aged Archives – Sonshine's Journal

1 Kings 12 to14: Listen up! Wisdom is found in the aged who have been tested and proven true, just as we test a garment or a tool. The recent destruction of the submersible seems like our story today in 1 Kings 12. A wise king raises a fool; others pay the price for our pride and arrogance.

Solomon’s son Rehoboam sought wise counsel about how to lead the nation after his father’s passing but rejected the wisdom of the elders and listened to his young advisors. Job remarks: “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” [Job 12:12] Rehoboam, much like King Saul, did not follow Job’s advice and rejected older, more mature, and wiser people. How often do we think we know better when our older mature gray heads tell us nay or yea?

Rehoboam failed because God had prophesied to Solomon of the nation’s division because he had not wholly followed the Lord. The result was a divided kingdom, wars, and rumors of wars. All because of men’s pride and arrogance.

Paul wisely offers us this counsel: Everything was written in former times for our instruction. [Rom 15:4] May we learn from Rehoboam what “not to do and what to do?”

Exodus 18 In the course of time after Moses has been guiding the children of the Exodus, his father-in-law arrives. He observed and “rejoiced because of all the good that the Lord had done for Israel” [Ex 18:9] In addition, he said; “now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods.” [Ex 18:11] Would others who come to us recognize and say the same. As Jethro observes Moses’ daily routine, he asks: What are you doing? You will surely wear yourself out by being judge and jury for all these people. After listening, Moses heeds his counsel to choose wise men to assist him. Our judicial system is based on this example that we use even today.

You can glean much from studying, but sometimes it is the older generation that can offer wise counsel that we had not considered and Jethro has experiential wisdom to guide Moses. Scripture tells us, “Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.” [Job 12:12] They are able to give wise counsel from their experiences to help those who are younger make wise decisions and judgments. And again: “But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.” [Heb 5:14]

Who is your Jethro? Who are you being a Jethro to?

Tag: aged

The Cost of Pride and Arrogance

Lessons from Jethro