Countless believers have declined in this way. Part of the tragedy is that they have fallen into coldness while convincing themselves that they were serving God. The scholar at his books persuades himself that he is too busy to spend an hour each morning in secret devotions. The pastor feels he cannot devote time to the cultivation of his soul because he has too many letters to reply to or even sermons to prepare. The missionary cannot wait on the Lord as he used to because of the pressures of language-study, and later on still, because of deputation work in the home country.

In these crafty ways does the devil lead God’s people by a staircase which winds ever downwards. But let us recall in the midst of our busy life that we may do ourselves and the cause of God great harm by our neglect of the soul. Let us once lose the dew of our spiritual freshness and we are at once a ready prey to compromise. How have so many evils come into the church but through men’s neglecting to cultivate daily fellowship with Christ? Like the Ephesian church in the Book of Revelation, they have been busily engaged in their ‘works’ and ‘labor’ and ‘patience’ and even their zeal for orthodoxy. But in the eyes of the Saviour they have ‘left their first love’ (Rev. 2:2-4) and risk loosing the very ‘candlestick’ altogether.

We may conclude … with a concern to revive in ourselves and in our brethren far more emphasis on heart-religion. As we view the state of the churches, this is the great priority everywhere. Nothing must be permitted to weaken our cultivation of fellowship with Christ.

The overwhelming concern of the Christian’s life must surely be to live unto God, upon God and for God. What else can the familiar words mean where the apostle Paul tells us, ‘For to me to live is Christ’?

What a force for good even a handful of Christians would be who lived in near intimacy with the Lord Jesus Christ! What prayers would be heard again in the earth as believers took hold of the sleeve of Christ and drew down the blessings! What power and authority for our preaching would flow out of his glorious ‘fullness’ (John 1:16)! What new life would be breathed into all our meetings if an army of …(believers) …emerged from their closets melted with gospel-love! What new levels of excitement would there be in our services if preachers came into their pulpits clothed in the garments of visible holiness! In a word, what might not be done for God if only we were not so ignorant of him!

Maurice Roberts, The Thought of God, (Edinburgh:BPC Paperbacks, 1993) pg.63-66.

Psalm 71:1 – 6 he reminds himself (and us) of God’s work of grace throughout his life.

Psalm 71:7 is interesting – ‘portent’ implies that others are watching with a critical eye his distress. Ps 71:10 – 11 give us the clue – “For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together and say, “God has forsaken him …” We don’t know what is happening but perhaps this is a godly man who encounters some disappointing event. Oh, he is familiar with disappointment, but he seems painfully aware that unbelievers are watching and saying, “He lived his long life devoted to his God, but now this distress proves that his God has ‘forsaken him’ and is worthless!” Some may even ask, “why do the godly suffer yet the wicked prosper?” Can you imagine a more depressing thought? To be aware that the community is mocking you and your God? What does this old man do – he shifts the focus off himself onto his God; “but you are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.” (Ps 71:7-8) This is the biblical cure for the blues … turn from self and look to our Kinsman-Redeemer, our elder Brother who is able to sympathize with our weakness (Hebrews 4:14-15) and who rescues us from our enemies (Hebrews 4:13).

Ps 71:9-13 he rightfully request the Lord’s intervention then in Ps71:14-17 he, putting his previous depression firmly behind, remembers again the works of the Lord and directs his frail heart to love the Lord God with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his mind. (Matthew 22:37-39)

Ps 71:18-19 This old man, in spite of a long life of labor and this recent disappointment, isn’t thinking about a comfortable retirement at the beach – he looks forward (and asks for the opportunity) to “proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come…” He has so much to tell and eagerly desires the opportunity to pass on what great thing he knows!

Ps 71:20 he says, “You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.” Here he is is praising God’s soveriegn control over this present ‘frowning providence’ (you have made me see many troubled times), at the same time, he is expressing confidence that “he who began a good work … will bring it to completion.” (Phil 1:6) Indeed, “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

May we aspire to and old age filled with such hope, joy, and eager desire to make the most of our opportunities to tell what great things the Lord has done!