The Church
The church is not made up of people who believe they are better than others, but rather it is made up of those who realize that they should be better than they are and must continually strive to do better always.
The church is not made up of people who never make mistakes, but those who often acknowledge their mistakes and then forsake them. Never must we seek to justify them or continually make the same mistakes over and over again.
The church is not trying to withdraw
from everyone, but rather to draw everyone into its fellowship and love
who are willing to walk in the light where God the Father and Christ the
Son are found. The church is not trying to set up arbitrary rules
to hinder anyone, but rather to show the rule of Christ which helps everyone.
The church is not trying to separate
you from your money, but rather is trying to keep your money from separating
you from God.
The church is not trying to become the
master of your life, but rather is trying to get you to yield yourself
to the Master.
The church is not trying to rob your
life of priorities, but rather trying to get you to put the priorities
in your life.
—Andrew Connally
Psalm 71:
“As I Grow Older,
I Continually Hope and Praise—Because I Still Trust You”
“Now also when I am old and grayheaded,
O God, forsake me not”
Psalm 71 was written by a man who considered himself to be old at the
time of the writing. If the author was David, then he was less than
70 years old when he wrote it (2 Samuel 5:4,5; 1 Kings 1:1; 2:1-11).
One of the lessons to learn from this inspired writer is that we need to
learn about the brevity of life very early. This will be an encouragement
to use the early years wisely, and to accept the onset of age as the author
did. His words are not from the heart of a bitter man who wants to
keep living at all costs. This poem is from the heart of a grateful
old man who intended on “keeping the faith” until the last breath of his
nearly over life.
Let us divide the psalm into six equal portions and note six things
the author was going to keep on doing. At the same time, let us learn
the reasons he gives for continuing in trust, hope, need, praise, exaltation,
and rejoicing.
“Trust” means “to flee to a place, i.e. to take refuge or shelter” (Wilson’s Old Testament Word Studies). Let us do as this writer did, for God can provide such spiritual needs as deliverance, escape, listening, salvation, refuge, continual blessings, a rock, a fortress, and deliverance from the evil people.
He thinks back to his youth, then to the time of his infancy, and remembers that God was there to help—and providing help is a major factor in building hope. Thus, in the present, he would to continue to hope, no matter what anyone else thought of his life. This would be on his mind (and therefore in his mouth) all day, every day. The word “hope” means “the loins, the flank: hence, hope, confidence, what a man depends on; as the loins are the strength and firmness of the body” (Wilson’s).
“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails. For my enemies speak against me; And those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together, Saying, "God has forsaken him; Pursue and take him, for there is none to deliver him."
Here we learn that he thinks of himself as old (see also verses 17-20). He has the same fear that is common among people who are facing the end of life or the deterioration of physical strength (see Ecclesiastes 12). He knows that some of his lifelong enemies are still “hoping” that he will give up on God—but he wants them and God to know that he still knows that he needs God!! He closes this section with a plea similar to the ones in the previous psalm regarding the need for God to “make haste” (Psalm 70: 1,5).
“Let them be confounded and consumed Who are adversaries of my life; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor Who seek my hurt.
But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And Your salvation all the day, For I do not know their limits. I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.”
“O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.
Again, the old man is reminded of his youth, when he began to learn these things. And they were things that provided for his heart and soul while he was young. Remember how he was anointed to be king while still a teenager? And how he took care of Goliath during those early years? In light of the past demonstrations of God’s ability, he was going to continue to rely on God now—and he was going to recommend that others do the same.
“You shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side.
Finally, the singer was going to keep on singing! He would not, as many people do, sing his own praises, though. He would sing the praises of the Holy One of Israel. As the Old Testament authorized giving musical praise to God with the harp and the lip, so he would do. For us, the New Testament authorizes giving the Holy One of Israel praises of the voice, so let us do (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 13:15).
Are you old? Are you willing to admit it? Are you willing to follow the steps of the old people in the Bible who followed the way of God until they took the last breath?
If you are old and you have yet to obey Jesus, would you be willing to admit that all will have been wasted if you do not obey Him soon? Please read the accounts of conversion to Christ in the following places, and contact us as soon as you decide to obey Him: Acts 2:22-41; 8:5-40; 10:1-48; 16:1-40; 22:1-16.
— Skip Andrews
Next time:
Psalm 72:
For Solomon,
From Dad
TRUTH FOR THE WORLD
P. O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096
Phone: 770 622-1525
Fax: 770 622-0881
Email: tftworld@aol.com
tftworld@tftw.org
Web Page: www.tftw.org
SICK LIST: Lewis and
Diane O’Neil, Tina Pruitt, Lucy Jerrolds, April Houston, and Jennifer Davis
were ill Sunday. Prince Williams’ mother, Annabelle Grimes, is a
resident at the Lilburn Rehabilitation Center. Skip’s uncle, Ron
Andrews, has a malignant brain tumor and will be undergoing chemotherapy.
Please keep those who are ill and their families in your prayers.
GROUPS: Group 2 is in charge of the services at Plantation South
at 1:30.
Group 4 is in charge of the service at Gwinnett Extended Care at 2:00.
CHILDREN’S CLASS: 5:30 today.
LADIES’ CLASS: 10:00 Tuesday.
FOR THE RECORD:
AM Class
137
AM Worship
155
PM Worship
126
Wednesday Class 109
Contribution
$7242
Budget
$6500
There will be a salad luncheon
honoring Jennifer Davis Sunday, November 19, following morning services.
All the ladies are invited to be part of this special time for Jennifer.
(It’s a boy!) Each lady is asked to bring a salad.
exchange party is planned
for Saturday, November 18, at 6:00, in the fellowship room. Please
bring finger foods and a wrapped craft (either hand-made or purchased).
If you have questions, please see Prince or Niki.
TRUTH FOR THE WORLD BUILDING FUND: Our goal is $450,000.
We began our fund raising October 15 with $260,000.
Contributions from Duluth:
Date Amount
TOTAL
10/15 $25,100.00 ($285,100.00)
10/22 $25,205.60 ($285,305.60)
11/5 $53,635.50 ($338,941.10)
VOLUME 2:31 November 12, 2000