1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. 2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. 3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie. 4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. 6 Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. 7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. 8 However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless. 9 Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. 10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.
1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”- 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; 3 when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; 4 when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; 5 when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. 13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 (NIV)
1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. 2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. 3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie. 4 Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. 6 Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. 7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. 8 However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless. 9 Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment. 10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.
1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”- 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; 3 when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; 4 when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; 5 when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember him--before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!” 9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails--given by one Shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. 13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 (NIV)
Solomon closed his discussion on people’s ignorance of the future – of which we all are - with some practical advice about their activities in view of such ignorance. He concluded that it was better to follow God’s wisdom rather than to practice man’s folly. To emphasize that man is ignorant of the future Solomon said, “You do not know” three times (11:2, 5-6); he also said, “You cannot understand” (V 5). Indeed, except for God’s revealed will in His Word, we are all clueless of what the future holds. No one knows what will happen in a day much less a lifetime. That is why we are not to lean on our own understanding. Solomon writes in Proverbs 3:5-7:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
Man’s wisdom cannot explain everything. Human insights will never be enough in directing our paths – it will always be found wanting - as God’s ways are incomprehensible and so far above ours. Isaiah 55:6-11 states:
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:6-11 (NIV)
God never goes against His Word which is eternal, standing firm in the heavens. This is why I so lean into it and love it, seeking to understand its Truths and to walk in both His will and His way through His power. It is His revealed will to us. And it is precious. We are the great losers when we choose to neglect it. It is the right way and He is trustworthy. All the wisdom of the world we may acquire can never replace the need for our full trust in God’s superior ways. When we trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him in all our actions and with all our hearts, we will discover that God makes our paths straight. This is not simply a nod of recognition from us, rather it is seeking to obtain and intimate knowledge of God through faithful study and application of His Word. Head knowledge alone puffs up – we are to also flesh out what we know to be true. Paul gives his beloved son in the faith Timothy the following charge in 2 Timothy 2:15:
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)
We would do well to do likewise. It also behooves us to emulate Paul’s desire to know Christ deeper and wider as he writes in Philippians 3:7-11:
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV)
To be sure, Paul’s was the highest, most honorable pursuit that one can have. Believers are to be like Jesus – conformed to His image. He came to this earth and modeled what we are to be like. This is God’s appointed goal for each one of us as well. Jesus was to be the first among many brothers. He must become greater, we must become less, as John the Baptist stated. The verses in Proverbs 3:5-6 that we read earlier means more than simply guidance; they also mean God is bringing us to His appointed goal. Proverbs also teaches that those who follow wisdom have an easier, less problematic life – sounds good to me! I could do with less problems, Amen? Solomon also concluded in Ecclesiastes that it was better to follow God’s wisdom than to practice man’s folly – and he should know firsthand about that! As for the certainty of death, there is no way to escape it - unless Jesus raptures us up and/or returns. Therefore, it ought to motivate us to readiness and to enjoy what He has given us in this life now, making the most of every opportunity. We do not want to waste our lives. Paul tells the Church at Colosse in Colossians 3:23-24:
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. Colossians 3:22-25 (NIV)
All wrongdoing towards us will one day be righted. We have God’s promise on that. It is His to avenge and He will repay. We are to live our lives Coram Deo – before the face of God, pleasing Him in all that we say and do and think – this will keep us busy enough and God will concern Himself with our adversaries. It is His job not ours anyway. Also, if we love our “neighbors” as Jesus commanded, we will not be found envious or vengeful.
Solomon also counsels in Ecclesiastes that our ignorance of the future should not lead us to inactivity or despair, rather to faithful diligent labor – and even more so as we see the Day approaching. Solomon goes on to explain in these two chapters that: (1) Life is an adventure and we are to live by faith in Ecclesiastes 11:1-6; (2) Life is a gift, the present is the present and we are to enjoy it in Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8; (3) Life is a school and we are to learn the lessons it teaches us in Ecclesiastes 12:9-12; and (4) Life is a stewardship and we are to fear God and serve Him in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
What a joy it is to anticipate each new day accepting it as a gift from the hand of God and allowing Him to use us for His glory and for our good. Each day offers a wonderful opportunity to live to our fullest as unto the Lord. Time is fleeting and unrepeatable – therefore we are to make the most of every opportunity. Life is not monotonous either. Rather, it is the great adventure of faith which is anything but predictable or tedious. It is a gift from God’s Hand and He wants us to fully enjoy it. He bestows wisdom to us to make sensible decisions. Also, life is a stewardship and everything we have – including our bodies – are his and we are held accountable for what we have received. Remember, what do we have that we did not receive? The answer would be nothing.
