Coming of Age

Scripture verse that caught my attention today: 2 Chronicles 29:1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.

Observation: That’s not very old to be king, though there are others who were kings when they were still of early elementary age.

Application: This really doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with Hezekiah, but I wonder why we tend to praise people who end up with great responsibility at a relatively young age. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Does it matter?

According to the Scriptural witness, God clearly used some people at very young ages. David, Samuel, Jeremiah and even the story of Jesus in the temple at age 12 come to mind. Paul at one point offered cautious bragging of being quite advanced among Judaism when compared to many of his peers. But God also used the very old. People like Abraham and Sarah, Simeon and Anna. And God used middle aged folks like Moses too.

More important than age, I think, are openness and devotion. Openness to the call of God and devotion both to the God who calls and to serving the people God loves. Hezekiah was one of the few Kings in the Old Testament who was inclined in such a way. His age had nothing to do with it.

Prayer: Lord, as I gradually get older, help me to be as open and devoted as you wish. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scripture Readings today included: 2 Chronicles 29, 30, & 30 and James 4)