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Ecclesiastes Lesson Twenty-One

Ecclesiastes Lesson Twenty-One: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 – Aging, Death, and Conclusion

So remember your Creator in the days of your youth: 

Before the days of adversity come, 

and the years approach when you will say, 

“I have no delight in them”; 

2 before the sun and the light are darkened, 

and the moon and the stars, 

and the clouds return after the rain; 

3 on the day when the guardians of the house tremble, 

and the strong men stoop, 

the women who grind cease because they are few, 

and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly, 

4 the doors at the street are shut 

while the sound of the mill fades; 

when one rises at the sound of a bird, 

and all the daughters of song grow faint. 

5 Also, they are afraid of heights and dangers on the road; 

the almond tree blossoms, 

the grasshopper loses its spring, 

and the caper berry has no effect; 

for man is headed to his eternal home, 

and mourners will walk around in the street; 

6 before the silver cord is snapped, 

and the gold bowl is broken, 

and the jar is shattered at the spring, 

and the wheel is broken into the well; 

7 and the dust returns to the earth as it once was, 

and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 

8 “Absolute futility,” says the Teacher. “Everything is futile.” 

9 In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. 10 The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. 11 The sayings of the wise are like goads, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd. 

12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books,  and much study wearies the body. 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil. (HCSB)

This will be the final lesson in our study of Ecclesiastes. I’ll be splitting this lesson into two parts.

  • Our final season of life – verses 1-8.
  • The conclusion: Fear God and obey Him – verses 9-14.

Our Final Season of Life

  • Chapter twelve begins with the phrase, “Remember your Creator.” There are several things to consider with this simple phrase.
    • It means much more than simply to “think about God.”
    • It means to “pay attention to, consider with the intention of obeying.”
    • It’s the author’s version of Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
    • It becomes easy to neglect God when we are involved in the enjoyment and opportunities of our youth.
    • Most of us understand that there will be dark and difficult days as we age. Therefore, we should make sure our spiritual foundation is strong as early in life as possible.
    • When we’re young, our days are bright, and we often feel invincible. But, the days will come when the darkness gathers, and one storm after another comes.
  • Verses two to seven should be viewed through metaphoric lenses.
    • Verse two.
      • This verse should be interpreted as talking about eyesight.
      • Both the sun and the moon dim as our eyesight fades.
      • It wouldn’t make sense to view this as literal rain, as the skies often clear after a rainstorm instead of things remaining dim.
      • As we age, our eyesight gets worse.
    • Verse three.
      • The guardians of your house refer to our arms and hands; as we age, they begin to shake or tremble.
      • The strong men are the major muscle groups, most likely referring to our legs, back, and shoulders.
      • The grinders are our teeth. As we age, we lose our teeth, or they weaken.
      • The windows once again refer to our vision.
    • Verse four.
      • The doors being shut refers to our hearing.
      • When we’re younger, we often shut doors to exclude outside noises.
      • As we age, we begin to lose our hearing.
      • However, this brings up a cruel paradox of old age.
        • We can’t hear as well as we used to.
        • At the same time, we sleep so lightly that the slightest disturbance is enough to wake us up.
      • The end of verse four could be referring to our hearing, or it could be a reference to our voice. As we age, our voice becomes shaky, and it weakens.
    • Verse five.
      • As we age and weaken, we become or intensify our fear of heights. Additionally, as our muscles weaken, we are more prone to falling as we walk down the street. Overall, it refers to a decline in our manliness.
      • The almond tree blossoms is a direct reference to our hair becoming gray or white as we age.
      • The reference to a grasshopper is a bit more obscure.
        • As we age, our overall strength diminishes. 
        • It could be a reference to our joints or a shuffling walk.
        • It could be a reference to impotence.
          • Caper berries were an aphrodisiac in biblical times.
          • As men age, these aphrodisiacs to enhance our desire no longer have any effect.
          • The Targum, the spoken version of the Hebrew Bible, paraphrases this section to read, “You will cease from sexual intercourse.”
      • The reference to man heading to his eternal home directly correlates to death. We’ll spend eternity either in God’s presence in heaven or eternally separated from God in hell.
      • People will mourn our deaths as they walk down the street.
    • Verse six.
      • The items listed in the first part of the verse would only be available to wealthy people. The author is indicating that death is no respecter of persons.
      • The second part of the verse is a reference to the water of life.
        • Psalm 36:8-9 They are filled from the abundance of Your house; You let them drink from Your refreshing stream, 9 for with You is life’s fountain. In Your light we will see light.
        • Revelation 21:6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life.
        • The jar is shattered.
        • The wheel, the part that raises the bucket as water is drawn, is broken. The water of life is no longer being supplied.
        • The machinery of life stops working.
        • Death is suddenly upon us.
    • Verse seven.
      • Our bodies will decay once we die and will turn to dust.
        • Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
        • Genesis 3:19 You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow until you return to the ground, since you were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return to dust.
      • The spirit of life, given by God, leaves our body once we die.
        • James 2:26a 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead.
        • All life comes from God.
    • Verse eight.
      • The book ends with the same theme it began with: “Everything is futile.”
      • Life without God is an empty life.
      • When everything “under the sun” is considered, it does seem futile. However, when you surrender your life to Jesus, you realize life is fulfilling and has meaning.
      • 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 

