Skip to main content

Youth And Old Age (Eccl. 11:7-12:8)

Light is sweet! and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. 8 However many years mortals may live, let them, as they enjoy them all, remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that is to come is vanity. 9 Rejoice, O youth, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand regarding all this that God will bring you to judgment. 10 Banish misery from your heart and remove pain from your body, for youth and black hair are fleeting.

1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come And the years approach of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 Before the sun is darkened, and the light and the moon and the stars and the clouds return after the rain; 3 When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent; When the women who grind are idle because they are few, and those who look through the windows grow blind; 4 When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; When one rises at the call of a bird, and all the daughters of song are quiet; 5 When one is afraid of heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because mortals go to their lasting home, and mourners go about the streets; 6 Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the pulley is broken at the well, 7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity!

Ecclesiastes is the Greek translation of the Hebrew, Qoheleth.  Some of the themes of the author are; nothing lasts forever; humans have limited control of events; God’s ways are unpredictable and beyond human understanding; God is powerful but distant. 

The author was a sage who examined life and formed conclusions.  In examining from youth to old age,  he concluded that although one should enjoy all of one’s days, it is better to enjoy your youth, “for the eyes to see the sun (v. 7)”, because old age, “the days of darkness (v. 8)”, will be many (vv. 7-8).  All that comes in the future is “vanity”.  The young should enjoy their youth and follow where their hearts and eyes lead, but they should remember God’s judgment (v. 9).  The “enjoyment (v.8)” Qoheleth wrote about is the enjoyment God chooses to give mankind in the ordinary course of life, not hedonism (Eccl. 2:24-26).  It is unclear whether the author meant that God would judge you if you enjoyed life too much, or if you failed to take advantage of every opportunity for enjoyment He provided.  Youth is fleeting so do not waste time worrying and being anxious (v. 10). 

The young should be mindful of God in their youth.  They should not wait until they are old and get no enjoyment out of life (v. 1), or it is the winter of their life (v. 2), or their arms and legs grow weak, they cannot see and they have few teeth (v. 3), or they are deaf (v. 4), or afraid of heights and their hair turns gray (v. 5).  They should know God before their dust returns to the earth and their breath returns to God (Gen. 2:7).  Everything is empty, futile, and short lived- vanity (v. 8).

Almighty God, you made plans for all human beings and reveal them to all who obey your commands.  You desire that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of truth through repentance and belief in your Son.  Help us to love you as you love us, and reveal the purpose of our life so we may serve you and be worthy to enter your kingdom.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

__________________________________

References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.


Comments