Ecclesiastes 12:1

THE GRAND CONCLUSION FOR ECCLESIASTES

"This is one of the most beautiful chapters in the Bible."[1] Along with Ecclesiastes 11, and a few verses out of Ecclesiastes 10, we have here Solomon's conclusion. He had found his way out of the doubts and perplexities that for a time had confused him; and here (in these passages) he thunders the great doctrinal teachings of God's Word.

So great is the importance of this chapter that we shall study it one verse at a time.

Ecclesiastes 12:1

"Remember now also thy Creator in the days of the youth, before the evil days come, and thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them."

"The first word of this in the the Hebrew text of the O.T. is "and," indicating a connection with the previous verse."[2] This is a continuation of Remedy Three (Ecclesiastes 11:10) for the perplexities and vanities of life. The loving and faithful service of God our Creator is that third remedy. "It is a plea for a strong religious faith to be founded in youth as a safeguard against old age."[3]

"Creator here is not merely a synonym for God; it is an emphasis upon the fact that he is the Creator."[4] God created all of us; we are his; we owe him everything; his authority is eternal and unlimited. "You are not your own; you have no right to yourself. God made you, and he made you so that you might be happy; but you can be happy only in Him.[5]

This is a basic doctrine of the Holy Bible. "Some interpreters, of course consider this too pious, and so they change it; but this is not acceptable."[6] For example, here are a couple of the ridiculous changes men have made in God's Word: "In the days of your youth, remember your grave."[7] "Remember also your wife in the days of your youth."[8] "There is no reason to alter the text here."[9] It is only the boundless conceit, irreverence, and unbelief of evil men that prompts ravages of this kind against God's Word.

The focus upon God the Creator in this very first verse is quite appropriate, "It reminds us from earlier passages in Ecclesiastes that only God sees the whole pattern (Ecclesiastes 3:11); his workmanship we have spoiled by our devices (Ecclesiastes 7:29); and his creativity is continuous and unsearchable (Ecclesiastes 11:1). For us to `Remember Him,' therefore, is no perfunctory mental act. It means to drop our pretence of self-sufficiency and commit ourselves to Him, to love Him and to obey Him.

"It is amazing that the word `Creator' in the Hebrew text is plural, like [~'Elohiym] in Genesis 1:1. The Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit all played a part in our creation (John 1:4; Genesis 1:2)."[10]