Today’s devotion comes from 1 Timothy 5:1-2.
“Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2.
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We all have heard the common expression: “Respect your elders” which we were taught by our parents at an early age.
“‘You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:32.
And, we remember the fifth commandment (which also contains a promise) from the Ten Commandments: “Honor your father and your mother”.
“‘Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.” Deuteronomy 5:16.
Consider the following lamentation which contains the failure to respect elders.
“12 Princes were hung by their hands;
Elders were not respected.
13 Young men worked at the grinding mill,
And youths stumbled under loads of wood.
14 Elders are gone from the gate,
Young men from their music.
15 The joy of our hearts has ceased;
Our dancing has been turned into mourning.” Lamentations 5:12-15.
But, there is hope!
“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of age. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’ Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If it is too difficult in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, will it also be too difficult in My sight?’ declares the LORD of hosts.” Zechariah 8:4-6.
“3 “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
4 Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.” Isaiah 46:3-4.
“14 They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,
15 To declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” Psalm 92:14-15.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 