October 16,2011
Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:7,13
Introduction:
Advice to the young is here offerded by Solomon.Young people are free and fresh,hanging loose.But enjoy it while it last,Solomon says,because it won't last forever.Follow your heart,pursue dreams, but also know that God still has to be answered to in the end.He advises revering God often in the early years,and not saying ,"when I get older I will go to Church; that's when I will surrender my life to the Lord."Each individual is still going to have to give an account for his or her actions,even as a youth.
Days of Our Youth
Ecclesiastes11:9-10KJV
9Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
10Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
footnotes:
Here he gives instructions to the young who will will read his words.He tells them to live their youthful lives to the fullest,to take advantage of their youthful energy,and to experience everything they can while they have physical and emotional capacity to enjoy those things.However, they must do all those things in light of God's perfect judgement,for everyone will have to account for their youthful words and deeds of their youthful years.Everyone will be held morally responsible for his actions,no matter what age he was when he committed those actions.
The Olden Years
Ecclesiastes 12:1-3KJV
1Remember 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;
2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3In 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,
footnotes:
Solomon encourages the youth to allow God to use a young healthy body,he motivates the youth not to waste their time and opportunity in front of them.First and foremost, he tells them to remember their creator.He found himself doing this less and less as the pagan wives he collected turned his heart away from the Lord.When God is acknowledged as lord and Sovereign Ruler over the affairs of men,life is full of purpose.To further motivate the youth Solomon illustrates the diminishing capacity to live life as one grows older.Older adults have various physical problems to address such as poor vision, physical impairment, increased need for help from others,loss of hearing,memory impairmant,fraility, new fears of ordinary things,and so forth.Sometimes they feel they have one foot in the grave,and the family and friends are preparing for the eventual death of the older people.
The End of the Matter
Ecclesiastes 12:4-7,13KJV
4And 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;
5Also 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:
6Or 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.
7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
footnotes:
Life is wonderful,but it is also breif.No sooner are you born,than you look around and it's time to die.Solomon says it's all smoke, a vanity,a chasing after the wind.So he's trying his best to impart wisdom in order that others may live life fulfilled,content and well.See Solomon remembered the place where he started,when he was allowed any gift from God.As a young kid he asked for wisdom to lead the Lords people and God granted his request,alone with prosperity and peace.Solomon's greatest enemy turned out to be himself,when he allowed himself to be persuaded to forsake God. After years of stumbling,Solomon returned to square one.He realized there was only one path to purpose and meaning and that was to fear God and to obey Him.This wisdom is advantageous to everyone.His final word is ,fear God and do as He says;Period!There simply is no meaning to life apart from a dynamic and growing relationship with God.
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