The Conclusion: Fear God and Obey Him

As we conclude our journey through Ecclesiastes, it might be good to remember a quote from an unknown source, “Life is like a school, except that sometimes you don’t know what the lessons are until you’ve failed the examination!”

God teaches primarily from His Word, but He also teaches through creation, history, and life experiences. Let’s look at some characteristics of God’s teaching through the eyes of the writer.

  • His teaching is wise.
  • His teaching is orderly.
    • The author weighed his conclusions carefully and arranged them in an orderly fashion.
    • His approach was scientific.
  • His teaching is careful.
    • He used acceptable words.
    • This would draw the listener in instead of driving them away with coarse speech.
    • At the same time, he never wavered from speaking the truth or making the message “socially acceptable.”
      • Proverbs 8:6-11 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what my lips say is right. 7 For my mouth tells the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse. 9 All of them are clear to the perceptive, and right to those who discover knowledge. 10 Accept my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. 11 For wisdom is better than jewels, and nothing desirable can compare with it.
      • John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 
  • His teachings are inspired by God, given by the one Shepherd.
    • Inspiration by the Holy Spirit is what enabled men to write the Word of God, complete and without error.
    • 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 
    • 2 Peter 1:20-21 First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
    • They contained both goads and nails.
      • The goads prod people to pay attention and to pursue the truth.
      • The nails give them something on which to hang what they’ve learned.
      • Good teaching requires both motivated students and teachers who can “nail things down” so the lessons make sense.
  • If we aren’t careful, we could misinterpret verse twelve as a negative outlook on learning. However, that is not the case.
    • It’s a warning not to go beyond what God teaches.
    • There are thousands of “religious” books on various subjects. But, we must be careful that the ones we read are grounded on Scripture and not “feel good” books that contradict what Scripture teaches.
    • Life is a school, and we must learn all we can. Our textbook is the Bible, and the Holy Spirit is our teacher.
      • Psalm 119:97-104 How I love Your instruction! It is my meditation all day long. 98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are always with me. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers because Your decrees are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the elders because I obey Your precepts. 101 I have kept my feet from every evil path to follow Your word. 102 I have not turned from Your judgments, for You Yourself have instructed me. 103 How sweet Your word is to my taste—sweeter than honey in my mouth. 104 I gain understanding from Your precepts; therefore I hate every false way.
      • John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit —the Father will send  Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. 
      • 2 Peter 3:18a But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
  • We now reach the conclusion in verses thirteen and fourteen.
    • It’s interesting to note that Ecclesiastes ends with the same conclusion found towards the beginning of Proverbs (1:7), “Fear God.”
      • The fear of the Lord is an attitude of reverence and awe that His people show to Him because they love Him and respect His power and greatness.
      • Those who fear the Lord learn and obey His Word.
      • An unholy fear causes people to run from God, but a holy fear brings them into submission to God.
      • When you fear God, you don’t need to fear anything else. When you don’t fear God, you fear everything else.
      • Isaiah 8:13 You are to regard only the Lord of Hosts as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be held in awe. 
      • Those who fear the Lord will keep His commands.
    • All of us will face judgment in the future. This judgment results in two emotions.
      • Those who don’t know God will live in fear of death. It doesn’t matter what they believe; death is something that will trouble them.
      • Those who have surrendered to Jesus live in joy; even death can’t trouble them. They know their future is secure, and they will live in eternity with God.
    • Everything that we do will be laid bare when we are judged. Nothing will remain hidden. 
    • Six times in Ecclesiastes, the author told us to enjoy life. However, at no time did he advise us to enjoy sin.
    • The joys of the present depend on the security of the future.
    • When we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ, we’ll find that life is indeed worth living. 
    • We’ll be satisfied no matter what happens to us.
    • 1 John 5:12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life. 

