THIS OLD HOUSE!

THIS OLD HOUSE!

Eccl 12:1-7

12 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

         Tennessee Ernie Ford used to sing an old gospel song called This Old House. In his deep booming voice he would say “I aint got time to oil the hinges nor to mend the window panes.” He was talking about the house which is our body. In like manner the preacher of Ecclesiastes gives his strong recommendation to consider God while we are young.

         In verses 3 – 7 we read one of the most imaginative descriptions of old age and death found anywhere in literature. The Bible Exposition Commentary describes a house that is falling apart which finally turns to dust. Look at some of the metaphors used for the aging process.

keepers of the house — Your arms and hands tremble.

strong men — Your legs, knees, and shoulders weaken and you walk bent over.

grinders — You start to lose your teeth.

windows — Your vision begins to deteriorate.

doors — Either your hearing starts to fail, or you close your mouth because you've lost your teeth.

grinding — You can't chew your food, or your ears can't pick up the sounds outdoors.

rise up — You wake up with the birds early each morning, and wish you could sleep longer.

music — Your voice starts to quaver and weaken.

afraid — You are terrified of heights and afraid of falling while you walk down the street.

almond tree — If you have any hair left, it turns white, like almond blossoms.

grasshopper — You just drag yourself along, like a grasshopper at the close of the summer season.

desire — You lose your appetite, or perhaps your sexual desire.

long home — You go to your eternal [long] home and people mourn your death.

(from The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

         Charles Spurgeon once said: “Youthful sins lay a foundation for aged sorrows.” The warning is clear and brings us back to the very beginning of chapter 12 which says “Remember, zakar (mark so as to be recognized) now thy creator in the days of thy youth.” Establish your relationship with the Lord now and do it with such intensity that the “evil days” will not shake your faith.

Dear Lord, teach me to number my days that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. AMEN