by Tom Wacaster
In proof reading my
notes for Volume Seven in my series, “The Songs and Devotions of David,” I was
particularly impressed this week with the words of David in chapter
one-hundred-thirty-one.
Jehovah, my heart is not
haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or
in things too wonderful for me. Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; Like
a weaned child with his mother, Like a weaned child is my soul within me. O
Israel, hope in Jehovah From this time forth and for evermore.
This is a beautiful
Psalm, written in a spirit of humility and with a child-like disposition on the
part of the author. “Comparing all the Psalms to gems, we should liken
this to a pearl. How beautifully it will adorn the neck of patience. It is one
of the shortest Psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn. It speaks of a
young child, but it contains the experience of a man in Christ. Lowliness and
humility are here seen in connection with a sanctified heart, a will subdued to
the mind of God, and a hope looking to the Lord alone” (Spurgeon, ESword
Notes). In verse one we see a wonderful attitude manifested in the words
of the Psalmist. He readily admits that his heart is not "haughty,"
nor his "eyes lofty." Pride did not posses his heart. Pride is
a great short coming and will result in destruction (Proverbs 16:18).
"What the heart desires the eyes look for. Where the desires run the
glances usually follow" (Spurgeon). Notice in this connection Proverbs
30:12-13: “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And yet are not washed from their filthiness. There
is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted
up.” I suppose that every generation tends to despise the younger.
Maybe that's why Paul wrote Timothy these words of encouragement:
"Let no man despise thy youth…" (1 Tim. 4:12). Perhaps the same
advice could be given to those whose hair is graying and health is fading,
"Let no man despise thy age."
Age tends to develop
wisdom, something that is often lacking in youth simply because of lack of
experience. Of course there are always exceptions. H.L. Mencken
concluded, "The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine
that age brings wisdom." The down side of growing older is the
temptation to become cynical and hyper critical of the leadership and
capability of the next generation. As I near my 60th birthday and
the beginning of my 7th decade upon this planet, I am determined not to become
overly critical, not because of the foolishness of a generation gone awry, but
because I know God is in control.
Someone warned, "In
case you're worried about what's going to become of the younger generation,
it's going to grow up and start worrying about the younger
generation." The "baby boomers" are passing the torch to
generation "Y" (or is it "X"?) in preparation for their
social security checks, retirement, and increasing medical bills and ill
health. Like the generations now passed into the dust bins of history, these
"baby boomers" are anxious about where the next generation will take
them. Having aborted more than 45 million babies since 1973, the
work force has reached a crisis of precisely how they are going to provide for
the aging population. But they need not worry, for the medical and
scientific minds that were allowed to come to full term and somehow avoid the
knife of the abortionist are now seriously considering euthanasia as a viable
means of getting rid of so many unwanted senior citizens (quite ironic isn't it
- or perhaps more like poetic justice).
Since every generation
needs wisdom, it seems appropriate to seek that wisdom from a source that is
reliable - I speak, of course, of the Bible. Most of our readers know
that there is a book in the Old Testament called "Proverbs." I
have been meditating on some of those pithy sayings this past week, and there
was one that struck me as particularly interesting, and motivated me to pen
this week's article. Listen to the words of Agur from Proverbs 30:11-14:
“There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their
mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not
washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes!
and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation, whose teeth are as
swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth,
and the needy from among men.”
"There is a
generation" was Agur's assessment of either his present generation or that
which was soon to follow. Keep in mind that the Proverbs were written
during a time of great affluence in Israel. The temptation of wealth
turned the heart of Israel away from God, and plunged that nation into moral
corruption, the likes of which are described in these four verses.
There is an amazing
similarity between the rich and abundant years of Israel's history, and our
generation - whether we are speaking of generation "X,"
"Y," or the baby boomers. Youth have learned the language
of Asdod. Honor for mother and father have fallen upon hard times and in
many instances a child is no longer afraid of parents because he knows that
society will protect him from discipline. I have pity for a child,
any child, who does not honor his or her parents.
This is a generation
"pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their
filthiness." We have justified homosexuality, adultery, drunkenness,
lying, embezzlement, cheating, gambling, and every other ungodly act known to men
while claiming to be a "Nation under God." Why is it that we
become so upset when someone suggests that we should take the words, "In
God We Trust" off our currency, but seem so unconcerned about the hundreds
of thousands of babies being slaughtered each year?
This is a generation
that is "lofty…and their eyelids are lifted up. "When pride
cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom" (Prov
11:2). "In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips
of the wise shall preserve them" (Pro 14:3). "Pride goeth
before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov
16:18). Pride will sully the noblest of men, and bring low the
mighty. It will render leaders ineffective, and destroy the good influence
of all who are caught in its grip. Our generation has produced
great strides in science, medicine, technology and education. But our
successes and blessings have made us proud so much so that we have lifted up
our eyes and declared God dead and religion a non-essential.
This is a generation
whose teeth are as swords and their jaw teeth as knives. The violence in
the theater has poured out into the streets, and our hatred for fellow man has
found vent in the internet and "blog" pages of personal expression.
A recent article in the Dallas News pointed out that web sites fostering racial
hatred, fascism, neo-Nazi, and anti-Semitic mentality have increased
dramatically in the last ten years.
Finally, there is a
generation that devours the poor from the earth and the needy from among
men. Con artists and shysters prey on the needy and elderly.
From the dishonest salesman to the lying televangelist, this generation has its
fare share of those whose only aim in life is to make a buck or get ahead, and
the needy suffer as a result.
Perhaps this generation
will run its course and the pendulum will swing the other way. I like to
hope this will happen. But with every passing year, I see little hope for a
generation that cares only for itself, with little interest in things
eternal. Maybe, just maybe, when this generation is lying in the
muck and mire of sin and ungodliness they will look to the God Who created them
and long for something better and declare in hope of something better,
"There is a generation…"