The Book Of Ecclesiastes Pt. 51 Growing Old Brings Problems, But God Still Cares For Us!

The gift of youth should be used with wisdom.

Ecclesiates 12:1  Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 

Solomon gave a strong admonition to young people to know and obey God, and avoid following a depraved culture.

We have a good example of what Solomon meant when he spoke about the aging process. 

We will not always enjoy the pleasures of a sound body and mind, because these tend to deteriorate over time. 

This is why Solomon builds on his appeal to all young people, to seek God first. He urges young people to make Him their priority, rather than falling into conformity with a decadent culture. 

If a child is brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, then a foundation for a good life has been established.

Young people must learn to flee sin and follow God.

2 Timothy 2:22  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

Carnal pleasures are the sins of youth. The lusts of the flesh are youthful lusts, which young people must carefully watch against.

Youthful lusts are very dangerous, such that all young people should be warned about them,  for they war against the soul (See 1 Peter 2:11).

Fleeing youthful lusts is a "put off" command from God through the apostle Paul. We know Paul always follows a "put off" with a "put on." 

In this case the "put on" is following after righteousness, faith, charity and peace , with other young Christians. 

God's word is our powerful helper in fleeing sin and walking with Christ. 

Psalm 119:9-11  BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10)  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11)  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

King Solomon certainly would have been familiar with this Psalm. In this text, the Psalmist gives young people (and all ages) the essential key for victory over youthful lusts.

A young person can cleanse his or her way, by knowing and living according to the scriptures. 

A young person can know God as Creator, by seeking Him as He is revealed in scripture. 

A young person can avoid sin by hiding God's Word in his or her heart. 

This is done by reading the text as many times as it takes, for a person to really grasp what God is saying. It comes by committing scripture to memory. 

Therefore, young people must guard against youthful lusts.  Instead, they must be taught to follow after righteousness. How can they follow after righteousness? 

By reading the Bible, By spending time in prayer with God, and by having Christian friends, rather than unsaved friends. 

Knowing God as Creator is His powerful antidote against youthful lusts. 

The best time to know God as Creator and Ruler of all, is when we are young. 

Age brings good gifts and challenging gifts. 

2 Samuel 19:33-35  And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem. 34)  And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? 35)  I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king? 

Age brings the good gifts of wisdom, happy memories of family friends, rejoicing in our Lord's consistent goodness to us over decades of life, and a joyful anticipation of our heavenly home.

Age also brings challenging gifts like health issues, where we may have to allow our family to help support us as we age. This is a reversal of roles, from being a provider for your family.

The best gift of aging is the time we have, where we can focus on Jehovah. This gift shapes what we think about and what we do. 

It cuts away the extraneous things of life that have no eternal impact, so that we are more sharply focused on the things of God. 

Barzillai was a faithful friend and strong supporter of King David. He provided food for David during Absalom's revolt against his father.

When Absalom was put down, David returned to Jerusalem and offered to care for his friend. 

Barzillai replied that he was 80 years old, and that his mental acuity along with his sense of taste and hearing, were not too good. 

He graciously declined David's offer, because he did not want to impose a burden on his king. 

Barzillai's condition at age 80, is exactly what Solomon is trying to help young people to understand. 

He wants young people to reach their best physical and spiritual potential, when their bodies and minds are good. 

Thus the errors of living in sin and foolish behavior can be avoided.

The inquisitive nature and energy of youth should not be wasted. 

Ecclesiastes 12:2  While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 

This text brings out the idea of us using our time wisely rather than foolishly. It reminds me of an old farming expression that says farmers should "Make hay, while the sun shines."

This expression means we should get our work done, while conditions are best for getting our work done. 

You cut and bale hay in sunny weather, not rainy or stormy weather.

Parents must warn their children against being slothful.

Proverbs 12:24  The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

Those who make the most of their talent and skills, will become good leaders who are appreciated by many. A lazy, slothful person will always be under someone else's authority. 

Proverbs 12:27  The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

A diligent worker is more than able to provide for himself and his family. He is able to build a reserve to carry him through hard times.

The lazy, slothful person does not exert himself when hunting. He makes no real effort to catch any prey, and therefore, he has nothing to eat.

