Dr Paul Allen

King David in Prayer (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man .” Ecclesiastes 12:13 You can hardly watch a movie, pick up a magazine or novel, or listen to the radio today without hearing or seeing the Lord’s name taken in vain. Even Christians use the phrase “ Oh God! ” in everyday language. As a society, we seem to have lost our reverence for and fear of the Father. Maybe that’s why the Lord plainly instructs us to be careful about speaking His name. In fact, He made it the third of the Ten Commandments : “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God” ( Exodus 20:7 ). Our Father knows that to show disrespect for His name—to allow it to be used as a common curse—is to treat the King of the universe with disdain and vulgarity. Even the angelic beings in His presence say, “ Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty” ( Revelation 4:8 ). King David understood and respected Jehovah and His mighty power: “You have heard

Image via Wikipedia "Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God , forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come." ( Psalm 71:18 )   One tends to grow resentful against the limitations and increasing infirmities associated with aging, even complaining to God and others about growing old--at least until one considers the alternative! We need to remember that, as long as the Lord preserves our lives, He has some ministry for us to perform for "this generation" and "to every one that is to come."   The Scriptures abound with promises of blessing in old age , so growing old should be an occasion for rejoicing and deepened commitment to whatever the Lord enables one to do. "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree : . . . Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age" ( Psalm 92:12-14 ). B