It is not just common courtesy, it is part of every human's obligation under the fifth commandment.
Leviticus 19:32 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.
The phrase "hoary head" is essentially the concept of a head covered by frost - i.e. a head with white or gray hair. The concept of "rise up before" means to stand when they enter the room, which was a sign of respect in those times - and continues to be a sign of respect in many places even to the present day. Likewise, to honor the face of the old man means to be respectful and to show that respect.
The "Western" societies all too often forget about this command. Increasingly, the old are disrespected and even disdained. This is contrary to the law of God. As Christians, we are called to show respect for the elderly and to honor them. This is a general relation between the young and old, which (like the distinction between the sexes) has a heightened emphasis within the family unit. One's elderly father or mother is especially to be honored, just as a woman is to show a particular respect to her own husband. The same goes for children and adults. Children are to be deferential to adults, but they show a particular degree of deference to their own parents.
Finally, let me provide a reminder to any of my readers who happen to be old:
Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
May I encourage you so to be found!
-TurretinFan
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
2 comments:
Comment Guidelines:
1. Thanks for posting a comment. Without you, this blog would not be interactive.
2. Please be polite. That doesn't mean you have to use kid gloves, but please try not to flame others, even if they are heretics, infidels, or worse.
3. If you insult me, I'm more likely to delete your comment than if you butter me up. After all, I'm human. I prefer praise to insults. If you prefer insults, there's something wrong with you.
4. Please be concise. The comment box is not your blog. Your blog is your blog. If you have a really long comment, post it on your blog and post a short summary of it here.
5. Please don't just spam. It's one thing to be concise, it's another thing to simply use the comment box to advertise.
6. Please note, by commenting here, you are relinquishing your (C) in your comments to me.
7. Remember that you will give an account on judgment day for your words, including those typed in comment boxes. Try to write so you will not be ashamed if it is read back before the entire world.
8. Stay on topic. If your comment has nothing to do with the post, email it to me (my email can be obtained through my blogger profile), or simply don't post it.
9. Don't post as "Anonymous." If you are going to post anonymously, at least use some kind of recognizable "handle," so we can tell you apart from all the other anonymous folks. (This is moot at the moment, since recent abuse has forced me to turn off "anonymous" commenting.)
10. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; and abstain from doing to others what you would not wish upon yourself.
You know, if you're looking for more respect, just ask. No need to get all indirect, end-around like that.
ReplyDelete;-)
I am a Native American and in our culture we are taught to respect our elders.
ReplyDeleteMostly we do not need to be taught to respect our elders seeing our elders do most if not all the training up of our children. Their love inspires respect.
My sister and I are having a struggle right now with my mother who is aged, in her 80's. Because of the advent of "old folks" homes and the internet my mother doesn't want to come and live out her days with either of us. She likes living in that elder care home instead!
My Grandmother on the other hand died in my home at the ripe old age of 99! It was a most natural death. I wasn't present but my wife was. The Good Lord woke my wife up from a deep sleep and directed her to go to my Grandmother's room. When she walked into the room my Grandmother turned over and reached out her hand and grabbed my wife's and smiled and breathed her last breath on earth!
I was out of town and missed the joy of her coronation day!
Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Eph 6:2 "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise),
Eph 6:3 "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."
We have a saying around here that goes like this: it is, "in the Lord", today as good a day to die as it is to live!
Paul the Apostle wrote the Romans this:::>
Rom 6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Rom 6:9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
Rom 6:11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.