Psalm 71 – A Psalm of Old Age, A Psalm of Testimony
(Notes by Lucas Griffin, April 2016)

The theme of Psalm 71 is God’s constant help – from birth, to childhood, to youth, to old age, to resurrection.

⁵ O Lord, you alone are my hope.
I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
⁶ Yes, you have been with me from birth;
from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you!

• What a privilege it is to know God and serve Him in the difficult days of youth. David, Samuel, Josiah, Timothy, and others could say, “Thou art my trust from my youth.”
• Our lives are a testimony of what God has done for us. As we age, remembering our lifetime of blessing will help us to see the consistency of God’s grace throughout the years, trust him for the future, and share with the others the benefits of following him.

⁷ My life is an example to many,
because you have been my strength and protection.
⁸ That is why I can never stop praising you;
I declare your glory all day long.
⁹ And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside.
Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.

• In God’s economy, no one is made redundant or considered too old “They shall bring forth fruit in old age.” (Ps 92:14).
  • Abraham believed God and by faith had a child at 100. You can believe God and exercise faith.
  • Caleb at 80 years was still claiming the promises of God. You can claim God’s promises and fight the fight.
  • Daniel was a man of prayer into his old life. Over 80 years old in the lion’s den. You can pray, and this is probably the most powerful thing you can do in old age.
  • The Psalmist is growing older and weaker, but His God is just as strong as ever. There may be things you used to do that you can’t do any longer, but God can do all things.
  • “To grow old gracefully calls for more grace than nature can provide. Old age is a new world of strange conflicts and secret fears – the fear of being left alone, the fear of being a burden to loved ones, the fear of becoming a helpless invalid, the fear of losing one’s grip, the fear of being imposed upon.  These fears are very real and they are not new.  The Psalmist is thinking aloud for the encouragement of all who are in the autumn of life.” (MacDonald).

In the following verses, the Psalmist is going to give us at least two broad reasons for living, or sense of purpose for the elderly:

1. PRAISING GOD WITH ALL YOUR BEING
2. SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES OF GOD WITH OTHERS, SPECIFICALLY THE NEXT GENERATION

1. PRAISING GOD WITH ALL YOUR BEING
   

¹⁴ But I will keep on hoping for your help;
I will praise you more and more.
¹⁵ I will tell everyone about your righteousness.
All day long I will proclaim your saving power,
though I am not skilled with words.^[a]
16 I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord.
I will tell everyone that you alone are just.

• The elderly can praise God with their mouth, their lips, their music, their talent, their entire being.
• The Psalmist is not looking outward at his enemies with fear, he is not looking inward at his failing body, but upward at the God of heaven. He is enjoying the righteousness, the faithfulness, and the goodness of God in his life.
  • When we look outward or inward, we complain
  • When we look upward, we praise
  • Vs 19 – “Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens.You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God?  ²² Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. ²³ I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me.
    

• As we face the sunset years, we recognize that God has been our constant help in the past. As physical powers wane, we need God even more, and we realize He is still our constant help.  We must never despair, but keep on expecting His help, no matter how severe our limitations.  Hope in him helps us to keep going, and to keep serving Him.

2. SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES OF GOD WITH OTHERS, SPECIFICALLY THE NEXT GENERATION

¹⁷ O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,
and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.
¹⁸ Now that I am old and gray,
do not abandon me, O God.
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation,
your mighty miracles to all who come after me.
²⁴ I will tell about your righteous deeds
all day long,

• Verse 18 – “A person is never too old to serve God, never too old to pray. Though age may stop us from certain physical activities, it need not stifle our desire or limit our opportunities to tell others (especially children) about all we have seen God do over the many years of our life.” (Life Application Bible)
• “There is another generation coming. There always is.  They must be taught about the strength and righteousness and faithfulness of God.” (What the Bible Teaches)

Older ones:

• You have seen so much of the hand of God in life.
• You have so many amazing stories of mighty miracles
• You have enjoyed the goodness of God
• You have a deeper understanding the character of God
• We need you and value you and want you to know you are important to us.

Our plea to the elderly:

• Please share your experiences and your wisdom with us.
• Please teach us of the character of God
• Please lead us in praise
• Please pray for us.

The Testimony of Glenn & Karen Griffin

I was born into the world (physical birth) on January 22, 1957. I was the 12th child of 16 in the family of John and Mary Griffin of Westbank, BC, Canada. I was born again (spiritual birth) April 25, 1970 and was baptized August 1, 1971 in Okanagan Lake. I was married to Karen J. Fertile on August 4th 1979 and was restored to the Lord in October of 1979 at the time of the death of my father. Karen was saved in October of 1979 at the end of a week of Gospel Meetings.

