Ancient Israel is an agricultural society. This means people make their living by working the land. And land is passed from father to sons as one generation gets too old to work, and another generation takes over the family farms.
Instruction 5 begins the series on "respect others" - beginning with elderly parents.
It may either be relieft or disappointment to know that God is likely not telling kids to do whatever their parents say. Certainly there are other Scriptures that talk about the blessing of good parent-child relationships. But here, God is concerned with the livelihood of pensioners. God is saying, "take care of your parents when they rely on you for their livelihood."
Irregardless of the quality of relationship between parents and growup children, God simply makes it the child's responsibility to provide food and lodging for their parents once the parents are too old to farm. It is unkind to simply turn the elderly parents out on the street once they have handed over the farm.
In fact, kindness to one's parents in their old age is the condition for keeping the land. It is as if God says, "if you dispossess your parents' land without caring for them, I will also dispossess the land from you."
God frees the elderly from having to worry about their livelihood in old age. And he frees us from having to worry about our livelihood when we are old.
Write
Think about your faith story: what is your experience with the elderly in your life? Who are some elderly people who have blessed you?
in your life presently, how are you preparing to care for your parents when they get old? Or are you already caring for your parents? What is your challenge in caring for your parents now or in the future?
Who are some elderly people you have relationship with? What can you do to bless them?
Pray
What
is God saying to you today? What's Good News to you?
Talk to God about your attitudes towards to your parents, and other elderly people. Thank God for the way he honours the elderly, when our society discounts them.
Pray about what you feel about caring for your parents in their old age. Ask God for the help you need, the reassureance of his presence, and the courage to honour your parents in this way.
Pray for the elderly people God has put into your life. Ask God to give you the wisdom and opportunity to bless them with your friendship.
Pray for an experience of God's love, grace and mercy in the way God cares for the aged, and the way God uses you to bless the elderly people you know.