Night and day Jesus toiled and prayed for us. How can we dwindle His time and resources whiling away in luxurious ease while sinners perish for lack of knowledge? We are to be found faithful. If we are not, we who loiter may find our garments crimson from the blood of souls. As Spurgeon wrote:
“Life is so short that a morning of manhood’s vigor, and evening of decay, make the whole of it…Life is so brief that no man can afford to lose a day.”
If we are not somehow impacting our world for Jesus - we are wasting our time. This fleshes out in a myriad of ways from being on the mission field abroad or the mission field in our own homes and spheres. It is simply being Jesus wherever He places you.
Time is more precious than money as it is unredeemable. You can make more money but you cannot make more time. Therefore, we are not to let our hands be idle. Paul rightly advises us in Ephesians 5:15-17:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Eph 5:15-17 (NIV)
We want our lives to count, which means living by faith and expecting the unexpected. Solomon illustrated this point in two ways: the merchant sending out his ships in Chapter 11:1-2 and the farmer sowing his seed in Chapter 11:3-6. In both of these activities a great deal of faith is required as neither the merchant nor the farmer can control the circumstances. The ships could hit a reef, be caught in a storm, or attacked by pirates and the cargo lost. Bad weather, blight or insects can destroy the crop making the farmers labor in vain. However, if either of them sought to wait for more opportune circumstances, they would never get anything done. Life always has a certain amount of risk to it. That is where faith comes in.
“Cast your bread upon the waters” may be paraphrased “Send out your grain in ships”. Solomon was himself involved in various kinds of trade making this illustration natural for him. It would be months before the ships would return with their precious cargo – but when they did the merchants faith and patience were rewarded. Verse Two suggests that he spread out his wealth and did not put everything into one venture. After all, true faith is not presumption. “For you do not know” is a key phrase in this section in Verses 2, 5, and 6. Man is ignorant of the future, but he must not allow his ignorance to make him so fearful that he becomes either careless or paralyzed. Sending seven or eight ships was increasing his chances to bring back a good return on his investment. It is the same thing as the expression: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
The farmer is discussed in Verses 3-6B. Farming has never been easy work and this was especially true in the Holy Land in Biblical times. The Jews tilled rocky soil, and they depended on the early and latter rains to nourish their seed. Nobody can rightly predict the weather, let alone control it, and the farmer was and is at the mercy of God who controls all of nature. Clouds are always changing – they come and go – and the farmer hopes they will spill their precious water on his fields. Trees are somewhat permanent. They stand in the same place unless a storm topples them and then they lie there and rot. These listed are acts of God in nature—the falling of rain, the uprooting of a tree by a gale. So waiting for just the right moment to plant - when there is no wind to blow away the seed or to reap - when there is no rain in the clouds to threaten the ripened harvest would result in inactivity. We must seize every opportunity. As Jesus was always about His Father’s work, and indeed, the Father is always about His work, we too are to be about our Father’s work. If we are looking for an excuse for doing nothing, we can find one. Life is an adventure and often we must launch out by faith, even when the circumstances seem adverse.
Just as nobody knows “the path of the wind” or “how the body is formed in a mother’s womb”, so nobody fully knows the works of God in His creation. God has a time and purpose for all things and we must live by faith in Him and in His Word. Therefore, use each day wisely, living as unto the Lord, doing our jobs and redeeming our times and trusting God to bless our hands. He will be faithful to direct our path.
Life is also a gift and we are to enjoy it. Solomon addresses this in Ecclesiastes 11:7 – 12:8. This is Solomon’s sixth admonition that we accept life as a gift and learn to enjoy all that God shares with us. In order to do this we must obey three instructions – Rejoice 11:7-9; Remove 11:10 and Remember 12:1-8.
Rejoice 11:7-9: Each day is fresh new day – a clean slate – a gift from God’s hand. Not everybody will get today. When we awake each morning we are to thank God for the opportunity of this new day and ask Him to help us use it wisely for His glory – investing rather than spending it – and enjoying it as His gift. Solomon especially instructed the young people to take advantage of the days of youth before the “days of darkness” would arrive. This is not to suggest that young people have no problems or that older people have no joys. He was simply making a generalization that youth is the time for enjoyment, before the hindrances of old age start to reveal themselves.
Our culture is unique from many cultures in the world in that we do not prize age and the wisdom it should bring. Whereas many other cultures do see age as a sign of wisdom and the elderly as those who should be honored. We seem to do everything to marginalize the aged. We also do everything possible to ignore aging ourselves and seek to hide and prevent it through billions of dollars spent every year on Botox injections and plastic surgery and a myriad of other things. As Dolly Parton once said, “It cost a fortune to look this cheap.” We do it with computer enhancements on photo spreads, photo shopping out unsightly images. We attempt to ignore aging with medicines, diets, workouts and creams – none of which turns the clock back. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for looking the best we can look but we should not live for that nor believe that it will make us look like we are 25 again. Moderation and balance is key here.
One reason some ignore aging, besides simple vanity and insecurity, is that we fear death and since aging reminds us of our mortality, we desperately try to escape it. We prize youth because we fear the fleeting nature of life and the finality of death. Our short life gives way to death and to our eternal destinations of heaven or hell. Many do not want to think about death because the unknown is frightening to them. Yet the Apostle Paul has told us in 2 Corinthians 5:6-10:
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (NIV)
No matter how much effort we may exert to be healthy and safe and look younger, the bottom line is that we get about 100 years max in this world. Because of this, Solomon advises us to enjoy life the best we can, as God intended, because it is a gift from God’s Hand. Don’t put off enjoyment until the “whatever” comes to pass because there will always be another “whatever” looming in the future and we will never get around to the enjoyment. Solomon stated that “Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun”, meaning life is a good gift. It is precious and it is to be a joy. His point being that because of life’s fleeting nature, we are therefore to enjoy each day.
On a side note, regarding the aging of the body and our obsession with outward beauty, one of the most beautiful women I have ever known was my sister-in-law's Mom and I don’t know if she even owned a tube of lipstick! She radiated the presence of Jesus by her smile, her eyes and her warm, kind heart. She was the essence of 1 Peter 3:3-5A:
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. 1 Peter 3:3-5 (NIV)
All too often we are so hard at work on the exterior - our faces and bodies - that we neglect the interior – our hearts.
The best instruction in accepting life as a gift is: Remove 1:10: Privileges must be balanced by personal responsibilities. Young people are to banish anxiety from their hearts and evil away from their flesh. They are to avoid things that will bring future troubles. To put away pain or to cast off troubles is to repent of sin. And repenting of sin is turning from it to Jesus. When we depart from God’s ways and design, we must repent and turn back to Him. Again, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 7:1:
1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)
Solomon exhorts his readers to rejoice in their youth and to walk in the ways of their hearts and eyes, but he adds that they must recognize that God will judge them in the end. He encourages them to seize the day but remember they were to enjoy life as God intended – not following their own bents and ways. What we do matters to God - Who is aware of even our thoughts and attitudes and motivations of our hearts – nothing is hidden from His sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13). Therefore, enjoy life responsibly as God has designed and enjoy things in life as the Bible has instructed us to do.
Solomon also tells us to rid ourselves of sorrow and pain. God has made life as a gift to be enjoyed as He designed. We run into major problems – as did Solomon – when we choose to depart from God’s plan. This is what we are seeing in our own country presently, Amen? People doing what they think is right in their own eyes and it can cause the downfall of a country. Quickly. We can’t flagrantly stomp on God’s Laws – His revealed will - and then expect Him to bless us. I am reminded of the Prophet Jeremiah’s words to the Israelites in Jeremiah 7:9-11: 9 “‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, ‘We are safe’— ‘safe to do all these detestable things?’ 11 Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 7:9-11 (NIV)
When we choose to make our own rules, to follow the inclinations of our own stubborn hearts and to walk in ways which God never intended, it will lead to pain and brokenness in our lives. If we find ourselves there, repent as quickly as we can. Do not run from Him any longer, run to Him.
