In English, useless sounds harsh. Like you no longer matter. Like your season is over. But in Psalm 71:9, the psalmist pleads not to be cast off in old age. The Hebrew word behind this fear is ma’as. Ma’as doesn’t mean worthless. It means to be set aside. Still intact, but no longer chosen for use. This feeling is common later in life. When your skills are less requested. When decisions happen without you. When people thank you for what you used to do. The psalmist doesn’t pretend this fear is sinful. He brings it straight to God. Ma’as tells us this: Feeling set aside by people does not mean you’ve been discarded by God. #BibleStudy #HebrewWord