My parents were Christians so we were brought up with a reverence for God. From a child I was taught the Holy Scriptures and attended all the meetings on a regular basis at the Highway Gospel Hall. I learned from my father that sin must and will be punished. Rebellion and disobedience to my parents and thus to God brought immediate punishment. My parents loved us and gave us the best that love could give, the Word of God and the knowledge of God. Each night after supper the Bible was read and we knelt down to pray and Dad prayed for the salvation of each one of his children and thanked God for each one that was saved.

God’s salvation changes lives and eternal destiny!

In our rebellion some of my brothers and I purchased and installed a television out in the garage against our parent’s wishes. The Sunday afternoon of April 25, 1970 I was out in the garage watching television by myself. On the show there was a lady singing a song where the words were “If you pray to God, He’ll do wonders for you”. God used that little phrase to speak to me about my salvation and to bring it to a full focus. I knew I was a sinner before God and needed to be saved. I shut the television off and walked to the door. Wanting to be right with God and to know my sins forgiven I knelt down right then and there and acknowledged my sin to God. It was at that moment that God revealed to me the purpose why the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God had died on the cross. It was to pay for my sins personally and I received Him for my own Saviour. There was no vision, no voice, no lights, just a peace upon believing giving God credit for what He says in John 3: 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

I was baptized in Okanagan Lake the following year in August but I did not live out my baptism in reality that I was dead to the world and walking in newness of life with Jesus Christ as Lord. After a time I quit reading my Bible. My friends were becoming more important to me than God and the peer pressure was winning. I got a job working at a gas station after school and soon had a car and some spending money. I stopped attending all meetings at the Highway Gospel Hall, and focused on sports, parties and riotous living with no time for God. I met Karen on New Years Eve 1977 and we were married on August 4th, 1979. Already in June of that year we had quit drinking and smoking as we began to see the pitfalls and the snares and the terrible damage drink had done to others and was now doing to us.

In October of 1979 it became apparent that Dad had a heart condition and was in the Kelowna hospital waiting for a transfer to the Vancouver General Hospital for open heart surgery. The next day he went to Vancouver for a triple heart by-pass. He died a few hours after he came through the operation of another massive heart attack. God spoke to me very loudly by the nearness and reality of death. Sin had hardened me and I would not weep but God was graciously speaking to me and the truth of scripture became real in my life.

Ecclesiastes 7:2 “It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.”

The reality of death was being laid upon my heart by my gracious Father in heaven. The funeral service was held in the old Highway Gospel Hall. Mr Alex Stewart and Mr John Abernethy conducted the funeral service. During the service, God was again speaking to me and I said within my heart, “I will serve God”.

There was a week of Gospel meetings that followed with Mr Alex Wilson and Mr John Abernethy when the reality of my salvation was confirmed to me by God, through His Word and the preaching of the Gospel by these men. Karen was saved during the Bible reading the following Sunday convicted by Romans 8:9 “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” She realized that though she had searched for God through religion in her younger years she was not saved. She received the peace of God that she had been searching for upon believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour. I look back on those meetings and give thanks to God for saving Karen and for speaking to me so personally, powerfully and plainly.

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36

The Last Adam

(Written by Marvin Griffin)

There was a Man, a lovely Man

And beautiful His feet

They walked the roads of Galilee

For sinners He must meet

There was a Man, a faithful Man

The words of God to speak

That Pharisee and scribe might know

That God-ward they were weak

There was a Man, a gentle Man

The children, He had blessed

And welcomed to His heavenly home

For sinners knew Him best

There was a Man, a fearless Man

He walked with steadfast face

There followed twelve with hearts afraid

He’d die in sinner’s place

There was a man, a cursed man

My due, He felt it all

That peace I’d know, e’en here below

While He, my bitterest gall

There is a Man, a risen Man

Who sits on Heaven’s throne

All glory His, and spoils too

Soon shall He claim His own.

© Copyright 2014 by Marvin Griffin.  Please do not copy or distribute this content without the express written permission of the copyright owner.

He Gives Peace

(Written by Marvin Griffin)

Come and rest on the Great Foundation

Come to the Rock of our Salvation

He was a Pillar to God of devotion

He’ll give you peace

His was a path to the cross, unswerving

His is a care o’er His sheep, unchanging

His is a prayer for His own, unending

He gives me peace

© Copyright 2012 by Marvin Griffin.  Please do not copy or distribute this content without the express written permission of the copyright owner.

God’s Servant

(Written by Marvin Griffin)

Behold my servant, God did say

Delights my soul in Him

How unlike Adam’s fallen race

Or idols made by them

Himself He lifts not up nor cries

As in politics today

For in Him divine glory dwells

That ne’er He’ll give away

His opened ear and learned tongue

Counsel the weary best

“Come unto Me and learn of Me

And I will give you rest”

He rebelled not, but followed true

The course His Father set

His face like flint to them that plucked

His back to smiter let

The Man of Sorrows carried ours

Our griefs He made His own

Our sins God laid on Him and thus

Amazing love was shown

The travail of His soul He’ll see

And shall be satisfied

“Tis finished” now, our hearts respond,

It’s us He’s justified

“Behold my servant” God did say

Extolled and very high

Exalted now and King of Kings

His bride for ever nigh

© Copyright 2010 by Marvin Griffin.  Please do not copy or distribute this content without the express written permission of the copyright owner.

