By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
WHAT IS LIFE ABOUT?
Ecclesiastes 12:1–14
The Twilight (1–8)
Ecclesiastes 12 is a beacon of light in a book that illustrates the darkness of life apart from God. To enjoy life to the fullest, we need to remember our Creator in the days of our youth. “To remember” our Creator is to drop our pretense of self-sufficiency and to commit ourselves to God. We are exhorted to do this while we are young. But why not wait until we are older to submit ourselves to the Lord and His ways? Because our investment in evil rather than good will pay dreadful dividends.
Investing in evil will lead to scars, heartaches and regrets that we will carry into our old age. This sorrow and guilt will steal our peace and joy not only in the present but also in the years to come.
Growing older involves enough difficult changes without adding the detrimental consequences of an ungodly lifestyle. It is a difficult season of life when we lose the capacity to enjoy the blessings of our youth.
Solomon employed several metaphors to describe the weakening of the body as old age approaches. He wrote this passage to encourage young people to act on their opportunities to live for God and enjoy His blessings before it is too late. He mentioned mental dullness and depression in verse 2. We will begin to think less and less clearly and remember less accurately.
In verses 3–5, Solomon described physical ailments and limitations. Not only will our minds begin to fail but so will our bodies. Solomon graphically portrayed the effects of aging. He referred to the involuntary shaking of an older person’s head, voice and hands. He also described how our legs become bent and feeble and our teeth become fewer in number and make it harder for us to chew our food. It is harder to see and hear as we grow older. We no longer sleep as well as we did when we were younger. We recognize our frailty and become more fearful of getting hurt. Our hair turns white or gray, we move more slowly and we lose the ability to procreate.
Solomon exhorted us to live for God in light of our approaching death. In verse 8, Solomon stated one last time the theme of his book. Everything done under the sun is temporary and therefore meaningless. God created humanity in His own image, and apart from a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ, everything is futile. If Jesus is our Lord and Savior, then our life beyond the grave will be more than we could ever imagine. If we do not bow the knee to Jesus as Lord and Savior, then our earthly life will have been lived in vain and our life beyond will be one of torment in hell.
The Truth (9–11)
Solomon studied and explored many subjects, and he wrote many of his conclusions in Proverbs.
After studying a matter, he weighed his conclusions carefully, and then arranged them in an orderly fashion. He employed modes of communication that would best convey truth and enable students to remember his teaching.
Solomon compared his words to “prods” and “nails.” He referred to large rods or staffs used by shepherds to prod their herds to go in the desired direction. The meaning of verse 11 is clear. Learning wisdom and heeding wise instruction can often be difficult and painful, but acquiring wisdom is worth the effort.
The Conclusion (12–14)
Without God at its center, life is empty. God is the answer to our despair, and obedience to Him is the cure for our dissatisfaction in life. Since each of us will give an account of himself to God, we need to repent and believe the gospel of Christ. Jesus is our only hope for life in this world and in eternity. No one will escape His judgment. Call on the name of the Lord and be saved. Worshiping Jesus is what life is about.
Share with others: