Opus 2022-279: Ode to Old: Fat and Sappy

Which is better, a Sabbath or retirement?

Both are types of rest.

I got off on this tangent because of God threatening to withhold the hardhearted from His rest.   

(Psa 95:10-11 KJV)  Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:   Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

After a bit of thought I decided this referred to eternity.  Eternal life was being referred to as “rest”.  It is a synonym for what people think of as heaven.

The original reference to rest is at the end of creation.  God used that as a reminder that He would provide for us, and you will find that the Sabbath rest is the reward for a week of work.  I am thinking that eternity might be an alternating series of work and rest.  What will be different from now is that the work will be fulfilling and filled with joy and the rest will always be refreshing.

Sabbath is restoring break because it is followed by more productivity.  Retirement is different.  It can fool us into becoming despondent.  It can be destructive if it makes you feel you are not longer useful.  This is a common feeling among older men.  

If you believe what the Bible has to say then you know you don’t have to rust away.  Notice that the KJV and NASB have one difference in the English.  One says “full of sap” and the other says fat.

(Psa 92:14 NAS77) They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green,

(Psa 92:14 KJV)  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

Maybe we could do a take off on “fat and sassy” to “fat and sappy”.  No?  Okay.

Retirement does not need to be a time of stagnation.  I am looking for ways to continue to yield fruit.  Join me.

homo unius libri

Opus 2020-083: Ode to Old: Fat Chances

There are times when I find encouragement in verses read out of context.  When I am serious about Bible study and wanting to understand real truth I dig a little deeper.  But sometimes an isolated verse just settles in and lights up.  Here is one:

(Psa 92:14 KJV) They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

The context relates to people who live righteous lives.  It is a promise to us in the over-the-hill gang that maybe there is another peak to master or that there will be things to do on the way down. 

My study Bible tells me a couple of things.  It says that the idea of bringing forth fruit could also be “thrive”.  I like that.  The fat part I could live without but we need to understand this was written in a time when the only people who had the luxury of extra weight were the successful.

So to paraphrase Mister Spock, “Live long and grow fat”.

homo unius libri