Advice for the Old – Psalm 119

A text – Psalm 119:9-16

119:9 How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
119:10 With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments.
119:11 I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.
119:12 Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes.
119:13 With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth.
119:14 I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches.
119:15 I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways.
119:16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

A reflection:

When considering this psalm from the lectionary texts, I smiled at the notion of a psalm giving advice to young people. In many ways, this psalm gives advice that older people need, especially in these days.

In times of trouble, when we might be fearing for the way the world is going, it is tempting to follow the news, constantly check our feed, and even spend our precious social time with others bemoaning the events of the day. What would happen, I wonder, if we guarded our way by seeking the Lord, keeping God’s commandments, treasuring The Word, declaring God’s ordinances, delighting in precepts and decrees, and meditating on God’s ways.

Think of how many regimes the Word of God has survived. Think of how many awful leaders have risen and fallen, yet God is steadfastly caring for us. If we spent more time meditating on God and The Word than we did on watching the news, wouldn’t we be better equipped to be the people God has fashioned us to be, in both good times and bad?

I will fix my eyes on your ways; I will delight in your statues. I will not forget your word, Oh Lord.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for giving us your word, both in the Bible and your living Word, Jesus. No matter when or what befalls, help us to remember that you are with us and will be near us in every circumstance. Then help us to do what you give us to do while there is time to do it.  Amen.