18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
20 Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.
22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.
_____________
What struck me in today’s selection is the conclusion of verse 18. Yesterday’s selection ended in the middle of verse 18 with the prayer that God not forsake the psalmist when he is old and gray. As we continue with the rest of verse 18 today, we see the conclusion of that thought. The reason that he does not want to be forsaken is that he wants to declare God’s power to the next generation and proclaim His mighty acts to all who are to come.
This points to two truths. First there is no retirement from witnessing. There is no retirement from being a disciples who seeks to make disciples. Secondly, the psalmist clearly points to witness as the purpose of His life. This is the legacy that he seeks before he dies. He does not want his life to be ended until he has had the chance to proclaim the Lord to the next generation.
This is a beautiful encouragement and example for our lives as disciples. When I think of my “bucket list,” those things I want to accomplish before I die, is this one of them: To declare God’s power to the next generation?
My prayer is that the Holy Spirit would work in me the same desire that the psalmist displays in verse 18. I pray that this goal would motivate my life and activity until Christ calls me home.
Live Stream worship each Sunday at 9:30 AM and Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. Please go to this page for more information: https://stjohnslutheran.net/live-streaming-worship-at-st-johns/
Leave a Reply