Ecclesiastes - Chapter 12

(Class Notes)

• The Vanity of Life (12:1-8)
  • Youth (12:1-2):
    • The EXHORTATION is to REMEMBER the CREATOR in the DAYS of one's YOUTH "BEFORE the EVIL (BAD) DAYS come" (12:1)
    • YOUTH is BRIGHT as the LIGHT of the sun and the moon and the stars, while OLD AGE is GLOOMY as the CLOUDS that return after the rain (12:2)
  • OLD AGE (12:3-5):
    • In OLD AGE the KEEPERS (ARMS) of the HOUSE (BODY) TREMBLE, the STRONG MAN (LEGS) are BOWED, the GRINDERS (TEETH) become FEW and the WINDOWS (EYES) become DARKENED or DIMMED (12:3)
      • MOSES (GRAND EXCEPTION)
        • "his EYE was NOT DIM, NOR his NATURAL FORCE ABATED" (Deuteronomy 34:7)
        • TIME had simply RUN OUT for him AS PER GOD'S WORD to him (Deuteronomy 3:26-27; Deuteronomy 34:4-5)
    • In OLD AGE the DOORS (LIPS) are CLOSED and there is LITTLE SOUND when CHEWING FOOD, the SONG of a bird STARTLES the AGED PERSON who CANNOT DISCERN musical TONES (12:4)
    • In OLD AGE one is AFRAID TO CLIMB to that which is high and is even FEARFUL OF WALKING in the way; one's HAIR TURNS WHITE as an almond tree and the SMALLEST CREATURE (GRASSHOPPER) is A BURDEN; one's APPETITE FADES as one ANTICIPATES going to the GRAVE (LONG HOME) followed by a PROCESSION of MOURNERS in the streets (12:5)
  • DEATH (12:6-7):
    • At DEATH (12:6):
      • The "silver chord" (SPINAL CORD) is "SNAPPED ASUNDER"
      • The "golden bowl" (HEAD) is "BROKEN"
      • The "pitcher" (of BLOOD) and the "wheel" (its VESSELS) is SEVERED at the HEART which is figured by the "fountain" and the "cistern"
    • At DEATH (12:7):
      • The "dust" (BODY) RETURNS to the earth (Genesis 3:19)
      • The "breath of life" (SPIRIT) RETURNS to its Giver (Genesis 2:7)
  • VANITY (12:8):
    • The FADING BRIGHTNESS of YOUTH into the GLOOMINESS of OLD AGE followed by the MOURNFUL END of DEATH - calls forth the words, "VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS VANITY" (12:8 cf. 1:2)
    • DEATH is the "EVENT" that MAKES ALL LABOR ("under the sun") VAIN (2:14-15; 9:2-3)
    • Only HE WHO IS the RESURRECTION and the LIFE (John 11:25) CAN DEFEAT MANKIND'S GREATEST ENEMY, i.e. DEATH (Hebrews 2:14-15 cf. Revelation 1:17-18)

• The Admonishment of Wisdom (12:9-14)
  • The Preacher is a seeker and teacher of PROVERBS, which are "ACCEPTABLE WORDS", "WORDS OF TRUTH", and "WORDS OF THE WISE ... FROM ONE SHEPHERD" (12:9-11):
    • The LORD JESUS CHRIST is that "ONE SHEPHERD" (12:11)
      • He is "the GOOD SHEPHERD" (John 10:11) of "the SHEEP OF THY PASTURE" (Psalms 74:1)
      • He is "that GREAT SHEPHERD" (Hebrews 13:20) of "the SHEEP OF THY PASTURE" (Psalms 79:13)
      • He is "the CHIEF SHEPHERD" (I Peter 5:4) of "the SHEEP OF HIS PASTURE" (Psalms 100:3)
    • Paul referred to his words as "WHOLESOME WORDS, even the WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST" (I Timothy 6:3)
  • MAN'S WORDS (BOOKS) MULTIPLY WITHOUT END and THEIR STUDY is a WEARY LABOR (12:12):
    • WITHOUT GOD - MAN is "EVER LEARNING and NEVER ABLE TO COME TO the KNOWLEDGE OF the TRUTH" (II Timothy 3:7)
  • CONCLUSION: TRUE WISDOM is to FEAR GOD and KEEP HIS WORDS (COMMANDMENTS) - for HE ALONE WILL BRING ALL SECRET (HIDDEN) THINGS TO the LIGHT of His Judgment (12:13-14):
    • "The FEAR OF THE LORD is the BEGINNING OF WISDOM" (Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 9:10)
    • "The WORD OF GOD" (Hebrews 4:12 cf. John 1:1) - "ALL THINGS are NAKED AND OPENED UNTO the EYES OF HIM" (Hebrews 4:13)

  Study Outline

  Audio Message #1

  Audio Message #2

  Audio Message #3