Verse 31: “The hoary head is a crown of glory.” The word “hoary” is so old that it’s hard to trace its origins. But I have read that it originally referred to ice. A hoary head is one with grey or whitening hair.
Solomon says that a head full of grey or white hair wears a crown. It means that the person with that head has passed through a few years and many trials. He has earned some respect, just as if he was the man on the throne.
But, the verse goes on, “The hoary head is a crown of glory, IF it be found in the way of righteousness.” If that elderly man doesn’t know or worship the Lord, then he doesn’t deserve respect in the area of faith. And yet he should be honored in family matters and perhaps in other areas as well.
I hope that this doesn’t come across as crass or totally insensitive: Mrs. Bert Craft had a cousin whose husband was a missionary to the Cameroons. As far as I know, he was a Baptist, trying to start churches in Africa. The picture I saw showed him with his wife and 8 children – and he had a head full of white hair. Sadly, he didn’t get along with the Crafts when it came to the doctrine of salvation by grace. He even apparently said that he didn’t believe in the sovereignty of God. But I would guess he said that under duress and in special circumstances. Anyway, yesterday or the day before he was shot in the head and killed. He was riding in a vehicle driven by his wife. I heard someone say, “Well, he believes in the sovereignty of God now.” Roger (Berdito) Craft is making preparations to go to Africa to try to bring home the body and family. He has respect toward his cousin as a relative, but perhaps not as a missionary and evangelist.
Leviticus 19:32 says, “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God; I am the Lord.” It is a part of the worship of the Lord to recognize the saint of God who has reached a certain point of age. It is assumed that person has learned many of the lessons which God has taught him during his lifetime. Respect toward our elders is not an option – it is a part of the worship of the Lord.
One of the blessings of last week’s Bible conference was the abundance of hoary heads. There were several men who had been in the ministry of Christ for more than 50 years. There were several who had written and published worthy books. There were missionaries and former missionaries. Some of the men at the conference are leading important churches of Christ. But another of the blessings was the smattering of a few young people who have been called of God into the ministry.
Verse 33: “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.” Biblical lot-casting was used by the Lord from time to time to spectacularly reveal His will. For example when God intended to point out a certain individual, lots were drawn – like drawing straws. When Saul was chosen to be king he was identified by lot. Jonathan, Jonah and Achan were identified by the use of lots. The Promised Land was divided by lot – with the Lord determining who won what. Lot’s were used in several other ways.
Some people say that the drawing of lots is a lots like voting. Either way, when the lot is cast, the only way it can become reality is by the will of the Lord. I know this is a kind of a stretch, but just because the popular vote declares one candidate to be the winner, if the Lord doesn’t want him to reign, he won’t. The United States has at the moment the president God wants us to have, whether we like him or not. And under those circumstances, we need to pray for that man – on so many different levels and reasons. Remember John Kennedy. The Lord setteth up kings, and by His will those kings can be removed.
Several months ago, I received a call from Pastor Brent Spears, asking me to come to the Bible Conference, but to plan on preaching to his church two days after the conference closed. I went with that in mind, carrying with me two messages, designed primarily for the church, not the eminent preachers, like Rodney Spears and Austin Fulton. But then, one of the conference speakers had to return home early, creating a vacancy. There were 30 to 40 preachers in attendance, while only 14 were invited to speak. There were at least 2 dozen good men, some hoary-headed servants of God, and some even without hair, who could have stepped in and been a blessing. But for some inexplicable reason, Bro. Brent Spears, prayerfully drew out a lot with my name on it. Friday morning at breakfast, he asked if I would be willing to preach that afternoon, while still expected to speak twice on Sunday. I told him that I was not prepared for three messages, and he told me that the Lord would supply if I would be willing.
“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.” It is not for me to measure whether or not I was a blessing to anyone, but it was the will of the Lord that I be blessed with what I considered to be an extremely high honor.