“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). The writer goes on to say in effect, “Do so before…”

1. The Light goes out.

“While the sun and the light, the moon and the stars, are not darkened” (Ecclesiastes 12:2a). This may refer to the brightness of mind. Serve God while you still have a sound mind. Do not wait until your mind is not as sharp as it once was. Give Him your best.

2. Difficulties linger.

“And the clouds do not return after the rain” (Ecclesiastes 12:2b). The sun usually comes out, and the clouds disappear after a rain. This may refer to slow recovery following injury or illness. It may refer to chronic difficulties. Serve God before the clouds linger or quickly return. Serve God while you are healthy and without chronic health problems.

3. Trembling comes.

“In a day when the keepers of the house tremble (Ecclesiastes 12:3a). The keepers of the house probably refers to the limbs of the body. The trembling may refer to shakiness that comes to some in old age. This may also refer to shakiness or weakness which comes with certain diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s Disease, Muscular Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy). Serve God while you have dexterity and balance.

4. Bending or weakness occurs.

“And the strong men bow down” (Ecclesiastes 12:3b). This may refer to the back becoming bent with age. Some think that this may refer to diminished strength (e.g., leg strength). Serve God while you are upright and strong.

5. Dental problems.

“When the grinders cease because they are few” (Ecclesiastes 12:3c). This probably refers to damaged and lost teeth. Serve God while you have a full set of healthy teeth.

6. Vision dims.

“And those that look through the window grow dim” (Ecclesiastes 12:3d). The window probable refers to the eye. This probably refers to diminished eyesight. Cataracts and glaucoma must have been debilitating to many in ancient times. Serve God while you can still see clearly. Serve God while you still have good vision.

7. Sounds ceases.

“When the doors are shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low” (Ecclesiastes 12:4a). This may refer to diminished hearing. It is as if someone shut the door to outside sound. There is another view. Some have suggested that it refers to the ceasing of commerce and work. The doors of the workplace is shut. Activity is low. Serve God before you cannot hear. Serve God before you cannot work. Do not wait until you are at the end of life.

8. Can’t sleep well.

“When one rises at the sound of a bird” (Ecclesiastes 12:4b). This may refer to one waking up early as with the birds. Some think that this may refer to one sleeping so lightly that even the sound of a bird will awake him. Serve God while you can still get a good night’s rest.

9. Musical ability or appreciation is gone.

“And all the daughters of music are brough low” (Ecclesiastes 12:4c). This may refer to the ear no longer appreciating the distinctions in sound. Additionally, this may refer to other body parts which are used in music. The lung capacity may diminish. The voice may age and vocal cords scar. The Voice may no longer being as smooth or capable as it once was. Dexterity may diminish. The fingers to skillfully play an instrument may not be as it once was. Serve God while you still have musical appreciation and/or abilities. Serve God while you have an ear, a voice, or finger dexterity for music.

10. Afraid of falling.

“Also they are afraid of height, and the terrors in the way” (Ecclesiastes 12:5a). This probably refers to the fear of falling. When one struggles with balance and is fragile, walking can be frightful. Any obstacles may be viewed as terrors in the way. A fall can be serious health concern for an older person. Serve God before walking becomes difficult and hazardous.

11. White hair appears.

“When the almond tree blossoms” (Ecclesiastes 12:5b). Almond blossoms are white and sometimes pink. This probably refers to the color of the hair. Serve God before your hair becomes white.

12. Burdened by small things.

“The grasshopper is a burden” (Ecclesiastes 12:5c). This may be hyperbole meaning that even small things become a burden to handle. Small tasks become challenging. Another view has been suggested. Some suggest this refers to food. Food has lost its taste. “Some suggest that the old man’s stomach can’t enjoy a good, salted grasshopper” (John Waddey, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, p. 71). Serve God before small things become difficult tasks. Serve God while you still enjoy your food.

13. Desire fails

“And desire fails” (Ecclesiastes 12:5d). This may refer to desire in general, interest and zest for life. There is another possibility. This may refer to sexual desires. “The Septuagint renders ‘desire’ as ‘caperberry,’ which was considered an aphrodisiac or sexual stimulant. If this be correct, then he is speaking of the old man whose sexual desire has failed, and not even an aphrodisiac will stimulate him. Some would broaden the application to all physical desires which weaken and fail in old age” (ibid). Serve God before your desires fail.

14. Death comes.

“For man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes12:5e-7). Remember God before you die. Death is pictured in different ways. (a) “The first compares man’s life to a golden lamp bowl which is suspended by a silver cord or chain. The chain snaps and the bowl crushes to the floor and is ruined.” (b) “The second illustration is an earthen pitcher used to fetch water from a fountain; it is dropped and shatters.” (c) “Life is like the windlass which lowered the bucket into the deep cistern. The wheel or windlass grows old and rots and finally collapses” (ibid, p.72).

Thoughts

1. Serve God from youth. Don’t put it off. Give Him your best; give Him your best years, if you can.

2. Serve God while you have opportunity. One day this life will be over. Judgment is coming (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). If you didn’t start young, start now. This was not written to dissuade older people from beginning to remember and serve God even in their old age. It was written to persuade the young not to intentionally put off serving God until their old age. Solomon said that man’s meaning and purpose is found in serving God (Ecclesiastes 12:13).