Remember 12:1-8: This third instruction means more than merely “think about God”. It means pay attention to, consider with the intention of obeying. It is Solomon’s version of Matthew 6:33:
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
It is easy to neglect the Lord when we are caught up in the enjoyments and opportunities of youth (and old age for that matter!). Yet when the dark and difficult days arrive – as we have been promised by Jesus – and we do not have a good Biblical foundation to pull from, we will flounder, question and despair. During our youthful years often the sky is bright and cloudless but we can be assured it will not always be that way. The time will come when the dark and stormy clouds enter the scene and we want to be prepared and not be found wanting. It seems that today many parents shield their children from any sort of trouble or conflict while under their roofs - often out of kindness – but unfortunately to their harm. We do them a great disservice because trials are used to train them how to handle conflict Biblically so that they will be prepared to meet with whatever God allows in their lives in the future. None of us has any idea what the future holds for our children and we want them to be prepared. We are to be raising “oaks of righteousness” plantings of the Lord for the display of His splendor and this does not happen through ease or metamorphosis or magically for that matter. We must be intentional in raising them into Godly men and women to be used for His glory and their good.
Solomon’s intention in this section is to explain that today is the day to turn to God – don’t delay. He has exhorted us to enjoy life, and as we have seen, turning to God is the only way to enjoy life rightly. In order to accomplish his purpose, Solomon gives a sobering picture of the curse of death with the hope that it will drive us to God now. The poem is relentless in its move toward death. The entire section is one long run-on sentence that if read together would literally leave the reader out of breath.
Solomon begins by commanding us to remember our Creator in the days of our youth. What does this entail? Remembering your Creator means trusting Him, obeying Him, and walking with Him. It entails teaching your kids about God. Joy can truly be found if one lives out the wise order by which God created the world. God created everything good and to be enjoyed; however, because we sinned, everything is broken. We now use things – even good things – wrongly or worship them as idols, and the departure from God’s design leads to our brokenness – because that is what sin does – it destroys. The only way to navigate this world wisely and truly enjoy the good gifts God has created for us – not as idols we place above Him but as gifts meant to glorify Him – is by faith in Him. We are called to repent of our sins, repent of our idolatry, and believe in Him. We cannot afford to put off faith in God until we are older. We will most assuredly regret it because living our lives without God in the center of them causes us to make foolish life choices. We might marry wrongly or begin a wrong occupation. These life decisions often have long term repercussions. And while forgiveness is given, consequences to our actions remain. Tons of money is spent annually on counseling and medications simply because of poor life choices. We don’t want to go there! We must turn to God now and submit ourselves to His Word for decision making. God is a sanctifying and enabling portion. The things of the world cannot advance the soul in the least. Men in high places are the same men; no real worth is added to them than if they were in a low position and often they are worse for their earthly portions. Feeding on earthly trash takes you away from the bread of heaven and can make you become intoxicated with the wine of the world. That which will elevate the soul must be more excellent than the soul. A Godly man has great value because he is a vessel holding an eternal jewel.
The point of this section in Chapter 12 is that our world will personally end in death. Solomon gives three “before” statements to vividly depict aging and dying. First, we must turn to God before evil days come, which refers to impending death. Death is not the way the world should be. It was not part of God’s original design rather an enemy intruder in the world when sin entered on the scene. When the evil days come and we will have no pleasure in them. The depressing reality for many people is that if they live long enough all sorts of sicknesses and infirmities come upon us reducing our pleasures and joys. In Verses 3-7 of Chapter 12, Solomon gives us one of the most imaginative descriptions of old age and death found anywhere in literature. While many do not agree on all the details of the interpretation, most of them do see here a picture of a house that is falling apart and finally turns to dust. A dwelling place is one biblical metaphor for the human body. And taking down a house or tent is a picture of death. 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 states:
1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling. 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (NIV)
The meaning of Solomon’s descriptors of aging may be as follows:
“Keepers of the house” – We have diminishing capacity of the senses and motor skills in old age. Our arms and hands tremble.
“Strong men”- Major muscles fail, our legs, knees and shoulders weaken and we even begin to bend over.
“Grinders”- We begin to lose our teeth.
“Windows”- Our vision begins to deteriorate.
“Doors”- Either our hearing starts to fail, or we close your mouth because we have lost your teeth.
“Grinding”- We cannot chew our food, or our ears cannot pick up the sounds outdoors.
“Rise up”- We wake up with the birds early each morning, and wish we could sleep longer.
“Music”- Our voice starts to quaver and weaken.
“Afraid”- We are terrified of heights and afraid of falling while we walk down the street.
“Almond tree”- If we have any hair left, it turns white, like almond blossoms.
“Grasshopper”- We just drag ourselves along, like a grasshopper at the close of the summer season.
“Desire”- We lose our appetite, or perhaps our sexual drive.
“Long home”- We go to our eternal long home and people mourn our death.
Lovely picture, Amen?
Verse Six describes a golden bowl – a lamp – hanging from the ceiling on a silver chain. The chain breaks and the bowl breaks. The fragile “cord of life” is snapped and the light of life goes out. Only wealthy people could have such costly lamps, so Solomon may be hinting that death is no respecter of persons.
The verse also pictures a well with a windlass for bringing up a pitcher filled with water. One day the wheel breaks, the pitcher is shattered, and the end comes. The fountain of water was an ancient image of life. When the machinery of life stops working, the water of life stops flowing. The heart stops pumping, the blood stops circulating, and death has come. The spirit leaves the body and the body begins to decay, and eventually turns to dust.
For the last time in his discourse, Solomon said, “Vanity of vanities…all is vanity.” The book closes where it began (1:2), emphasizing the emptiness of life without God. When you look at life “under the sun” everything does seem vain; but when you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, “your labor is not in vain in the Lord”. 1 Corinthians 15:58 states:
58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
Solomon wants us to realize that God imposed a curse on the world to show us the meaninglessness of following our own devices and to drive us to Him. Thus the point of Ecclesiastes, like every book of the Bible, is ultimately to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. That’s the point of Ecclesiastes: everything is meaningless without Jesus. We see this in the conclusions in 12:9-14.
Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes to shepherd the reader with words that are pleasing, true, convicting, and wise. His words are like goads, spiked sticks that prod cattle down the right path. That has been his intention all along. He gives messianic wisdom to convict us of the meaninglessness of life without God and to drive us to remember our Creator. After all, the image of the “one Shepherd” is only used in reference to the Messiah.
Solomon turns his attention to his son, pleading with him to beware of moving beyond his words in Verse 12. He trains his son in wisdom in order to establish the kingdom, so he tells his son not to attempt his own investigations as if the son could find meaning somewhere that Solomon failed to look. Solomon says his words recorded in Ecclesiastes are sufficient. They are sufficient for us as well. This is the sum total of the matter Verse 13. Solomon knows the temptation to try anything and everything other than God to find satisfaction, so he talked about his pursuit of wealth, education, women, pleasure, success, and other things. When all is said and done, God is the only One to satisfy the human heart.
Solomon, therefore, teaches his son not to try his own search for meaning and to take Solomon’s words to heart. Here is the bottom line: “Fear God and keep His commands”, since that is our chief end in the light of judgment. Solomon would have made a greater impact on his son had he practiced what he is now preaching, Amen? The book od Ecclesiastes has longed for judgment because of the injustice of the world, but the problem for us is our part in the injustice of the world. God will one day set all things right, the wicked will not finally prosper, and the righteous will not finally suffer, but the difficulty for us is that Ecclesiastes makes clear we have all failed to keep God’s commands. Everyone has failed including Solomon and his son. Ecclesiastes ends by saying even the secret things we think are hidden will see the light of day in judgment when we are completely laid bare and exposed before the Holy God – Verse 14. That’s frightening. But God…
We are under condemnation; that’s the bad news. But the good news is that there is one that is greater than Solomon. He is the Wisdom of God. He does not merely teach us messianic wisdom and fail to live up to it but He perfectly lives out the wisdom of God. And the One who perfectly lived out the wisdom of God also took the judgment for our folly on the cross. He experienced everything we should have experienced for falling short of God’s glory. The enemy – the curse of sin and death – will steal our hearing, steal our motor skills, steal our sight, and steal our youthful vigor, but Jesus redeems us by becoming a curse for us. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21:
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
He took on our death and He took on the dark grave, but He did not decay in the dust; He walked away from death. Jaroslav Pelikan writes:
“If Christ is risen – then nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen – then nothing else matters.” Jaroslav Pelikan
Because of Jesus the decay of death is not the final word. Because of Jesus, aging is not the end. Because of Jesus, life can be meaningful and youthful radiance will last in eternal life after the grave. All because of Jesus.
These are Beth’s personal notes, due to this fact sources are not often stated.