Proverbs 16:31, Godly Gray Power!

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November 4, Proverbs 16:31

Romans 2:1-10 “A godly life is neither a light matter nor easily attained.”

Godly Gray Power!

1. The Right View: Modern versions (NKJV excepted), following the RV, reject the if in KJV, and read. “A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness” (NASV). The KJV is accused of “reading too much into the Hebrew.” We turn this around and claim that modern versions “read too much into the value of old age.” True, the if is only implied, but it does make a vital distinction, namely, that the hoary head apart from righteousness is not a crown of glory at all. Is not an old sinner an awful sight to behold? He who was once a red-cheeked choir-boy, is now a godless rebel, beyond redemption (Isa. 65:20b)! Without that walk of righteousness the crown falls from the hoary head in shame! “What is more lamentable.” asks Bridges, “than a graceless old man?” Let this be a warning to all. Yet IF that hoary head be found in the way of righteousness, it sparkles as a crown of glory, and the young may sit in awe at its feet.

2. The Ripe Vine: If the hoary head has made life’s voyage with Christ at the helm, he is like the ripened harvest waiting to be gathered. He is the youth that has blossomed into strong manhood, or the student, who through diligence, becomes the mature scholar. So the crown of glory is not merely the gray head but the ripe fruit of an old saint, because he is rooted in his faith, grounded and settled. The senior years can be among the most fruitful and precious. Then the hoary head more especially is an ornament and glory if it is found in the way of righteousness. Thus tried, proved, and strengthened by the storms of adversity, it bears ripe fruit to be gathered by the young (Job 5:26).

3. The Real Virtue: A crown of glory is a worthy trophy of beauty and honour. It is a precursor of the crown of righteousness which fadeth not away, and the inheritance reserved in Heaven for you (2 Tm. 4:8; 1 Pt. 1:4). This is the earned respect due to the hoary head. It was once a symbol of honour, deserving highest respect. Sadly, this was truer in ancient times than it is today. It was “a given” that old people knew more than the young because of their wisdom gathered over many years (Job 32:4-9; Is. 9:15). We see this in Jacob’s blessing of Pharaoh (Gn. 47:7-10), in the mourning at aged Samuel’s death (1 Sam. 25:1), and the royal burial for the good old priest Jehoiada (2 Chr. 24:15-16). We recall also the godly fragrance of aged Simeon and holy Anna (Lu. 2:25-26, 36-37), of righteous Zecharias and saintly Elizabeth (Lu. 1:6). Here is real virtue. Are not such the true saints of this earth who are awaiting their upward call to the coronation above?

O Lord of the years that are left to me,
I give them to Thy pierced hand; Take Thou me,
And break Thou me, mould Thou me
To the pattern Thou hast planned.

Thought: “Old age makes the head white, but not always wise.”

Prayer: Lord, mould Thou me to the pattern Thou hast planned.