Examining The Scripture XCIV: Stay Focused on What Matters

We will now look at the conclusion to Ecclesiastes in Chapter 12. In particular we will look closely at the fading & waning years of a human life and the penultimate stage of our sanctification before moving on to be with Jesus Christ in glorification. We will wrap with verses 13 & 14 and their single-minded exhortation to focus on God's glory. To stay transfixed on Jesus Christ as a man narrows the gap to the finish line in the course he calls life.

Verses 1 through 5 exhort us to remember God in the days of our youth (while we can enjoy Him). When we will not be suffering the decline of health and the affects of old age like aches, pains, poor sleep, the onset of chronic ailments and disease, etc. Much of the figurative language in verses 1-12 appear to be referring to declining physiological attributes. I have to assume the repeated references to darkness and may be physical manifestations of poor eyesight, blindness or even death itself. “Stooping” could be crippling effect of many injuries over time, osteoporosis or frail bones. “the grinding ones stand idle because they are few” are teeth worn down and painful or a total lack of them. “Men rise up at the sound of birds” notes that older folks have trouble sleeping (bone/joint pain) and are light sleepers (@ 41 I can relate to this one already). “sound of the grinding mill is low” is also obviously denoting deafness or inability to hear because of a lifetime of hearing damage. Verse 6-12 are basically an exhortation to live responsibly and a reiteration that all human accomplishments for human ends for this world are futile.

The verses specified 13 & 14 in the question conclude with the imperative to “fear God and keep His commandments”. Why fear God? We are to fear God because nothing in God’s creation happens without Him knowing about it. So what does that mean? It means God is sovereign...and He is just...which means He must judge us. The second part of verse 13 says, “because this applies to every person” and it makes this statement applicable to all humans. We will all stand in judgment before the Lord some day. If that is the case we are best served by fearing Him with reverential awe and following His commands. By doing this we are more inclined to obey and in so doing less prone to sin.

In a nutshell, although it doesn't say it like this, this passage is exhorting us to run the race as Christians until the end regardless of how hard it gets. To stay the course and never forget why we are running as Christians. We are running to and for the glory of God. By doing this, chances are we are also running with joy in our hearts and we are enjoying the run we are engaged in. Never mind that your knees ache and your feet are sore. :)

Glenn, Donald , John Walvoord. "Ecclesiastes." Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Bible Knowledge). Acambaro: Victor, 1985. 1004-1006. Print.