This verse is taken from:
Ecclesiastes 12. 1-7
The preceding chapter concludes with counsel to those who are young, to rejoice in their youth and to remove their heart from sorrow, for the days of childhood are transitory, 11. 9, 10. In light of that, another exhortation is given, ‘Remember now thy Creator’, that is find, fear, love and serve Him, for He alone can fill the void that the vanity of ‘things under the sun’ will inevitably bring. The need to remember Him is urgent, something to be done immediately, Solomon indicating that with the increase of years the opportunity and the ability to accept such a change in our thinking, and ways, declines, v. 1. A graphic description is then given to us of the ageing process. The mental faculties decline and life becomes a permanent struggle, v. 2. Physical abilities decline, the hands tremble, the legs bow, the teeth decay, and sight fails, v. 3. Hearing is impaired and even loud sounds become faint and indistinct, problems are experienced with insomnia, the voice becomes unsteady, v. 4. Climbing stairs becomes difficult, going out becomes a challenge, white hairs flourish, the stooping person takes on the caricature of a grasshopper, appetites decline, death is seen to be inevitable and the mourners prepare, v. 5. Following the description of the mental and physical effects of ageing, in verse 6the internal functions are focused upon, the ceasing of which mark the end of life, the spinal cord, the brain, the heart, the circulation of the blood. The imagery is now abandoned, death takes place, the body returning to dust, the spirit to God, the source of man’s life, v. 7, cf. Gen. 2. 7; 3. 19, Within this description, Solomon speaks of the body as a ‘house’, the dwelling place of man’s spirit, and the arms and hands, by which we maintain the well-being of the ‘house’ and are enabled to feed, protect, dress and wash ourselves, he beautifully describes as ‘the keepers of the house’, v. 3; cf. 2 Cor. 5. 1; Gen. 49. 24.
Thankfully, spiritually, the increase of years need not have such a sad outlook, ‘though our outward man perish’ the inward man can be ‘renewed day by day’, 2 Cor. 4. 16. The Lord promised ‘even to hoar hairs will I carry you’, Isa. 46. 4.
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