The title for the message today is Remembering Your Creator in Old Age. You know, memory can be challenging in old age, wouldn't you agree? In Ecclesiastes chapter 12, verses 1 through 7, God commands his people to remember their frailty as creatures of his and to turn to him for salvation. And I'd like us to open up in a word of prayer. Dear Lord, I thank you for this opportunity we have to sing praises and to hear your word preached. I pray that you'd give us hearts and ears to listen and hear your word. as we think about remembering our creator in old age. I pray that you'd have a blessing for everyone who's come out today. In Jesus' name we ask it, amen. William Barak has written a very good commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes. He speaks of life under a setting sun, referring to our older, what some would call our golden years. I don't know if I like that phrase yet, but I'm getting older all the time. These seven verses from Ecclesiastes 12 in our English Bibles are translated from just one sentence in the Hebrew Old Testament. Did you ever notice there are lots of Bible commands to remember? Back in the book of Deuteronomy, Remember that you are a slave in Egypt. Remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. Remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these 40 years in the wilderness to humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And you shall remember the Lord your God. And from the book of Psalms, Psalm 20, verse 7, some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 42, verse 6, oh my God, my soul is cast down within me, therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan. Psalm 63, verse 6, when I remember you on my bed, I meditate on you in the night watches. Psalm 78-42, they did not remember his power the day when he redeemed them from the enemy. Psalm 89-47, remember how short my time is, for what futility have you created all the children of men. Psalm 103-18, to such as keep his covenant and to those who remember his commandments to do them. Psalm 105 verse 5, Remember his marvelous works which he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth. Psalm 106 7, Our fathers in Egypt did not understand your wonders, they did not remember the multitude of your mercies. And a few from the New Testament, Mark 8 verse 18, Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear, and do you not remember? Luke 24, 6. He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee? John 15, 20. Remember the word that I said to you, a servant is not greater than his master. Ecclesiastes 12 is Hebrew poetry. It makes much of figurative speech. It enriches and makes God's word come alive. with depths of meaning. Matthew Henry has said, the theme of our text is a call to young people to think of God and mind their duty to him, especially in verses one and two. And I would add, it is also a call to the elderly, if there are any elderly here today, to also remember their creator. And we will see that emphasis for sure coming up. Listen now as I read our text, Ecclesiastes 12, one through seven. Remember now your creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them. When the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are not darkened, and the clouds do not return after the rain. In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow down, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows grow dim. When the doors are shut in the streets and the sound of grinding is low. When one rises up at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of music are brought low. Also they are afraid of height and of terrors in the way. When the almond tree blossoms the grasshopper is a burden and desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the Spirit will return to God who gave it. Did you notice the phrase, remember your Creator, in verse 1 and verse 6? Remember that we are accountable to Him. Old age brings to all of us many reminders of our frailty. We are dust in God's sight. Have you done what Solomon is commanding here in your younger days? Your younger days are your easier days, according to Solomon, because he says, before the difficult days come, verse one, none of us knows just when our life will end, but for many, some difficult days may precede it. So, we certainly have many Bible commands to remember certain things. God has said, here in Ecclesiastes 12, we focus on this one command, remember your Creator. Now let's begin in verse 1. Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near, when you say, I have no pleasure in them. Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth. Our Creator we are to know, consider, and remember. There are also similar verses to this one earlier in the book, speaking of God's work as Creator. In chapter 3, verse 11, He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in our hearts, except that no one can find out. the work that God does from beginning to end. And chapter 7 verses 13 and 14, Consider the work of God, for who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the days of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider. Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him. And one more, chapter 11 verse 5, As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything. Yet your memory is an amazing gift of God, isn't it? Adam Clark has said, You are not your own. You have no right to yourselves. God made you. He is your creator. He made you that you might be happy. But you can be happy only in Him. And as He created you, so He preserves you. He feeds, clothes, upholds you. He has made you capable of knowing, loving, and serving Him. Now remember Him. Consider that He is your creator. your loving and affectionate Father. Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, I have no pleasure in them. Now, verse 1. We see that word now often in scripture. You know, it's there more than 2,000 times. It's a time indicator word. Now. Like, when are we supposed to do this command? Now. This is an important word in scripture. Remember now, your creator. This is urgent. It's the narrative now, we might call it. Do you give much or give little thought to God? before the difficult or evil days come, the end of days before the end of your life. It's a good thing to remember the evil days that have come to us over our lifetime. Ecclesiastes 11.8, if a man lives many years and rejoices in them all, yet let him remember the days of darkness or evil, misery, trouble, for they will be many throughout his lifetime. All that is coming is vanity. Here's another time-marking word in verse 1. And the years drawn near when you say, I have no pleasure in them. The years when I have no pleasure in them, the difficult days. We have various difficulties in old age. Difficulties of strength, weakness, memory, vision, loss of appetites, loss of teeth, hearing, sense of smell, health in general, loss of income, loss of loved ones. We feel as if our own life warranty is close to expiring. When young, remember now. Verse two, while the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are not darkened, and the clouds do not return after the rain, the skies do clear now while you're young. So both these first two verses are primarily addressed to young people. when clouds may roll in, but they clear out because you're young. They're not hanging over your head forever, like they are with people of another age, a certain age. When you're young, the clouds clear from day to day, but not as easily in old age. They darken in old age, it seems. While the sun and the light, the moon and the stars, these are four emblems of life, light here applied to the youth. Matthew Poole has said, youth is a time of comfort and happiness. It's often described by the light of the sun, et cetera, in Judges 5 and 2 Samuel 23 and in Isaiah. And it's a time and state of great trouble. It's set forth by the darkness of the light of the sun, as in Isaiah 13, Isaiah 24, Joel 2 and 3, Matthew 24, and elsewhere. These days of youth are not darkened, and for them the clouds do not return after the rain. to return to what Matthew Poole has said about this verse, nor the clouds return after the rain. This phrase notes a perpetual succession and reciprocation of rain and clouds, bringing rain and then rain and clouds again, and so without end. whereby he expresses either the physical troubles which do abundantly and incessantly bother old men for want of natural heat and strength, or the continual vicissitudes of infirmities, diseases, and griefs in old men, one deep calling upon another, and one affliction beginning at the end of another. Whereas in young men after rain, the clouds are dispersed and fair weather succeeds. Verse three, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow down, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows grow dim. in the day when the keepers of the house tremble. The keepers of the house are the hands, the arms, the legs, the eyes, the back, and the teeth. Matthew Poole again, in verse 3, the keepers of the house, of the body, the house of the body, is oft and fitly compared to a house, as in Job chapter 4, Psalm 119, 2nd Corinthians. The hands and the arms are the keepers and are subject to this trembling by paralytical or other light distempers that are frequent to old men. And the strong men bow down. Matthew Poole continues, the strong men refer to either the back or the thighs and legs in which the main strength of the body does consist, in which old men are very feeble. When the grinders cease because they are few, the grinders cease, the teeth, they grind the meat which we eat. until they fall out. The molars, teeth can wear out in time. And those that look through the windows grow dim, windows speaking of the eyes. Verse four, when the doors are shut in the streets and the sound of grinding is low, when one rises up at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of music are brought low, when the doors, speaking of the mouth, the doors are shut in the streets, the mouth in scripture is a kind of a door. Psalm 141 verse 3. Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips. Micah 7, 5. Do not trust in a friend. Do not put your confidence in a companion. Guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom. In old age, because of frailty, less is heard from the elderly. Did you ever notice that about nursing homes? They're kind of quiet, aren't they? Well, that's what happens in old age. Because of frailty, less is heard from the elderly. Maybe they're going a little deaf compared to younger men who are always using their mouth at full volume and you have no trouble hearing them. Speaking of this door of the mouth, Poole continues, these are said to be shut, not simply and absolutely, as if they never did eat or drink or speak, but comparatively, because men in extreme old age grow dull and listless, having little or no appetite to eat, and are very much indisposed for discourse, and speak but seldomly, and the sound of grinding is low. when or because the teeth called the grinders are loose and few, whereby both his speech is low and the noise which he makes in eating, but small. And this is one great cause of his indisposedness, both to eating and to speaking. Kylan Dellick says, from the toothless mouth, only a dull sound is heard. When one rises up at the sound of a bird, with old age comes an inability to sleep. So one hears birds singing in the early morning, and they wake you up. And maybe you didn't want to be awakened at 5 o'clock in the morning. And all the daughters of music are brought low. The daughters of music, all those senses or parts of the body which are employed in music and song, as well as those which make it, as the parts of and within