even during your grey hair days...
If you have a bible you may refer, else I have keyed them for you here. Turn with me to Ecclesiastes Chapter 12: verses 1-7
" 1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."
Here ends the reading.
It is a great experience to come into every season of life without wasting any time and being aware of what each season brings and not worry. I have experienced happy and cheerful aged people as well as those in distress. Here ends the reading.
"The years draw high, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." Dwelling in these verses give us a peek into old age.... As we get old there are different kinds of failure of vital organs and the body becomes feeble for service and sometimes the mind also gets clouded to appreciate God. It is therefore better to appreciate him now and in the present.
"the keepers of the house shall tremble" Our body is the house and the keepers are our hands who at one time are our strong providers and source of defense. We need our hands for so many things. As we get old the hand start trembling and our hands are not as strong as before, ridden with decrease in nervous power and so on and until in fact our hands become so fragile and weak like that of an infant. I do a lot of crochet and work at the computer and also play the piano sew and quilt etc and I praise with my hands as much as I can while I still can. Some who work extensively with their hands develop carpal tunnel pain etc.... The Word does explain this so beautifully. You can see some of my work here with my hands, in my art journal....click HERE
"The strong men shall bow themselves--"
Our legs are the strong men and as we age they bend, and the 24 vertebrae akin the strongmen also get shriveled with loss of elasticity in them and we bend forward and our shoulders droop too.
"The grinders cease" because we loose teeth and there are few or none left the actual grinding activity cease. The double teeth are the ones that that chew, and in their absence the gums act as chewing mechanisms. The molars ..a name that has come from the term "mola" refers to the grinding in a mill with the ridges and depressions akin in a corn mill...with the passing of time the teeth are all worn and smooth..and lose their ability to grind.
"Those that look out of the windows be darkened" The eyes out of the sockets akin windows are deep set and darkened too.
"The doors shall be shut in the street "
Our lips maintain their shape as they are actually supported by our teeth. When the teeth are not there, to support the lips the lips bend inwards locking, and not bend outwards. This is nature's way of locking in the food so that the food does not fall out while the old without teeth are processing the food inside the mouth. Instead of the grinding sound it is a different kind of sound produced which is actually the sound of the gums. The doors are thus said to be shut.
"He shall rise up at the noise of the bird" Sleep patterns becomes different now, being light sleepers now the little noise of the bird also awakens them.
"The daughters of music shall be brought low.."
Our ear and voice organs can be said to be the main daughters of music. One produces beautiful music while the other can appreciate the sounds. With advancing age even the most famous musicians have to bid a painful adieu to their once famous talents, and thus is said to be brought low. Music appreciation and singing etc reaches an all time low.
"They shall be afraid of that which is high" As we get older we are afraid of climbing up a ladder or steep heights. (it is so nice..I can relate to all this in varying degrees!!!!)
"Fear shall be in the way" Because of fear of tripping or falling and so on the eyes are bent forward and cautious and fear certainly takes its place before every step.
"The almond tree shall flourish" The almond tree flowers are pure white in color. The head of a old person is now fully white with grey and silver white hair. Hair that has lost its natural color has actually therefore decayed in in turning color from what it was. To me it is almost akin the fall leaves in autumn that change color and drops before and has in reality decayed. Soak an almond in water and see how the almond is smooth and white..many grow as bald and smooth or white as this metaphor. Refer back to the promise that God has given for such a time as this.
"The grasshopper shall be a burden" The sound of the grasshopper which is quite negligible in normal times irritates and becomes a burden to the ear. Even the sound and behavior of this small insect can now turn into a burden.
"Desire shall fail" Certainly the desires now are not as they were before. Everything changes. The entire landscape and attitude and perspective changes.
The mourners go about the streets" The person finally leaves the world, and dies, and mourners mourn their absence. The manner in which they leave may be gradual as explained or abrupt and sudden with no indication of approaching departure, even to the extent of producing distress to the departed.
"Silver cords loosed, Golden bowl broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain" Departure can be so sudden as an abrupt cessation of life, akin the breaking of a golden and useful and prized silver cord and a pitcher of great present utilitarian value broken, descries untimely death, that comes before the gradual cessation of life.
In view of this we are encouraged to, as early as we can and now is the time to remember the creator in our youth and while we still can.
Hold on to God's promise, and may the peace that passeth all understanding fill you and keep you!
God Bless you.
In Christ
Shanti
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