Presents
Pamphlet #1742
Ecclesiastes Chapter 12
Now we'll complete our study of the Book of Ecclesiastes, written by Solomon, the Koheleth, which is Hebrew for Preacher. He was the man to whom the Creator imparted more measure of wisdom than any other man who has ever "walked under the the sun". What a priviledge it has been to be able to listen to and study wisdom from this servant of the most high. For just to do so shows love for our Father and guess what? That alone is the beginning of wisdom, as this Koheleth would so record as he taught his people: Proverbs 9:10 "The fear [reverence] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."
We begin chapter 12 continuing with the subject of youth from the previous chapter:
The "evil days" are the days of misfortune or affliction and the "years that draw nigh" are old age. You see, we are all going to DIE in the flesh, either through some misfortune or disease or by growing old and simply wearing out. (That is unless we are alive and present at the sound of the 7th Trump when Jesus Christ returns. Then we shall instantly be changed, i.e. step right out of these flesh vessels into our spiritual bodies. Paul explains this mystery in 1 Cor. 15:51-52 "... we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." Again, the change is from our flesh body to our spiritual body, the two bodies being the subject of 1 Cor. 15.)Eccles. 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;
So Solomon, in his divinely bequethed wisdom, instructs us to remember God while our bodies are young and healthy, before the quality of our flesh lives deteroriates to the point that we say "We have no pleasure them".
Then he goes one step further and describes some of the characteristics of old age, using illustrative figures of speech, so that we are reminded of the reality of aging, because there is much wisdom, even comfort, in facing reality. The following verses (2-5) then are figures of speech in Hebrew that describe old age. Understand that there is no "fountain of youth" for the flesh bodies, for as it is written in Hebrews 9:27 "... it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Ponce De Leon, the Spanish explorer, should have known that in 1512 when he tried to find the fountain of youth in Bimini, north of Cuba, where it was believed to exist.
However, there is a "fountain of youth" for the inner man, the spiritual man, and it comes from the Living Water of Life, even Jesus Christ. And He has promised in Rev. 21:6 "... I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." You have to be thirsty, though.
Now, concerning old age, Solomon writes:
This expression means "while you can still see the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars", i.e. before your eyes go bad and eveything is "dim" and "cloudy".[2] While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
As we have learned in this Book of Ecclesiastes, there is an end to all things "under the sun", including not only our flesh bodies, but this earth age itself.
Remember the Creator before your limbs and bones get shaky and your once strong back is weak and you walk stooped over, and you can't chew very well because half your grinders, your teeth, are gone, and even with glasses you can't see very well.[3] 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,
"Then let your lips be tightly closed while eating, when your teeth are gone!" (Living Bible) In other words, you have to "gum" your food because your crunching days are over.[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;
And you rise up early because you can't sleep and your hearing is so faint you can hardly hear the music from the "Spice Girls", not that you would want to.
And you are afraid of doing all the things you used to do, like climbing trees, walking along the edges, etc., because you're afraid you might fall down. And your hair turns gray and grows thin and begins to fall out. And you can't lift or carry much weight any more. And your equipment isn't as functional as it used to be and your desires of passion fail.[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:
Yes, we all know about Rogaine and Viagra, but they are only symbolic of man's attempt to stave off the inevitable, which is expressed in the last part of this verse, which is the fact that we are going to DIE, i.e. there will be funeral for each one of us sooner or later.
Also, it is worth noting that the Hebrew word for "long", as in "long home" is `owlam which means properly concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practical) eternity. It is used to show that when the flesh dies it goes to the grave [long home] to abide there for ever and ever. In other words, the eternal home for the flesh is the grave and once we are finished with it, it will never be used again, neither reassembled, neither brought forth from the ground, but shall return to the dust from which it is made as verse 7 documents.
The following verse contains four expressions all of which mean "when you die".
We discussed the release of the "spirit" from the "flesh" in our last study. When the two are separated at death, they each have their own destination. Here they are:[6] 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.
To "return" by implication means that we were "sent", i.e. sent here from our Father and "tied into" these temporary flesh bodies to "walk under the sun" for awhile, and then go back, return, to Him. And while we are here attending "earth school" in the flesh, we are away from the Lord. Paul explain this in the New Testament:[7] Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
And we can't see behind the "veil" into that dimension where He is, so we walk by faith, not sight!2 Cor. 5:6
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
But we know that when we DIE and are realeased, thus absent from the flesh body, we go to be present with Him! Does our soul sleep in the ground? Of course not! Paul also made this point very clear in 1 Thes. 4:13-18 in his discussion of "where the dead are" (vs. 13). He said that if you believe Christ died and rose again, then you must also believe that those who died believing in Him also rose and are with Him.2 Cor. 5:7-8
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) [8] We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
So the body returns to the elements from which it came, but the spirit returns to Him who gave it, the God of the living, not the dead.
Therefore, as we have learned, as far as flesh is concerned, all is vanity. Why? Because the flesh and all that pertains to it is but temporary. It doesn't last.[8] Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
Solomon did a good work and taught and explained many wise proverbs to his people and wrote them down to be recorded in the Good Book for us, today.[9] And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Solomon, the preacher, sought out the Word of God, that which was upright, which are the words of truth. You see, man's wisdom is vanity and this Solomon, the Koheleth, would record it so in the Proverbs (14:12 & 16:25), twice for emphasis:Eccles. 12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
But God's words of wisdom "spur to action" and "nail down" truth...Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
... because they come from that one shepherd, which is Jesus Christ. "The Lord is my Shepherd".[11] The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
We must be willing to be instructed and even accept admonition from His word. Of course, we don't have to be happy and have peace of mind. We can always choose man's philosophies and traditions and read his opinions contained in zillions of his books and writings. In comparison, God's Word is short and to the point and His philosophy and theology is 100% accurate.[12] And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
So why spend all our time reading the traditions and counterfeits of man, when we will never arrive at the truth? Rather we should study the true Word of God, line by line, until we absorb it and then we can spot a counterfeit and a phony doctrine instantly!
Here it is: THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER. After all that's been said and done by the wisest man who ever walked the earth, he sums it up in two simple phrases. Want to have peace of mind and enjoy your walk "under the sun"?[13] Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
(1) Revere and love God(2) Keep His commandments.
All works will be brought into judgment, whether good or whether evil! Is this just an Old Testament teaching? Here's the apostle Paul:[14] For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Pretty much word for word from Eccles. 12:14, isn't it? Then forever remember that judgment is always followed by just rewards "according to that he hath done", which are really great things for those judged good, and terrible for those judged bad. Fortunately we have repentance in this dispensation of grace and our sins can be forgiven by He who paid the price and redeemed us at Calvary. Through repentence the record of our sins is blotted out and therefore cannot be admitted as evidence in court. That would leave one with a pretty good balance sheet, wouldn't it?2 Cor. 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
What then, aside from the proverbs of practical wisdom, have we learned in this Book of Ecclesiastes?
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, save our Lord, concluded by use of the scientific method of experimentation and analysis, that there is nothing, repeat NOTHING, in the Whole Wide World [WWW.underthesun], that will satisfy the flesh man and bring lasting happiness and peace of mind. So as far as the flesh is concerned, we should enjoy the fruits of our labors and learn to deal with and expect the 28 Times of life as they turn up!
Let us then hear once more the conclusion of the whole matter:
Amen.Eccles. 12:13 ... Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
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