I think it is the mercy of God to deaden our youthful passions as we age.

When I look back at my younger days, I shake my head in shame and guilt and hope no one finds out! Not that all my evil passions are completely dead now – far from it – but the more immediate and fleshly passions do not wage quite the war that it once did. Of course, there are new battles to be fought – security, legacy, reputation – but looking back at my younger years does help me to stay humble and not think I’m better than others.

Perhaps David felt the same way about his youthful passions.

“Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!”

Ps. 25:7

And this past had a humbling effect on David: “He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble his way (v. 9). 

So, the stupid things we did in our past had a purpose after all! They are there to remind us that if left to ourselves, we will make a mess of things and ourselves. We would be no different even now at an older age if we are still trying to rely on ourselves according to our own wisdom. It is one thing to be young and dumb, it is quite another to be old and dumb, never having learned from our past.

“Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.”

Ps. 25:20

PH