"A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness"
The following are initial observations about this verse that we can so easily pass by:
Getting older means that you have made some good decisions. Looking older is not a bad thing but a good thing. While it is true that living for God and avoiding evil will result in a longer life generally, not all older people are righteous. Righteousness has a longer life than foolishness. If you had been righteous, you would have lived longer than if you moved into foolishness. Pay attention to those who have lived a little and let them give you advice about what to avoid and what to embrace. Just because it feels good or looks right doesn't mean that it is.
gray: This is the Hebrew word sebah, which means hoary, gray, old age.
crown: This is the Hebrew word crown, wreath,
glory: This is the Hebrew word tipharah, which means beauty, glory, adornment.
Isn't it a shame that we do not honor this crown of achievement in our day and age? We have become self-obsessed with youth. We as a culture see little value in the wisdom of experience and in those who have successfully navigated the traps, pitfalls, dangers, and temptations of life.
Solomon is saying that generally speaking you get to live longer if you are wise than if you are foolish.
We want to live a long time, but we don't want to do it God's way -- by being righteous. The statistics from the insurance companies bear out this truth that those who attend church regularly live longer than those who do not. Those who avoid the vices of tobacco, drugs, adultery, obesity, alcohol, revenge, and violence live longer than those who indulge these seductions.
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz