1^st – The choice… vs. 1-7

• 1^st – Remember… vs. 1-2
  • Still young… vs. 1
    • Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth!
    • As Solomon CONCLUDES his study on the EMPTINESS of life…
    • He begins with a simple command [imperative] – remember [זָכַר] our CREATOR [בָּרָא]
    • We must remember Him while we are still YOUNG [בְּחֻרִים]!
    • There are TWO Hebrew words that can be translated CREATE…
    • Asah [עָשָׂה] – to assemble from pre-existing elements…
    • Bara [בָּרָא] – to create from nothing [a word that is only associated with God]
    • When we are YOUNG are heads are full of DREAMS…
    • We have AMBITION – and PLANS as to what we want to accomplish in life…
    • We push to get our EDUCATION – so we can be SUCCESSFUL…
    • But the command from Solomon is to STOP everything we are doing – and REMEMBER…
    • It was God who CREATED [בָּרָא] us – He formed us out of NOTHING…
    • And since He is the one who MADE us – He knows what is BEST for us…
    • So before we go off chasing our DREAMS – why not ask the one who KNOWS!
  • Hard days… vs. 1
    • Before the [evil] days come – the years draw near when you say: I have no pleasure in them!
    • We are WISE to seek our CREATOR [בָּרָא] – before the EVIL [רַע] days come…
    • BEFORE the years arrive [hiphil] – when NOTHING [אִין] makes us happy!
    • We are IGNORANT when we are YOUNG – the future seems BRIGHT…
    • We have NOT yet learned the truth – that NOTHING [אִין] in life will ever satisfy us…
    • We believe the LIE – if we have enough MONEY – meet the right PERSON we will be HAPPY…
    • We end up WASTING our lives – cashing after things that will NEVER fulfill us…
    • Therefore the WISDOM is to learn the lesson while we are still YOUNG…
    • Come back to the CREATOR who made us – and knows what will make us HAPPY…
    • Because if we do NOT – time will PASS and we will grow OLD…
    • And miss out on years of our life that could have been used for GOOD!
    • Ephesians 5:16 – “Redeeming the time because the days are evil.”
  • Dark days… vs. 2
    • While the sun and the light the moon and the stars are not darkened.
    • And the clouds do not return after the rain!
    • Because there will come a day when the LIGHT [אוֹר] will be gone…
    • The SUN – MOON – and STARS that seemed so BRIGHT when we were YOUNG…
    • All of the POSSIBILITIES that we longed for as a YOUTH…
    • Will be covered by DARK clouds – as the HARSH realities of life settle in!
    • Ask young kids what they want to be when they grow up…
    • And you still see a SPARKLE in their eye – the possibilities seem endless…
    • But ask most ADULTS if they were able to fulfill their DREAMS…
    • And what we see instead is the PAIN of lives that have been marred by DISAPPOINTMENT!
    • We are fed a cruel LIE when we are told we can become anything WE want…
    • Because it focuses on the WRONG person – it is NOT about US…
    • The answer to life is NOT found within us – they are found by looking up…
    • Happiness comes from getting the ANSWER from the one who CREATED us!
• 2^nd – Being old… vs. 3-5
  • Weak legs… vs. 3
    • In the day when the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men bow down!
    • Solomon goes on to describe how we KNOW when we are OLD…
    • He gives us SEVEN things that define NO longer being a YOUTH…
    • FIRST – when our LEGS are no longer STRONG…
    • When our legs that KEEP our HOUSE [body] standing up – begin to SHAKE…
    • And our SHOULDERS [strong men] – begin to droop!
    • King David was WARRIOR – he fought Goliath – and won MANY battles…
    • But when he became OLD – he could NOT even keep WARM!
    • I Kings 1:1 – “King David was old… and they put covers on him but he could not get warm.”
    • It is difficult to see MIGHTY men lose their STRENGTH…
    • Leaders – warriors – who seemed INVINCIBLE when they were young…
    • Become FEEBLE – and FRAGILE – once AGE catches up to them!
  • Few teeth… vs. 3
    • When the grinders cease because they are few!
    • SECOND – we know we are getting OLD when our teeth [grinders] fall out!
    • When we lived in the mountains – where dental care is lacking…
    • I noticed most older people did NOT like to smile in pictures…
    • The reason was because the majority of them had lost MOST of their teeth!
    • Modern dentistry has gone a long ways to covering this up…
    • OLD people today still have their TEETH when the smile…
    • But for most of them – those teeth are NOT real [dentures]!
  • Bad eyes… vs. 3
    • Those that look through the windows grow dim!
    • THIRD – when we LOOK [רָאָה] out through the WIDOWS [our eyes]
    • We do NOT see as clearly as we used to – things look dark!
    • I used to be able to read even the SMALLEST writing…
    • But the moment I turned FORTY – I started to extend my arms [not long enough]
    • And eventually had to admit that I needed GLASSES [widows] to look through!
  • Deaf ears… vs. 4
    • When the doors are shut in the streets and the sound of grinding is low.
    • When one rises up at the sound of a bird – and all the daughters of music are brought low!
    • FOURTH – when our hearing starts to go [pual]
    • When even the loud sound of a MILL [rice] sound like it is behind a closed door…
    • [וְ] BUT – even the sound a bird will wake us up in the MORNING…
    • [וְ] AND – we tell all [כָּל] the YOUNG kids to turn [niphal] their music down!
    • Funny how the same people who have a hard time HEARING…
    • Are the ones who also think that the MUSIC is too LOUD!
    • People in their TWENTIES can hear up to SEVENTEEN thousand hertz [or more]
    • People in their THIRTIES can hear up to SIXTEEN thousand hertz…
    • People in their FIFTIES can hear up to around TWELVE thousand hertz…
    • It is common for hearing to dimmish as we get older…
    • Either from damage caused by continued loud noise [headphones] – or genetics!
  • No balance… vs. 5
    • Also they are afraid of height – and of terrors in the way!
    • FIFTH – [גַּם] when we are afraid [יָרֵא] of climbing up on ladders [height]
    • Or when we WORRY about going outside [driving down the road]!
    • As people get older – they tend to lose their BALANCE…
    • Their BONES also become much more BRITTLE – making a fall very dangerous…
    • Therefore people who are OLDER tend to FEAR having accidents!
    • When we are YOUNG – we HEAL very quickly…
    • But with age the body slows down – including its ability to heal…
    • This causes those who are OLDER to be more keenly aware of their MORTALITY!
  • Grey hair… vs. 5
    • When the almond tree blossoms!
    • SIXTH – when our hair turns WHITE [or grey]
    • Almond tree FLOWERS are mostly completely WHITE…
    • Hair turns GREY when the number of pigment [color] cells in hair follicles decreases….
    • It is one of the most obvious physical signs of aging!
    • When we buy food – it comes with an EXPIRATION date…
    • As we get old and our hair turn WHITE…
    • It is Gods way of telling saying we have an EXPIRATION date!
    • If we never aged – just one day died – there would be NO warning to prepare…
    • Aging is Gods way to get us ready – we are going to see Jesus SOON…
    • We get need to make sure we have the ANSWER – because we are running out of TIME!
  • Always tired… vs. 5
    • The grasshopper is a burden and desire fails!
    • SEVENTH – we run out of energy – even a GRASSHOPPER seems HEAVY…
    • And we lose [hiphil] our DESIRE [caper berry] – thought to be an aphrodisiac!
    • Bottom line – all the things we LIVED for when we were YOUNG…
    • Now seem more like a BURDEN to us – NO longer interest us…
    • Because our BODY is breaking down – our TIME is coming to an END!
      
  • The funeral… vs. 5
    • For man goes to his eternal home – and the mourners go about the streets!
    • [כִּי] BECAUSE – when we have WEAK legs – BAD eyes – NO teeth – and DEAF ears…
    • When we have LOST our balance – have GREY hair – and NO sexual desire…
    • It means we are getting very close to our ETERNAL [עוֹלָם] home [בַּיִת]
    • We are NOT far from DEATH – when the mourners will hit the streets on our behalf!
    • It is amusing how easily we can still relate to this description…
    • People age the same way today as they did in the days of Solomon…
    • But the POINT is NOT that we are getting OLD [and we all are]
    • The POINT is NOT even that we are all going to DIE [and we all will]
    • The POINT is that we have a LIMITED amount of time to find the MEANING of life!
• 3^rd – Limited time… vs. 6-7
  • Before death… vs. 6
    • 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!
    • Therefore – we need to REMEMBER our CREATOR [italics] – Ecclesiastes 1:1
    • Before the SILVER chord is [niphal] cut [לֹא־יֵרָתֵק] – or GOLDEN bowl broken [רָצַץ]
    • TWO metaphors for death – the SILVER and GOLD used to show the VALUE of life…
    • Before the WATER pitcher is [niphal] shattered [שָׁבַר] – or [רָצַץ] the wheel at the well…
    • TWO more metaphors for death – that when BROKEN [niphal] cannot be mended!
    • Life is VALUABLE [gold or silver] – because we have been given at limited TIME to choose…
    • We ONLY have this life to decide where we will spend our ETERNITY…
    • And once this life is OVER – there is NO changing [shattered] our CHOICE…
    • Whatever decision we made – is set in STONE – and cannot be undone!
    • Hebrews 9:27 – “It is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment.”
  • Back to dust… vs. 7
    • Then the dust will return to the earth as it was and the spirit will return to God who gave it!
    • When DEATH comes – the BODY will go back to the DUST [הֶעָפָר]
    • But the SPIRIT [הָרוּחַ] will go back to GOD [אֱלֹהִים] – who gave it!
    • When God created ADAM [אָדָם] – He formed him out of DIRT…
    • But what gave ADAM life – was the BREATH [רוּחַ] of God!
    • Genesis 2:7 – “The LORD God formed man of the dust [לֹהִים] of the ground and breathed [רוּחַ] into his nostrils the breath of life.”
    • The human body is almost entirely made up from THIRTEEN elements…
    • These same THIRTEEN elements are common in DIRT [we are just DUST]
    • So when we DIE – our bodies just return to the DIRT they were made from…
    • But our SPIRIT that is UNIQUE – it is NOT from earth [הָאָרֶץ] – it is from GOD…
    • Which is why our SOUL is ETERNAL – it will live FOREVER…
    • The only question is – where will our SOUL go!

• 2^nd – Fear God… vs. 8-14
  • 1^st – Vanity… vs. 8
    • The Preacher…
      • Solomon goes back to his opening statement – Ecclesiastes 1:2
      • PREACHER [קֹהֶלֶת] – 7x in OT – all of them in the book of Ecclesiastes…
      • Solomon opened the book by introducing himself with this TITLE [three times]
      • He uses it ONCE as he revealed the SIN that blinded him [women] – Ecclesiastes 7:27
      • And he uses it HERE in the last chapter as he makes his conclusion [three times]!
    • Meaningless…
      • Vanity of vanities – says the Preacher – all is vanity!
      • The PREACHER [קֹהֶלֶת] reminds us that everything [כָּל] is VANITY – THREE times…
      • VANITY [הֶבֶל] – empty – to have no purpose…
      • Solomon used this word a total of 38 times – in the 220 verses of the book…
      • His conclusion was that EVERYTHING in this life has NO purpose…
      • He knew this because He tried EVERYTHING – and found NOTHING satisfied him!
      • Having given us TWELVE chapters of investigating WHY are we here…
      • Seeking to answer the question – what is the meaning of LIFE…
      • Solomon came to the sobering realization – life has NO meaning…
      • The rather depressing conclusion of the WISEST man to ever live…
      • In the end NO matter what happens – our lives are VANITY [under the sun]
  • 2^nd – Wise Words… vs. 9-12
    • Proverbs… vs. 9
      • Moreover because the Preacher was wise – he still taught the people knowledge.
      • Yes he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs!
      • MOREOVER [וְיֹתֵר] – the PREACHER [קֹהֶלֶת] was [perfect] still considered WISE [חָכָם]
      • And he had [perfect] TAUGHT [piel] the people all he KNEW [דַּעַת]
      • As he TESTED [perfect] and SEARCHED [piel] for WISDOM…
      • He wrote them down many [רָבָה] PROVERBS [מָשָׁל] for the people…
      • Solomon here acknowledging one of the other books he authored [Proverbs]
      • The EVIDENCE he had made a thorough investigation into the meaning of life!
      • To this day Proverbs is recognized as the greatest book of Wisdom every written…
      • Removing any doubt as to the qualifications of Solomon to answer the question…
      • What is the meaning of LIFE – what is our PURPOSE!
    • The Truth… vs. 10
      • The Preacher sought to find acceptable words.
      • And what was written was upright – words of truth!
      • The PREACHER [קֹהֶלֶת] sought [piel] to find the correct WORDS [דָּבָר]
      • He wanted to make sure what he WROTE was RIGHT [יֹשֶׁר]
      • Because he wanted to know the words [דָּבָר] were TRUE [אֱמֶת]
      • His point being he was NOT just giving us his OPINION…
      • He took the time – put in the EFFORT – to make sure he was giving us the TRUTH!