Proverbs 15:19  The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

The way of a righteous, industrious person is free from obstacles. He is able to start and complete whatever project he desires, because he has worked hard to gain the necessary resources. 

The way of a lazy, slothful person is compared to a path grown over by a hedge of thorns. It is extremely difficult to get through thorns without suffering many cuts and hard toil. 

Proverbs 18:9  He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Thus, Solomon in Proverbs, tells us a slothful person is one who wastes his life away and has little to show for it. 

This is not only in a vocational setting, but in the family setting, his home will be very dysfunctional. He is not willing to put in the hard work to be a good example and to lead his family aright.  

Solomon uses a house as a metaphor for our body as it ages.

Ecclesiastes 12:3-4  In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4)  And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 

Solomon now speaks to that day of future judgment. It is appointed once for men to die and then each person will stand in judgment before God. 

For those who die in their sins, it will be a day when great terror seizes their soul. it will be a day when the sinner discovers that God is a consuming fire and will judge all sin (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 10:27; 12:29). 

The strongest, most vile sinner is no match for God. He will be cast down to Hell.

The idea of "grinders ceasing" is that any sinner's works mean nothing before God. 

The word translated "doors" has several meanings, once of which is "the doors of heaven." This seems to fit with what Solomon is teaching us. 

Grinding will come to a halt. Those who rise early in the morning will no longer do so. All the sensual pleasures, music and mirth of the culture, will stop when God's judgment day arrives.

No one will stand before the King of kings and say "I have a PhD" or "I am a multi billionaire" or "I have excellent technical skills." None of that matters to God. 

He looks on our hearts. All sinners do not have the new heart and new spirit. God only gives to those who repent of their sins and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation.  

The sinner will spend eternity in hell. This is why Solomon urges young people to know their creator when they are young. 

Knowing God personally, will change the trajectory of their lives in a wonderful, good way!

Ecclesiastes 12:5  Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 

The picture is that when death comes to a sinner, that person is filled with dread, because the reality of God will be made manifest to him. 

All the unbelievers who deny the existence and power of God will have the lies that they believed, forever shattered. 

Thus fears line the streets and their strength is gone, such that, they cannot even pick up a grasshopper. All their earthly dreams and ambitions come to nothing. 

Going to the "long home" is a reference to dying and spending eternity in heaven or hell, depending upon whether a person believed God and His Word or not. 

The sinner will mourn over his eternal fate. The bitter realities of not believing God's Word immediately sets in.  

This is why Solomon says to all people, but especially to the young ones: "Know the Creator of thy youth!" 

Knowing God by turning to Christ with repentant faith, saves your soul and secures a home in heaven. 

Rejecting Jesus consigns your soul to the flames of eternal hell. 

Ecclesiastes 12:6-8  Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7)  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. :8)  Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.  

Death will come for us all. The activities of this life will cease. Our "precious things" will go to someone else. Our bodies shall return to the dust (Genesis 3:19) and our spirit will return to Jehovah.

If you die in your sins, then all of this life was vain, empty and purposeless.

Thus, we must "remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth" for knowing Jehovah is what gives real meaning, hope and purpose to our lives.  

Thoughts to Ponder...

Psalm 149:5  Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.

At night when we sleep or when we are down in bed with an illness, or when we know the end of this life draws near, let us rejoice in our LORD. Let us sing praises to His name. Let us praise Him for saving us from sin, death, hell and condemnation. 

Death is not the end for a Christian. Rather, it is a new beginning. We will have a new home in heaven because Jesus is there, preparing it for us (John 14:1-6).

The best life for Christians is when our earthly pilgrimage is over and we are taken to heaven by our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Jesus tells us "Let not your heart be troubled."

The scripture tells us that absent from our body through death, is to be present with our Lord. We shall see Jesus as He is, in all His glory, and we will worship Him without the constraints of our old sinful body (1 John 3:1-3).

When we put off the fleshly tent, God will cloth us with a new body, fitted for heaven (See 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Philippians 3:21).

Therefore, may the words of the Psalmist and Job bring joy to our hearts. Our work for the Lord is not in vain. 

He loves us, and cares for us all the way to the end of this life. He will love and care for us through eternity. 

Bob

Psalm 16:9  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Psalm 116:15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Job 19:25-27  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26)  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27)  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.