2 While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; 3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; 4 When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low; 5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. 8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.”
Ecclesiastes 12:2-8
The Preacher warns us one last time to live wisely because death will come to us all. These verses are filled with metaphors that detail the brevity and sure end of life……
In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,
And the strong men bow down;
When the grinders cease because they are few,
When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low;
For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.
Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,
Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
These metaphors represent fading human vitality and life’s end. Youth fades, bodies break down, spirits fail, and death comes to all.
Thanks be to God for our salvation. These events will transpire in our lives. We possess everlasting life and a place in heaven. Death will not be the end for us. Rather, it will be the fulfillment of all that God has promised us. Death awaits, but Christ will be with us every step of the way and will lead us home.
Tony French
mrtonyfrench 