“If I knew then what I know now I would certainly do things differently.” “If I could go back in time, I would do things differently.” Looking back over our life so far, many of us have said words like this. We find that theme in today’s Scripture passage from the book of Ecclesiastes.
The Book of Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon towards the end of his life. Solomon was the son of King David and his wife, Bathsheba. He was raised by his parents to love, worship, and revere the Lord God. When Solomon was a young man he became king, and at first he followed in his father’s footsteps. However, he was drawn away from God by his many pagan, heathen wives. Throughout his adult life Solomon sought satisfaction and fulfillment in many pursuits - grand houses, gardens, music, food, wealth, intellectual endeavors, etc. He was a great king, and nothing was beyond his reach. However, as the years passed, he realized that this was folly. These pursuits did not satisfy, and he was still empty. Now in his old age, Solomon returned to Yahweh, the true God of his youth. He knew that he was a fool to ever have walked away from Him. The Book of Ecclesiastes was written by him to warn the younger generations to not make his mistake. He warned them to come to the Lord in their youth, and to walk with Him throughout their life.
As Solomon and most of us soon find out, old age sneaks up and is quickly upon us. We wake up and find out that our youthful, strong and quite capable body has been replaced with one that is old and unable to move and work like it used to. In verses 2 - 7 Solomon gives a poetically descriptive look at an aging body. Let’s look at this interesting description.
Youth is typically the time of dawning light and strength - a new day. Old age, though, is the time of twilight’s gloom, diminished strength and ability - the end of the day. Solomon describes this in verse 2. He then proceeds to describe the different parts of his body that are aging and are not like they were in his youth. In verse 3 we read about the “keepers of the house”, which are his hands and arms. They protect us, like guards and doormen of a building. Solomon noticed that they start to tremble in old age. The “strong men” are his legs. In youth they are strong. In old age, however, they get weak. The “grinders” was Solomon’s descriptive word for his teeth. Many people find they have fewer of their natural teeth in old age. In Solomon’s day there weren’t dentures or dental implants, so he had fewer teeth with which to “grind” his food. “Look through the windows” describes the eyes. As we age we often find our eyes grow weaker. In Solomon’s day there was no cure or operations for cataracts, either.
In verse 4 the “doors” describe the lips. They don’t have much to say anymore, and furthermore, Solomon finds that the elderly aren’t listened to as much as when they were younger. “Sound of grinding is low” describes eating, as he used the word “grinders” as teeth in the previous verse. Often the elderly will lose their appetite and eat less. “Rises up at the sound of a bird” - the elderly don’t sleep as well, often getting up early. “Music brought low” describes the loss of hearing many have in old age.
Solomon continues in verse 5 telling how often the elderly are afraid of heights. They fall more easily, and so are afraid to climb stairs or a step-ladder. The “almond tree blossoms” describes the gray or white hair of old age. An almond tree will blossom with white blossoms. They also grow physically weaker, so even a grasshopper is a burden. The “mourners” describe the funerals of their friends and contemporaries, and their own as well.
In verse 6, the silver cord is the spinal cord. The bowl pictures the skull. And the pitcher, wheel, well, and fountain are all used to bring water, so they could figure the fountain of life, the heart. These are all broken, which pictures death. Life is fragile. Death comes easy, swiftly, and unexpectedly. Life is a precious resource to be used wisely, not squandered frivolously. We all return to dust, to God. Solomon reminds the young that they will not have the ability to enjoy a godly old age if they do not remember God in their youth (vs. 7-8, 13). We must put God first, over all, because without Him we have nothing.
As King Solomon found out, a life without God can bring a bitter, lonely, and hopeless old age. It is better to turn to God and commit one’s life to Him in one’s youth, before the trials of life turn one bitter, discouraged, and cynical. God is the only one who can satisfy. A life centered around God is fulfilling. Don’t let the excitement of youth keep you from seeking God, and drawing close to Him. Don’t seek passing pleasures instead of eternal values.
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