Ecclesiastes
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Ecclesiastes 12
Ecclesiastes 12
1Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
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;
Commentary · verse 1
2before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and 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 shall be darkened, 4and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; 5yea, they shall be afraid of that which is high, and terrors shall be in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.
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,
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.
Commentary · verses 2-7
Verses 2-7 were specific examples of situations that could be described as "evil days." Solomon's conclusion focused on avoiding the ultimate unprofitability.
8Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.
8Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
Commentary · verse 8
Solomon began this book by stating the Preacher said "all is vanity." Now, Solomon made the same conclusion: all was unprofitable. Solomon believed he had considered "all" in his explanation of his thought process. This was pride and we have seen Solomon was contradictory and therefore wrong.
9And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, even words of truth.
9And 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.
10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
Commentary · verses 9-10
Solomon was qualifying everything he had written, all he gave, and all he taught. However, these two verses contradicted his conclusion from his thought process. All he said he could really do was teach people how to limit unprofitability.
11The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
11The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Commentary · verses 11-12
Again, a contradictory statement: "do not study too much, even though I wanted you to study the multiplying of words that were written in this book." It was time for Solomon's specific conclusion...
13This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Commentary · verse 13
Great conclusion ("Fear God" was a right WHAT), but in the context of this whole book this was an abstract statement. Solomon did not back up HOW/WHY to fear God. Even when Solomon stated a right WHAT, he would eventually say "all is vanity."
From the rest of this book, it seemed Solomon's HOW/WHY would be: do not be foolish (HOW) because that would make you even more unprofitable (WHY). He was saying that fearing God and keeping His commandments would not make you profitable (because all was vain); it would only help you limit unprofitability.
14For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
14For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Commentary · verse 14
We have seen Solomon did not keep God's commandment and remove the high places (2 Kings 23)...even though he knew fearing God and doing His commandments was the whole duty of man...even though he knew he would face judgment. Solomon knew what to SAY, however, Solomon did not feel it enough to DO it.
The Book of Ecclesiastes was the fourth of the five books that made up the poetic section of the Old Testament. Clearly, Solomon's thought process changed between the Book of Proverbs and the Book of Ecclesiastes. This book was written near the end of his life. Was there an event that occurred between the time these two books were written? The event may be the subject of the fifth and final book of the poetic section of the Old Testament...
We ought to always remember God, our Creator, even when we live in a destructive environment. However, Solomon's conclusion began by focusing on remembering God before ultimate destruction came. Basically: remember God in order to limit unprofitability. What kind of unprofitability?