Applications

  • Life is much shorter than we think, even for those of us who reach an old age. And the older you get, the faster time goes! Live your life for what’s important; don’t waste it chasing sin, whatever form it takes.
  • As we age, we must accept that our bodies won’t function as well as they used to. As I move into my mid-60s, I am reminded daily that my runs aren’t as fast as they used to be, and I can’t run as far as when I was younger. I forget things. My body is not as flexible, and the aches and pains don’t go away as quickly. I’ve learned to let go and not worry about these changes. There’s still too much to live for, and if I let these changes discourage me, I’ll miss out on what’s left to enjoy!
  • Look to Scripture first for the answers to life. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms are not good sources for answers to life’s challenges and riddles. God’s Word is the only source of absolute truth.
  • Each of us will face judgment one day. Are you ready? Place your faith in Jesus Christ, enjoy life, and have peace about eternity.
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Ecclesiastes Lesson Twenty

Ecclesiastes Lesson Twenty: Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 – Invest in Life

Send your bread on the surface of the waters, 

for after many days you may find it. 

2 Give a portion to seven or even to eight, 

for you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth. 

3 If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth; 

whether a tree falls to the south or the north, 

the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. 

4 One who watches the wind will not sow, 

and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap. 

5 Just as you don’t know the path of the wind, 

or how bones develop in  the womb of a pregnant woman, 

so you don’t know the work of God who makes everything. 

6 In the morning sow your seed, 

and at evening do not let your hand rest, 

because you don’t know which will succeed, 

whether one or the other, 

or if both of them will be equally good. 

7 Light is sweet, 

and it is pleasing for the eyes to see the sun. 

8 Indeed, if a man lives many years, 

let him rejoice in them all, 

and let him remember the days of darkness, since they will be many. 

All that comes is futile. 

9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, 

and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. 

And walk in the ways of your heart 

and in the sight of your eyes; 

but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment. 

10 Remove sorrow from your heart, 

and put away pain from your flesh, 

because youth and the prime of life are fleeting. (HCSB)

I’ll be splitting this lesson into two parts.

  • Live by faith – verses 1-6.
  • Life is a gift, so enjoy it – verses 7-10.

Live by Faith

  • None of us will ever experience perfect circumstances throughout our lives. Still, we need to obey and trust God for the results.
  • If we wait for the perfect opportunity, it may never come, and life will pass us by.
  • The author uses two points to illustrate living by faith: a merchant sending out his ships and a farmer sowing seeds. In both cases, faith is needed since neither can control the circumstances surrounding their endeavors.
    • Merchant ships.
      • The phrase “Send your bread on the surface of the waters” is better understood as sending your grain on ships to other countries for trade.
      • Often, it would be months before the ships would return with their cargo. But, when they did return, the merchant’s patience would be rewarded with precious cargo or gold.
      • Verse two alludes to the fact the merchant would spread their cargo over several ships and not “putting all his eggs in one basket.”
      • But it can also mean that wealthy people should use their resources to help as many people as possible.
      • The phrase “You don’t know,” which appears three times in this section, is key.
        • We are ignorant of our future, but we can’t allow that ignorance to make us so fearful that we become careless or paralyzed.
        • It should make us careful when we plan and execute our plans.
    • Farmers.
      • Farming has always been challenging work, and this was especially true in biblical times in the Holy Land.
        • The soil was often rocky.
        • The farmers depended on early and late rains to grow their crops.
        • Weather prediction was an unknown science at the time, and the farmer was at the mercy of nature.
      • Verse three contrasts clouds and trees.
        • Clouds are constantly changing, and the hope is they will bring much-needed rain, but they also mean disasters can occur.
        • Trees are permanent. They stand in the same place unless a storm knocks them over. If they’re knocked over, they lie and rot.
    • The ships may encounter bad weather or be attacked by pirates, resulting in a loss to the cargo.
    • The farmer could encounter stormy weather or insects, both resulting in the loss of crops.
    • They’d never rise from their chair if both waited for the ideal time to conduct business.
    • Life always has a certain amount of risk, and that’s where faith allows us to overcome the hesitation to take action.
  • Verse four once again admonishes us not to wait for the perfect conditions, which will never happen anyway!!
    • The winds and clouds will constantly be changing and seldom ideal.
    • Those who look for an excuse to avoid activity will always find one that is suitable.
    • Life is an adventure. 
    • We must step out in faith, even when the circumstances seem less than ideal.
  • Verse five reminds us we’ll never know or understand the plans of God.
    • We won’t understand “the path of the wind” or how a baby is formed in the womb.
    • God has a time and purpose for everything.
    • We need to live by faith in His Word.
    • We also see a parallel with Jesus’ words to Nicodemus. John 3:8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
  • Verse six is a reminder to use each day wisely.
    • Don’t be lazy and sleep in. Get up and get to work.
    • Work with effort until the evening.
    • Ephesians 5:15-17 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
    • We need to trust God to bless at least some of our tasks. 
    • The closer we walk according to His plan, the more our work will be blessed.
    • But, also remember there are times we may not see the fruit of our work until later, or possibly even after we pass from this life. 
  • Life is an adventure of faith.
    • Each of us is like a merchant investing today in what will pay dividends tomorrow.
    • If we are consumed by worry and fail to take action, we will never accomplish anything.
    • Trust in God requires a call to action.
    • Our commitment must be wholehearted and ungrudging.
    • The famous concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein once said, “Of course, there is no formula for success except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings.”