Please Wait With Me Awhile

(Rhoda Griffin, January 19, 2017)

Please wait with me awhile
I’m heading into pain
My soul already suffering
The thought of all your shame

Please wait with me awhile
I’m dreading what’s to come
I’m hoping there’s another way
This battle can be won

Please wait with me awhile
Uphold my heart in prayer
If only I could feel your arms
Supporting me with care

Please wait with me awhile
I’m bleeding out inside
Don’t leave me all alone
Abandoned as I cry

Oh please just wait awhile
I ask for nothing more
Than you to draw beside me
In this my final hour

You couldn’t wait awhile?
You’ve fallen fast asleep?
You couldn’t pray just briefly
While in my deepest need?

(Pause)

Please wait with them awhile
The hurting all around
You needn’t look too far
Pain easily is found

Please wait with them awhile
Your parent, child, friend
Just pray with them or cry with them
Your listening ear to lend

Please wait with them awhile
Those whose hearts are broken
Shackled with their burden
Of grieving things unspoken

Just wait! … with them awhile
Before you rush away
Before you get distracted
And move on with your day

By waiting just awhile
The weight – it may not lift
The pain – it may not lessen
Your presence is the gift

© Copyright 2017 by Rhoda Griffin.  Please do not copy or distribute this content without the express written permission of the copyright owner.

He Looked Beyond

(Written by Rhoda Griffin – February 9, 2010)

What was the sweet delight that drew Him down

Beneath the stars, beneath His glorious crown?

Lower than angels, donning human form,

A humble, lowly child to be born?

If time rewound would He the same fulfill?

He looked beyond the Crib and saw God’s will.

What loving pity won his heart to mine

That He should live among men here in time?

A man of sorrows bearing griefs unknown,

Placed other’s needs far higher than His own?

Sinful man – how lived He with the whole?

He looked beyond the Crowd and saw each soul.

How did the Saviour cruel death endure?

How did He face our dark sins’ only cure?

How was He able to accept the cup?

Why did He not just give the mission up?

What drove Him to His place upon the tree?

He looked beyond the Cross and He saw me.

What stirs His heart to care for His belov’d

To raise us to the heights of heav’n above?

Why longs He with the Church to share His wealth,

Redeem a fallen Adam to Himself?

Why me, why you, forever at His side?

He looked beyond the Crown and saw His Bride.

If I should meet “Tomorrow” eye to eye,

And wonder to which place my heart shall fly,

With pains of yesterday my only friend,

With present struggles vying for my end,

Where should I fix my eyes? Where shall I gaze?

I‘ll look beyond my Cares into His face.

© Copyright 2010 by Rhoda Griffin.  Please do not copy or distribute this content without the express written permission of the copyright owner.

A Time to Decide

What will you have for breakfast this morning?
Which school should you attend in the fall?
Who will you marry?
CHOOSING – something we do day in and day out. Some decisions are very simple and unimportant but others can mean the difference between life and death.

We are all travelers on the road of life. We have a start in life and someday we will all reach the end of the road. We are not robots that have been preprogrammed as to our destiny. We have the God-given responsibility and privilege of free choice. We choose our route and we end up at its destination.

It comes down to this. We are all headed toward an eternal destination, one of two places, either heaven or hell. We do not deserve heaven because we have ignored God and left Him out of our lives. But in His grace, He holds out a hand of mercy. This hand of mercy is the offer of salvation through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died upon the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He rose from the dead three days later, and now God offers this unconditional pardon to every person on earth. But each person has to make the all-important choice: either to accept God’s offer of forgiveness and a home in heaven, or to reject it. It is your decision.

What do you choose? For the coming of the Lord is near… “They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30

He is More

(Written by Rhoda Griffin 2006)

He is more than just a miracle child

He is more than lowly, meek, and mild

He is more than just a carpenter’s son

He’s the Lord, God’s chosen, promised One.

He is more than one who calmed the raging sea

He’s the One who holds Eternity

He is more than one who makes the eye to see

He’s Emmanuel, He’s our Prince of Peace

Chorus:

He is more, He is more

He’s the Savior of the world

He is more, He is more

He’s our God and He’s our Lord,

He is more

He is more than just an ordinary man

He’s our Father, He’s the great I AM

He is Christ, He is the Almighty God

Wonderful, Counselor, our Rock

© Copyright 2006 by Rhoda Griffin.  Please do not copy or distribute this content without the express written permission of the copyright owner.