      • We live in a time when TRUTH is being attacked…
      • The world wants us to believe that TRUTH is a matter of OPINION…
      • What is RIGHT for me – may NOT be what is RIGHT for you!
      • John 18:38 – “What is truth?”
      • But TRUTH is NOT an idea – and it is certainly NOT an OPINION…
      • Truth is a PERSON – and only when we find Him – do we know what the TRUTH is!
      • John 14:6 – “I am the way – the truth – and the life!”
    • The Shepherd… vs. 11
      • The words of the wise are like goads.
      • The words of scholars are like well-driven nails – given by one Shepherd!
      • Solomon [קֹהֶלֶת] goes on to PAINT a contrast…
      • When the WORDS [דִּבְרֵי] of TRUTH [אֱמֶת] are spoken…
      • They are like [כַּ] GOADS [2x in OT] – sticks used to prod cattle to get them to MOVE…
      • [וּ] AND – they are like [כַּ] NAILS [only here OT] – they hold things in PLACE…
      • Correcting [holding in place] those who think they are MASTERS [בַּעַל]
      • Showing them there is only ONE [אֶחָד] Shepherd [רָעָה] – who gives [niphal] us the TRUTH!
      • Saul thought that he was serving God by persecuting the Church…
      • He believed he had the TRUTH – until he met Jesus on the road to Damascus!
      • Acts 9:5 – “I am Jesus… It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
      • TRUTH does NOT come from the MASTERS [בַּעַל] of this world…
      • We should NOT be looking to POLITICIANS – or PROFESSORS…
      • The TRUTH comes from only ONE place – it comes from the SHEPHERD – John 10:11
      • And His WORD has the power to get us moving [goad] when we are STUCK in our ideas…
      • It also has the power to hold [nail] us in place when we try to avoid the TRUTH!
      • Hebrews 4:12 – “The word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword… a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
    • Many books… vs. 12
      • [Moreover] my son be admonished by these. 
      • Of making many books there is no end – and much study is wearisome to the flesh!
      • MOREOVER [וְיֹתֵר] – finishing up the thought he began – Ecclesiasts 12:9
      • My SON [בְּנִי] – a common phrase in the book of Proverbs [23 times]
      • But this is the ONLY occurrence in the book of Ecclesiastes…
      • Solomon finished with a personal [son] command [imperative]
      • Do NOT make [עָשָׂה] a lot [רָבָה] of BOOKS [סֵפֶר] – because they have NO [אִין] answers [קֵץ]
      • And do NOT waste your time with STUDYING – it will just frustrate you!
      • From the man who wrote down over THREE thousand PROVERBS – I Kings 4:32
      • Comes the command NOT to write down any MORE…
      • Because all of his STUDYING taught him one thing – there are NO answers in BOOKS!
      • If we tried to count the books written ABOUT the Bible – beyond number…
      • Yet ALL of those books are just the OPINIONS people have about the TRUTH…
      • But there is only ONE Bible – and it the ONLY one to have the TRUTH!
  • 3^rd – The conclusion… vs. 13-14
    • Fear God… vs. 13
      • Let us hear the conclusion of the [Word]:
      • Fear God and keep His commandments – for this is mans all!
      • The END of the all [כָּל] the WORD [דָּבָר] has to say – we have [niphal] already heard [שָׁמַע]
      • We MUST [imperative] fear [יָרֵא] the God [הָאֱלֹהִים]
      • [וְ]- AND we MUST [imperative] keep [שָׁמַר] His COMMANDMENTS…
      • [כִּי] – BECAUSE this is what He has given for ALL [כָּל] MEN [הָאָדָם] to do!
    • Judgement… vs. 14
      • For God will bring every work into judgment.
      • Including every secret thing whether good or evil!
      • [כִּי] – BECAUSE God [הָאֱלֹהִים] will [hiphil] JUDGE all [כָּל] of our WORKS…
      • Even all [כָּל] the SECRET things we have done – whether [אִם] GOOD [טֽוֹב] or BAD [רַע]!
      • We do NOT know if this concluding statement means Solomon finally found the ANSWER…
      • But this is the closest thing we have to REPENTANCE from him in the Bible!
      • But at the end of the search of SEARCH for MEANING in life…
      • Solomon at least did give us the right answer – it is ALL about God…
      • We MUST fear Him – because ALL of us with one day be JUDGED by Him…
      • We will have to ANSWER for EVERYTHING we have ever done [good or bad]
      • Therefore in the end – life is about OBEYING His commands!