Life is a Gift, So Enjoy It

  • This is the sixth and final admonition from the author that we accept life as a gift and learn to enjoy all that God shares with us.
    • Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work.  I have seen that even this is from God’s hand.
    • Ecclesiastes 3:12-15, 22 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. 14 I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. 15 Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed…I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?
    • Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 Here is what I have seen to be good: it is appropriate to eat, drink, and experience good in all the labor one does under the sun during the few days of his life God has given him, because that is his reward. 19 God has also given riches and wealth to every man, and He has allowed him to enjoy them, take his reward, and rejoice in his labor. This is a gift of God, 20 for he does not often consider the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with the joy of his heart.
    • Ecclesiastes 8:15 So I commended enjoyment because there is nothing better for man under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun. 
    • Ecclesiastes 9:7-10 Go, eat your bread with pleasure, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already accepted your works. 8 Let your clothes be white all the time, and never let oil be lacking on your head. 9 Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life, which has been given to you under the sun, all your fleeting days. For that is your portion in life and in your struggle under the sun. 10 Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.
  • We need to live with an attitude of rejoicing.
    • We should anticipate each new day and accept it as a gift from God.
    • Deuteronomy 33:25 May the bolts of your gate be iron and bronze, and your strength last as long as you live. 
    • Enjoy each day, even those that present a challenge or may seem difficult.
    • 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always! 17 Pray constantly. 18 Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 
    • Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
    • This attitude is especially true the younger you are.
      • Take advantage of the days of your youth.
      • As we get older, our bodies weaken, and our minds dim; we cannot accomplish or enjoy life as much as we used to.
      • At the same time, being youthful isn’t a free license to live in a manner contrary to God’s teaching and follow our internal sinful desires.
      • Mark 7:20-23 Then He said, “What comes out of a person—that defiles him. 21 For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, 22 adulteries,  greed,  evil actions, deceit, promiscuity, stinginess,  blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”
      • The author reinforces this point at the end of verse nine, “But know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment.”
    • In the final verse of this lesson, the word “sorrow” in the original Hebrew has the following meanings: anger, bitterness, grief, indignation, or provocation.
      • If we are living in alignment with God’s will, we should have the peace of God in our hearts. Philippians 4:6-9 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,  whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
      • Life is all too short, which we often don’t realize until we get older. There’s no reset button on our lives.
      • The best way to have a happy adult life and contented old age is to get a good start early and avoid the things that will bring trouble later in life.
      • Young people who take care of their minds and bodies, avoid the destructive sins of the flesh, and build good habits of health and holiness will have a better chance for happy adult years than those who “sow their wild oats” and pray for a crop failure.
      • Charles Spurgeon once said, “Youthful sins lay a foundation for aged sorrows.

Applications

  • Live in obedience to God’s Word. When we do this, it doesn’t mean we won’t have tough times or face trials. It does mean that as we face these challenges, walk by faith, and place our trust in God, He will see us through to the end of these trials. Sometimes, we face trials to grow our faith or to prepare us for future Kingdom work. 
  • Don’t wait for our perceived “perfect time.” Often, the perfect time will never happen, and we’re left at the starting line of life, wondering why we’ve missed out on opportunities. Life is not risk-free. At the same time, we need to balance risk-taking and risk mitigation. Being foolish is not being faithful. 
  • Make the most of your time each day. As we get older, we often regret not making the most of our time when we were younger. It’s impossible to reset the “clock of life.” 
  • Enjoy life and rejoice in what God has given you. For each person, it’s different. Yet, regardless of our circumstances, we should rejoice as we walk in obedience to God, knowing that when we place our faith in Christ, our eternal future and everlasting rejoicing are made secure.