The Clash Between Age and Youth

This is the fifth and last in our series on texts concerning youth. Joseph and I have presented: 1) Sins of Our Youth, 2) Youth As Brothers and Sisters, 3) Remember Your Creator in the Days of Your Youth, 4) My Son, Listen to the Instructions of Your Father, and 5) The Clash Between Age and Youth.

Age and youth have always had a tendency to clash. This clash is quite vigorously alive today. Young people have certainly worried those older. Often the older generation thinks that this is the worst generation the world has yet seen. Each succeeding generation thinks that their parents are intolerant, demanding, unreasonable, out-of-touch, senile, and ignorant! This age-old conflict is easy to describe, but harder to correct. It is so difficult to get springtime and autumn to see each other’s viewpoint. The youth have never been old; therefore, it is difficult for them to understand the concerns of those older. The aged often forget that they were once young, impetuous, daring, and difficult to live with. The aged will deny that we were ever like you are today.

Biblical Examples and Observations

Zerubbabel’s temple. Some differences between the aged and youth are evident when the temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity. Cyrus, the Persian king, allowed the exiles to return home after seventy years in a foreign land. When the temple was built, there were two very different reactions.

“And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endures forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy. So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people. For the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.” (Ezra 3:11-13.)

The older Jews who remembered the glory of the former temple wept aloud when they saw this smaller temple. Yet the younger Jews shouted for joy. They had never seen their own temple in Jerusalem before; they were born in a foreign land. They were hopeful and joyful concerning the future. This ancient story highlights some of the reasons for the conflict between youth and age. Have you noticed that the aged often weep while youth rejoice? The aged often compare present day situations to the past. Have you ever noticed which one, the present or the past, wins in the comparison? It is always the past. The wise man Solomon wrote, “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.” (Eccl. 7:10.) It is not wise to say that the former days were better because the truth is that every age has its own bright and dark sides. The good ‘ole days were not all good.

Rehoboam’s Decision. Saul, David and Solomon were the three kings of Israel who reigned over united Israel. In the days of the sons of Solomon, Rehoboam and Jeroboam, the nation divided due to a reckless decision by Rehoboam. The people complained about the heavy taxes imposed upon them. They asked Rehoboam to back off and ease their burden. Rehoboam asked his advisers what he should do. First, he asked the older men who served his father. Their counsel was, “If you want to be a servant of the people, speak good words to them and they will serve you all the days of their lives.” (1 Kings 12:6-7.)

Then, Rehoboam asked the advice of the young men who grew up with him. They replied, “Tell them that your father made their yoke heavy and you will add to their yoke. My father disciplined you with whips; I will discipline you with scorpions.” (1 Kings 12:10-11.) Rehoboam foolishly listened to the advice of those his own age. He rejected the counsel of the older men. Because of this unwise decision the nation of Israel was torn asunder. What a tragedy! What heartache followed!

This example is significant. We should learn from what happened here. The aged do not always act wisely, but we should be very reluctant to cast off their counsel when serious issues are on the line. God placed the elders at the city gates to govern the people. He did not allow the youth to make weighty decisions for Israel. God placed parents in the home to guide it. There is a good reason for that. Children should not be allowed to make weighty decisions in a family. They would spend the mortgage money on video games and pizza! Churches are guided by elders, older men and women. There are good reasons for that arrangement.

Goliath and David. (1 Samuel 17.) This is a classical conflict between the aged and youth. Goliath was an experienced warrior. He wore all the typical combat gear in that day. He wore a breastplate, sandals, shield, spear, sword, and darts. David was so small that he could not have worn a grown warrior’s equipment. He did not know how to use it effectively. He refused Saul’s armor. Rather, David went out with the things that he was accustomed to. He chose five smooth stones out of the brook and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Young David went out to meet a giant with a sling and five stones. Goliath looked at him and “disdained him.” (1 Samuel 17:42, KJV and ESV.) The NIV says, He “despised him.”

