Second Samuel 5:4 tells us David was thirty years old when he began his reign. Thirty is a significant number in Scripture. At thirty, the Levites assumed their ministry. At thirty, Joseph became prime minister of Egypt. At thirty, Ezekiel began making his powerful prophetic proclamations. At thirty, John the Baptist began to go throughout the countryside preaching preparation for the Kingdom. At thirty, Jesus began His public ministry. Thus, there seems to be something significant about the age of thirty. In God’s economy, it would seem as though the years up to thirty are years of training and preparation.

David reigned over Israel for forty years and died at the age of seventy. Interestingly, Psalm 90, penned by Moses, says that the years of a man are seventy years. In other words, seventy years is a normal lifespan.

If you’re under thirty, use the time to prepare wisely as you seek the Lord for what He has ahead for you. If you’re over thirty, serve Him with maturity and wisdom. If you’re under thirty, glean from your elders. If you’re over thirty, set the pace for those looking to you. It has been said that the difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician has his eyes on the next election, while a statesman has his eyes on the next generation. May God make us spiritual statesmen who have a heart for generations to follow.