POEMS of affirmation, for confidence, for
spiritual stability, for response, for divine empathy; for the purposes of God
in our lives: these are the biblical Psalms. These sonnets of Scripture do
easily carry us through the journey of life, and, per this suggestion, can help
through every age and stage, and every purpose and season of life.
My thesis is this: there are four broad seasons
of life: 1) spring (ages 15-28); summer (29-44); autumn (45-69); winter (70+).
Each of the seasons is longer than the last one, God-willing, as far as that
commends itself to the last season. Throughout each of life’s seasons there are
four purposes: 1) the underpinning
purpose of identity; 2) the inspiring purpose of growth; 3) the building purpose of contribution;
and, 4) the loving purpose of legacy. All these purposes are crucial
for the experience of hope in life.
Through every season and in every purpose there’s
a psalm that will help as in that stage of life. Here are my suggestions:
Through Spring
Psalm 139 tells us that we are
unique, hand-crafted by God, and worthy as anyone else is to live this life. It’s
an identity psalm. As we meditate over it, during any season of life really, it
nourishes a sense of specialness in us.
During “spring” we are growing a
great deal, but we’re also contributing and leaving a legacy. Psalm 19 is a
wisdom psalm that speaks to us in our youth. Psalm 18 reminds us, in its
length, of the importance of social justice; of making a contribution. Psalm 51
gives us a way of repenting; a legacy for the ensuing seasons of life.
Through Summer
Psalm 1 is a princely psalm that
ought to be our byword in the going out and coming home of summer life. It
reminds us of who we should and should not associate with; and what we should
always do: meditate on the Word of God. This psalm sustains our identity in a
key period of contribution in our lives.
Psalm 25 will keep us reaching high
for growth during the hotter months of life. Psalm 49 is another wisdom psalm
that reminds us of the folly of wealth, so we might make worthier contributions
to life. Psalm 127 is a legacy psalm reminding us where our efforts leave
lasting results — in and through our children — and where our efforts might be
wasted.
Through Autumn
Summer is not the best period of
life; autumn is. The years 45 through 69 (roughly speaking) are where perspective
is attained, and less of life is wasted in hurry. Identity, here, is
underpinned by the classic Psalm 15. This psalm could actually underpin our
identity of integrity through every season of life. If we do what Psalm 15
commends for us to do, we will be
blessed!
Psalm 91 fills us with the
assurance of God’s inimitable Presence, through the entire lifespan. It’s a
richly warm psalm for continued growth right into “winter.” Psalm 27 gives us
the confidence of summer in autumn when we might be feeling our age. Psalm 78
is a long psalm designed to get us out of life and reflecting over God’s
goodness and greatness over the history of his relationship with Israel. This
passing-the-baton psalm inspires us to leave a worthy legacy.
Through Winter
The Psalm of Moses (Psalm 90) is a
perspective psalm ideal, again, to pin our identities to. This psalm abides
with us and in us as we look back over a long life lived.
There is still growth to be had, a
contribution to make, as well as a legacy to leave in our winter years. Psalm
37 is an encouraging psalm in the wisdom set for when we feel weak; it
encourages us to continue growing. Psalm 71 teaches us that God won’t forsake
us when we’re old and grey — we still have a contribution to make. Psalm 23
reminds us of God’s Presence as our legacy is transformed from our life through
the passage of, and beyond, our death. Our presence remains with our loved ones
as his Presence does.
***
So through the seasons of life come
the purposes of life. Life is crammed full of purpose throughout every age.
© 2015 Steve Wickham.
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