Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8

“Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions. Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.”

“So remember your Creator in the days of your youth – before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain; when those who keep watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to cease because they grow few, and those who look through the windows grow dim, and the doors along the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding mill grows low, and one is awakened by the sound of a bird, and all their songs grow faint, and they are afraid of heights and the dangers in the street; the almond blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry shrivels up – because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about in the streets – before the silver cord is removed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the well, or the water wheel is broken at the cistern – and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it. “Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher, “All of these things are futile!””

‭‭ ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬-‭12:8

Rejoice while you are young. Follow impulses of your heart. But know that God will bring you into judgment.

The point is not that following your impulses is necessarily bad. The point is that while doing whatever you want, realize that all you think and do will be evaluated by a holy and righteous God. There are boundaries and moral standards. 

Banish or remove vexation/emotional stress from your heart. Remove pain from your body. Youth/being young is a passing thing. Enjoy it while you can.

Remember God! Meaning obeying Him and acknowledging His Lordship.

Nerd moment: Verses 1-7 are one really long sentence. It’s actually that way in Hebrew, too. 

Difficult days probably refers to physical difficulty: injury, pain, suffering. He’s been talking about youth the whole time.

So many metaphors for old age in this passage: Clouds disappear after rain, because rain forms the clouds. We like clouds, they’re pretty. They make beautiful sunsets. But once “life” happens—the rain and the storms—there’s no more clouds. 

Those who used to be strong and bold. In old age, they become scared and timid. Strong men are now bent.

Grinders: Women who would go to the mill and grind corn or wheat into flour. So there are fewer of them. But what this is really talking about is teeth. The word also refers to molar that grind food and as those become fewer, less grinding takes place.

Those who look through windows: Failing eyesight. 

Awake by the sound of a bird and when the mill grows low. They can’t get a full night’s sleep because every little sound wakes them up.

All the daughters of song are brought low, really means “all their songs grow faint.” Musical songs during youth or even the ability to hear songs that are sung. Loss of hearing.

Don’t want to go outside

Almond blossoms go from pink to white when ripe: also a symbol of white hair

Grasshopper becomes its own burden

Desire fails—actually refers to a special berry, this has something to do with sexuality, but I didn’t do too much research here. 

Eternal home: Grave for the body; sheol for the soul. Place for dead souls. Now we know that when you die, if you have believed in Jesus, your soul is present with Him. You will get a new body at the final resurrection. Ecclesiastes isn’t concerned with that. All of that wasn’t revealed, yet. Everyone is going to die and decay, and that’s his point.

Dust returns to earth, and life’s breath returns to God who gave it. 

So what should we do? Remember God while you’re young. Enjoy your youth. 

vv. 13-14. Fear God and Keep his commandments. He will hold us accountable. He is the sovereign lawgiver. What’s the point of life? Is it to get rich? Is it to build an empire? Is it to work 80 hour work weeks? Is it to have 300 friends or followers or likes or shares on social media? 

If you think so, then reread this book. Go read Proverbs. Enjoy your life. Enjoy your youth. Because even that is vanity. It’s fading.

But there are things that you can do now that you won’t be able to do in the future. Will you do them? There are ideas and passions and dreams that you can do now that you’ll forget 10/15 years from now. How can you fulfill them? And I’m talking for God’s kingdom. Other stuff is fine, too, but I’m focused on this right now.

Remember your Creator in your youth.