Remembering the Creator in Days of Youth (Ecc 12: 1- 8)

REMEMBERING THE CREATOR IN DAYS OF YOUTH (Ecc 12: 1- 8):

After reflecting and writing about so many exposures and experiences, the author settles to remember God the Creator before the old age, to know the real virtues and values of life. The author writes to remember the creator in the days of youth before the evil days come and the years draw near, in which a person would say that there is no pleasure in them. There is a consequence for everything that is done and it is undeniable. Something which would be gratifying temporarily may produce anguish after a particular period of time when it is not according to the purpose God had created mankind and different things. Also when all the physical, mental, and emotional impulses are weakened after the days of the youth, everything that is not valuable but temporarily gratifying, would give no enjoyment.

The author after writing to remember the creator, he writes when to remember the creator by saying that, before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut, when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song are brought low, they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way, the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself long, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel is broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

We have to remember the Creator irrespective of the seasons, as there could be favorable seasons of light, rain, and chillness as well as non-favorable seasons of darkness, heat, floods, or coldness. We have to remember the creator irrespective of our physical wellness or not. There could be a sudden illness that could make even the strong stumble, making unable to eat, drink, or getting benefitted. We need to remember the creator whether we are prosperous or not, whether we are secure or not, whether our desires are met or not. Every man would face the destiny of death and go into the earth, and the person’s spirit alone returns to God for eternal judgment, which was destined by God. The author once again quotes that all the temporary things of the world are vanity of vanities. 

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What does the author say to remember?

2.    When a person ought to remember the creator?

3.    What does it mean that before the sun, moon, and stars are darkened and clouds return after rain?

4.    What does it mean that when the keepers of the house tremble?

5.    What does it mean that when the doors on the street are shut when the sound of the grinding is low?

6.    What does it mean that one rises up at the sound of a bird and all daughters of sons are brought low?

7.    What does it mean that they are afraid also of what is high and terrors are in the way?

8.    What does it mean that almond tree blossoms, grasshopper drags and desire fails?

9.    How man is going to the eternal home?

10. What does it mean that the silver cord is snapped, the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain or the wheel is broken at the cistern?

11. What does it mean that dust returns to earth and the spirit returns to God who gave it?

12. Why the author says vanities of vanities?

13.  How we can cautiously connect with God always?