 Ecclesiastes 12 Remedy for Vanity
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. Fear God and Keep His Commandments 9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Meditation The preacher of Ecclesiastes finalizes the refurbishing of a worldview of wisdom for his son (12) through sharing words from the Shepherd (11). The preacher’s priority for an above the sun perspective is remembering our Creator (1). You are a creature and there is urgency in embracing this reality before age and evil come (1-8). To remember is to think rightly with a Biblical framework for seeing and interpreting the world. To remember our Creator is to think eternally about everything (3:11); to walk in His Divine design in all things (7:29); and to trust the mystery of God’s work to bring life in this broken world (11:5). The worldview of wisdom is centered on fearing God (13) demonstrated through keeping His commands. To fear God is our primary call knowing all of our deeds are visible and will be judged by the Creator (14). The apostle Paul clarifies that only in Christ can we find the true treasure of wisdom (Colossians 2:2-3). Christ alone is the fullness of a worldview of wisdom, giving substance in an empty world, love in evil days, and life in a world marked by death. ONLY through Christ is our labor under the sun not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:54, 58). Jesus Christ took our judgment and offers grace, freeing us for a life of joyfully keeping God’s commands. Wisdom walks from grace and remembers our Creator and His Divine design for all of life. Richly Dwelling -Do you remember your Creator or is your worldview wrapped up in meaningless, under the sun priorities? -Which of the three characteristics mentioned in paragraph two are the most inviting to you? To think eternally, walk uprightly, or live the mystery of God working life in the world? -Ask Jesus to be the center of your mind, your heart, your life, and your love. Ask Him to make you steadfast in a world constantly moving. Key Verse 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Comments are closed.
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