20th April 2024

20th April 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ecclesiastes 12v1-7)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


There are studies which suggest a child's habits are formed before the age of nine and these are unlikely to change as the years go on. That means if your teenage daughter struggles to keep her room tidy, it's probably pointless shouting at her every time you need a JCB digger to lift her dirty washing.


Solomon had no access to modern studies but he was convinced that a good habit for the young was to daily remember the Lord God (v1). This remembrance isn't a five second fleeting thought but a daily act of mediation on the goodness of our God. It is a remembrance which leads to thankfulness which leads to an appropriate response.


Why was Solomon so keen for the young to remember the Lord? Because he knew all too well that time brings change. The carefree days of youth are quickly replaced by days to which you say "I have no pleasure in them" (v1b). What follows in chapter twelve is a vivid and uncomplimentary picture of growing old. The light of day is replaced by darkness (v2), fear abounds and those who were once strong are now bent over (v3). The teeth called "grinders" are few (v3b) and your once sharp eyesight grows dim (v3c).


Often with old age comes poor hearing which Solomon compares to shut doors on a street (v4). The sound of grinding teeth is low because appetites shrink and nothing too difficult to chew is enjoyed.  With old age comes restless sleep and early starts - the old man is up at the sound of the lark (v4b) and more than that his voice has grown weak and he no longer sings like he once did (v4c).


No one of any age wants to suffer a fall but the elderly especially fear what is high (v5). The old person no longer eagerly takes the Christmas tree up to the loft and when he walks down the road he is all too aware of the "terrors" in the way (v5b). What are these "terrors"? Perhaps an uneven pavement, a pothole or an ungritted winter path.


The hair grows white like almond blossom (v5c), the once proud walk is replaced by slow deliberate steps and desire for food or physical intimacy disappears. All of these changes are little signposts that time is bringing change. Death is certainly coming and life is incredibly fragile. Solomon compared human existence to a broken lamp or a shattered pitcher (v6). Imagine an oil lamp hanging from your ceiling by a silver cord. The bowl is filled with oil and the lamp burns brightly but when the cord snaps the bowl is broken and the light is snuffed out.


In a similar fashion imagine a well in your garden. A wheel is turned to bring up a bucket full of fresh water which then fills a pitcher. But if the pitcher is smashed or the wheel broken, no life giving water can be enjoyed. Solomon provides us with these images to show us once more that life will end and then we will go to our eternal home (v5c). The dust will return to the dust (v7a) and our spirit will return to the Lord who gave it (v7b).


Everyone's experience of ageing will be different. Some work well past retirement age while others know physical limitations from a relatively young age. Some spend more time in the garden than they ever do in the hospital but ultimately the ageing process cannot be stopped and one day every one of us dies.


What should we do? To the young - remember your creator before the dark days come. Make the most of your youth learning quickly that nothing compares to the surpassing worth of the Lord. To all others - you will surely die, make sure you live for Jesus before you do.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q18 Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell? The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.
​