This is another telling example of the age-old conflict between the aged and youth. Goliath is experienced, powerful, having all the trappings of traditional warfare. The giant’s size and the weight of his armor became a disadvantage against the speed of youth and simplicity of David’s armament.

Of course, there is another major difference. It is not so much the kind of equipment that they wore, nor their size and speed. David summed it up when he said to the giant: “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.” (1 Samuel 17:45.)

What does this conflict teach us? 1) That there are advantages to being young as well as being old and experienced. 2) That the experienced should be careful about despising youth. 3) That the young are capable of being very serious and sincere. David’s brothers underestimated him. He had a greater faith in God than did they. 4) That the young should so live as to not allow others to despise your youth. (1 Tim. 4:12.) 5) If God is with you in your life, you will win whether you are young or old.

Adam, Eve and their Father. Adam and Eve are the only teenagers in history who were fortunate enough not to have parents. Most teens can only dream of such a situation. Adam and Eve may have been only in their teens when created. The Bible does not give an exact age. But Adam lived 930 years. Even though they did not have earthly parents, they had God, the Father who created them and watched after them in the Garden. At some point in their relationship, a conflict arose. The Father commanded them not to eat of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the Garden. They could eat of all the other trees, but not this one. Isn’t that typical? We have all these other things that are good for us and we have full permission to enjoy them, except this one. But this is the one that draws our attention as youth. They wonder why this one is forbidden.

Here is a representation of the age-old conflict. The Parent says, No, and the offspring seek to rebel and do it anyway. Satan whispers that there is nothing wrong with the fruit. Look at how attractive it is. You will not die if you eat it. Go ahead. The Parent just told you that because He does not want you to have fun. He can do what he wants to, but forbids you the same right. He does not want you to be free like He is.

Satan whispers the same things today to youth. Parents are unreasonable. Their rules do not make sense. I will not die if I speed in my car or drink while intoxicated. I will not die if I commit fornication or use drugs. God will not punish me if I disobey Him. This is the conflict of the ages. It is all about obedience and submission. Will the youth rebel or obey? Will you listen to the voice of your Father or the voice of Satan? This is what it is all about. The choice is yours. Life and death really do hang in the balances if God says it does. Disobedience is always wrong. There are serious consequences in life when he listen to Satan and reject the Father’s will. (Heb. 5:8-9.)

The Two Sons. Jesus told this parable. “But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not, but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir, and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.” (Matt. 21:28-32.)

How often has this occurred over the centuries of time?? A father tries to teach diligence, hard work, and responsibility to his children and their fleshly response is to refuse to work. One son said that he would go to the vineyard, but did not go. The other first said no, but later repented and went. This son did the will of his father after he repented.

The cause of the conflict here is evident. The sons were wrong; finally one repented and went to work. Often parents allow their children to be lethargic and lazy. To avoid a constant conflict, parents often do not demand obedience. Children who refuse to work and do their chores are displeasing to both their parents and to God.

Solomon described the sluggard in the Proverbs. He said that the sluggard should go and observe ants. They are busy putting up their food for the winter without anyone overseeing them. Then Solomon asked, “How long will you sleep? A little sleep, a little folding of the hands and poverty comes.” (Prov. 6:6-11.)

How to Resolve the Clash

In the examples given above, here are some of the reasons of the clash between age and youth. 1) The aged Israelites wept when they saw the new temple. The young people shouted with joy. 2) Rehoboam and his younger friends were not willing to listen to the needs of the people. 3) David was despised by Goliath, but for the wrong reasons. 4) Adam and Eve were convinced by Satan that their father did not want them to be happy. 5) One son did not want to go work in his father’s vineyard.

What is the resolution/s to the problems discussed? 1) Our experiences and perspectives in life are coming from different directions. This is normal and acceptable. 2) Some of the conflicts are because attitudes and actions are wrong. Some on the part of the aged; some on the part of youth. 3) Understanding, patience, and forgiveness are needed for us all to make it. With the right attitude we can avoid unnecessary conflicts.