Ecclesiastes 12: Remember the Creator before death
Begin in prayer
Before we finish Ecclesiastes with the call to remember our Creator, let us ask Him to teach our family to fear Him, and to help us see Christ before the judgment.
Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:7
Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Help us remember You now and receive the wisdom You give. Teach us to fear You and obey Your commands, and show us Jesus, who gives mercy before our lives end. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.
See where we're going
The young must remember their Creator before difficult days and declining years arrive. The Preacher pictures trembling limbs, failing teeth and sight, weakness, fear and mourners in the streets. Broken cords, bowls and water vessels picture life ending, as dust returns to earth and the spirit returns to God. The refrain that all is vanity returns. The wise Preacher carefully seeks and arranges truthful words to teach the people. Wise words from one Shepherd prod like goads and hold like firm nails, while endless books and study bring weariness. The conclusion calls everyone to fear God and keep His commandments, since He will judge every work and hidden thing, good or evil.
As you read Ecclesiastes 12, look for the answers:
- Whom should we remember in our youth? (verse 1)
- To whom does the spirit return? (verse 7)
- What will God bring into judgment? (verse 14)
Reflect together
Key truth
God our Creator gives life, teaches true wisdom and will judge every work, so we must fear Him.
Remembering the Creator means giving Him our allegiance while life and strength remain. The repeated call to act before decline makes that duty urgent. The picture of growing old includes trembling strength, few teeth and darkened sight. Broken vessels and a severed cord show the fragility of the life that ends in death. Dust returns to the earth, and the spirit returns to the God who gave it. The one Shepherd who gives these words is God, and Jesus calls Himself the good Shepherd (John 10 verse 11). Goads prod an animal forward, and fastened nails hold firmly, picturing wisdom that moves and steadies us. The warning about endless study leads us to the duty of fearing God and keeping His commands. His coming judgment includes every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
How does Ecclesiastes 12 show us that God our Creator gives life, teaches true wisdom and will judge every work, so we must fear Him?
God our Creator must be remembered while we have life.
Youth and strength will not last. The picture of decline leads to death, burial and the spirit’s return to God. We should give Him our allegiance now.
God gives true wisdom to move and steady us.
The Preacher searches carefully for truthful words. Like goads, wise words press us toward action. Like well-fastened nails, they give something firm to hold.
God will judge every work and every hidden thing.
The conclusion names fearing God and keeping His commands as our duty. His judgment reaches the good and the evil alike. Nothing hidden from other people is hidden from Him.
Memorise
Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Looking to Jesus in my life
Ask yourself in your heart, am I remembering my Creator and seeking mercy through Jesus before His judgment?
Ecclesiastes ends with the warning that God will judge “every hidden thing”. Our Creator knows the sins concealed from everyone else. Neither youth nor a life of study can give us a clean record before Him.
The Son through whom all things were created came to reconcile sinners to God (Colossians 1 verses 15 to 20). Jesus took the death His people owed, carrying their rebellion to the cross and enduring God’s judgment for them. His sacrifice brought their guilt to its full and final settlement. All that was needed to reconcile them to God has been done. He rose as the living Lord, and His mercy reaches beyond death for all who trust Him.
Turn from sin and trust Jesus now. All who draw near to Him in faith receive forgiveness. Those who belong to Him can remember their Creator, receive His Word and obey His commands with grateful hearts. Their confidence before judgment rests in the Savior who has completed their rescue.
Parent's note
Tell your children that God knows every hidden sin, and call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. If a child fears growing old or dying, hold them close and tell them that Jesus rose from the dead. Pray that God would give each one a new heart that remembers Him.
Pray together
Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His truthful wisdom and for the mercy found in the risen Savior. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.
So then each one of us will give account of himself to God.
Romans 14:12
Creator God, You gave us life and know every hidden thing. Forgive our sins and bring each one of us to Jesus for mercy. Teach our family to remember You now, receive Your truthful Word and keep Your commands. Let our hope before judgment rest in the finished saving work of Your risen Son. Amen.