Ecc 12 Public Reading Comments

Recap

We come to the final chapter of Ecclesiastes, so perhaps it would be helpful to remind ourselves of the thrust of the book’s message before giving attention to chapter 12.

You might have noticed a certain sense of sobriety as we have read this book together. It seems the preacher is addressing people who have realized and experienced what many in the world would call a full life. People who have achieved success, and have been able to enjoy the good life. But as is often the case, those who think acquiring this kind of life will yield lasting satisfaction will at some point be confronted with the hard and sobering reality that the ultimate end of the pleasures of the world is vanity. They remain in want.

So the teacher spends considerable time focusing on vanity. This is how the book began: Vanity of vanity, says the preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

much dreaming and many words (5:7)

chasing after the wind (6:9)

the laughter of fools (7:6)

Receiving the praise of men (8:10)

Even the good things

youth and vigor

work and wealth

all of this is ultimately meaningless… vanity.

Why is everything vanity? Is this just the inconsolable, fed up with the world, jaded cynicism of someone who has been underwhelmed disappointed in life one too many times? Why the negativity?

Consider what

Ecclesiastes 1:11 ESV

There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.

That everything is vanity is not to suggest that the joy that can come fro our labor or good health or our achievements is not good. The point is, the vanity of life is connected to the fact that we will not remember all those things, nor will anybody else. Eventually, the memory of these things will disappear from human consciousness.

So when we get to the final chapter of this book, the exhortation remember your Creator in the days of your youth is also a warning against mindless self-indulgence during the days of one’s vigor. If we forget our Creator, we invite bitter regrets and an empty existence in old age.

What follows from there are a series of metaphors that describe the deterioration of the body as old age comes on. Seeing our lives from this point of view, that is from an eternal perspective brings a sense of sobriety, but also clarity to what gives life meaning, and what becomes clear is that there is no meaning apart from our Creator. So as we read this final chapter together, may it be our prayer that we would fear God and keep His commandments, because everything else is ultimately vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12 ESV

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity. Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Prayer

Father, your word has exhorted us to remember our Creator this day, so we look to you as the one who has given and sustains our lives. You are the Alpha and the Omega. You are the Great I Am. And while we readily acknowledge You are the Potter and we are the clay, we come to You for the nurture and care that our spirits need.

You God are our salvation, we will trust and not be afraid. You are our strength and our song. (Isa 12:2).

Father, we look to you this morning as we grieve the loss of our dear sister Caroline Gardner. The sting of death is felt by those who experience the loss. We pray for Dave. We ask that his grief would be met by the fact that Caroline is in the presence and comfort of her Creator. We pray for the Gardner family. For the children and grandchildren and great grandchildren. May the legacy of faithfulness to you that Caroline leaves behind and that Dave continues to embody be a source of encouragement to all.

As we contemplate you as our Creator Father, we thank you for the work of the missionaries we are privileged to count as partners in the work of the gospel. Their aim is to proclaim your glory to your creation. To proclaim the excellencies of Jesus Christ, the one and true Savior. For

Tony and Joanne Murrin in Bolivia

Andy and Trisha in Alaska

Steve and Bethany Chmil in Togo

Strengthen these and others who are serving you around the world. Provide for them, encourage them, grant them your power to proclaim the gospel with clarity and conviction.

Father, we confess that we can become overwhelmed with the cares of this world. We acknowledge that the temporary and cast a shadow in our minds on what is eternal. Much of this is true because of our toil and difficulty. The pain we experience in our trials demands our attention, but we ask you God today that you would grant us a vision of you and our lives that would clarify the ministry of redemption of Jesus Christ to us. We wait for His return. And as we wait we groan with the whole creation like the groanings of childbirth. Sustain Father in our waiting. We pray for

Cynda Sherrick as she continues chemo treatments. We pray not only for her strength and for few side effects but for the effectiveness of the treatments. We pray for the healing of her body.

Natalie S

Aaron S

Will M

We pray for the proclamation of your word today Father. Grant Pastor Josh clarity in his mind as he declares the truth this morning. Accomplish your purposes in your people as we hear your word.

Grant your people a fear of you, and increasing desire to obey you and settled joy in knowing you through our Savior and King, Jesus Christ.

In His name we pray,

Amen.

Romans 8:22 ESV

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.