Dei Break
Ecclesiastes 11:1 - 12:14
As Ecclesiastes closes we're reminded that it is unlike any of the other "pessimism literature" of the time. The author's point is not that there is no hope for man, who is trapped in a meaningless existence. Ecclesiastes points out that though we cannot understand life and its many twists and turns, we should not despair, because God knows what each twist and turn means. You may remember an earlier reference to the song "Dust in the Wind". Kerry Livgren wrote that song and he would agree with the writer of Ecclesiastes that with God we are not just "dust in the wind". Some years after "Dust", Kerry became a Christian and said that because of Jesus, the song's lyrics definitely no longer reflected his view of life.
God's people can work and play each day to the best of their skills, abilities, and wisdom without knowing the "why" of every event. It is enough to know that God is the Master over all. We can work each day assured that our center is Christ, not our own success or our own knowledge.
Chapter 12 begins with a description of old age. Verses 3–5 paint an intriguing picture of our old age. In verse 3 the legs grow weak and the back bends; the "grinders" are the teeth that become few; the eyes grow weak as they look out. Verse 4 apparently refers to the mouth and to poor sleep. Verse 5 talks of the growing fearfulness of the elderly as they become less self-sufficient; the almond tree has bright white blossoms (one's graying hair); and a grasshopper walking is a pretty sad sight. Though today we can hope for better physical condition as we grow older, the writer's point that we really will die is still true. His message to us is that though the things that we experience through our own wisdom are meaningless vanity; the life that we live in God is empowered by Him, planned by Him, blessed by Him, and precious to Him. We are never left hopeless.
Next time: Song of Songs
Recent Comments