They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright. (Psalm 92:14-15)
It is quite common to see that, as we age, the passage of time imposes a greater demand on our physical strength. In other words, it becomes increasingly harder for us to perform tasks that we once did with ease. At the same time, it is not uncommon to find that our mental clarity is slowly fading. We go into a particular room to get something and forget why we went there. In advanced age, people can become quite confused or, worse, lost. In rabbinical thought, this scenario is oftentimes the result of a life spent pursuing physical comforts which is said to interfere with the development of the mind — at least when it comes to spiritual matters. In short, if we neglect to fill our lives with the Word and righteous pursuits when we are young, it will have a powerful and negative impact on our final years.
In contrast to this scenario, it is argued that those who spend their life neglecting the inclination to satisfy physical desires, as they age, they will ignore the demands of the body even more so. As a result, instead of the mind becoming cloudy and confused, their mind becomes clearer and more settled. As it is written, “Wisdom is with aged men, and with length of days, understanding” (Job 12:12). Let’s put it this way; if we are striving to live a life pleasing to the Lord, age provokes us to truly discern what is important and what is not. Advancing years allows us to realize that the pull of this physical world, if we allow it, will draw us away from things eternal.
Within this context let us consider the psalmist’s words above. As we grow older, and hopefully wiser in regard to heavenly matters, we are positioned to produce better, more mature fruit than we did in our younger days. Furthermore, the fruit we have the potential to bear is not old and stale but is fresh and life-giving — that is what the Scripture says. And what is the ultimate conclusion of the matter? The wise will declare that the Lord is upright and is faithful in every situation. Those who place their confidence in Him and pursue His righteousness will not be disappointed and will not live in despair. Their bodies may weaken and become feeble, but their inner man — the part that counts — will continue to thrive and flourish.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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