the mouth, as those which receive it, to wit, the ears. They shall be brought low. They shall be cast down from their former excellency. They are become incapable either of making music or of delighting in it. Verse five, also they are afraid of height and of terrors in the way. When the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper is a burden and desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home and the mourners go about the streets. Also, they are afraid of heights. The elderly certainly think twice about getting up on any chair. And I was reading something a bit about the Tama, Toledo nursing homes and how often people fall. And it's like once an entire year someone falls in a nursing home. Just praise the Lord for that. That occurs so infrequently. I wonder about myself sometimes working in a warehouse, tripping over pallets. And I really have to watch where I'm walking as well as my speed of walking. They also fear high places. They fear going up hills or upstairs, which is very irksome to them. I have to climb 21 stairs in the warehouse where I work. Did you know that warehouses have stairs within them? Some of them, anyway. because of their weakness, and weariness, and danger, or dread of falling, and of terrors in the way, fear of falling, and fears shall be in the way. Lest, as they are walking, they should stumble, or fall, or be thrust down, or some infirmity or mischief should befall them. When the almond tree blossoms, the almond tree shall flourish. Their heads shall be as full of gray hairs as the almond tree. I guess it's not a compliment unless you like gray hairs to be called, you look like an almond tree. Their buds are kind of white when they flourish and the gray head. It reminds Solomon of the almond tree and its white flowers. The grasshopper is a burden. Whether a locust or grasshopper, insects become a bigger bother to the elderly, and desire fails. Matthew Poole continues, desire to wit of meats and drinks and music and other carnal delights, which are vehemently desired by men in the heat of their youth, but are unsavory to old men. an instance of which is 2 Samuel 19.35. Who said this from 2 Samuel 19.35? I am today 80 years old. Can I discern between the good and the bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my Lord the King? You know whose words those are? Barzillai, Hannah knew that. How do you know that? That's good. Barzillai was four score or 80 years old. His ear was become dull of hearing and his relish for food was gone. He therefore appears to have not only been an old man, but an infirm old man. Verse five continues, for man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets. So therefore, oh, it's repeated, verse six, like in verse one, remember your creator before the silver cord is loose, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. We have here our second reminder to remember our creator. William Barak is very good on verse six. Here at the end of life, the opportunities to enjoy God's good gifts cease. Now is the time, the last and final time, to prepare to meet your creator, to meet your maker. Four actions here speak of the end of life. Loosing the silver cord, breaking the golden bowl, shattering the pitcher, and breaking of a wheel at a well. First, remember your creator before the golden bowl or lamp he's talking about. The golden lamp is broken. Zechariah 4 verses 2 and 3. And he said to me, what do you see? So I said, I am looking and there is a lamp stand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it. And on the stand, seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it. one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left. The scripture speaks of the lamp of an individual being put out at death. Job 18, five and six. The light of the wicked indeed goes out, and the flame of his fire does not shine. The light is dark in his tent, and his lamp beside him is put out. Proverbs 13, verse nine. The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. Remember your creator before the silver cord is loosed and the pitcher is shattered at the fountain. The silver cord could be the means of hanging the golden lamp filled with oil. Putting fire to the wicks in the oil would give light as the oil burned. But if someone cuts the cord, what happens? The thing hits the ground, the glass breaks, and you have fire spreading. It breaks, the lamp oil crushes to the floor, an oil is lost and there's a fire. Barrick says, likewise the pitcher that holds life-giving water drawn from a well cannot serve its task if the pitcher breaks there at the well. Jim Crenshaw explains that the picture of a fountain in disrepair suggests that the water of life can no longer be drawn and the end has come. Remember your creator before the wheel is broken at the well. Barrett continues, the wheel could be a pulley used to lower a pitcher into a well and draw it back up when filled. And verse seven, then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. Then the dust will return to earth as it was. This from Psalm 49, beginning in verse 12. Nevertheless, man, though in honor, does not remain. He is like the beast that perishes. This is the way of those who are foolish, and of their posterity, who approve their sayings. Selah. Like sheep, they are laid in the grave. Death shall feed on them. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave. far from their dwelling. Verse 15, but God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for he shall receive me. Selah. Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased. For when he dies, he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lives, he blesses himself, for men will praise you when you do well for yourself. He shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see light. A man who is in honor yet does not understand God implied, who does not understand God, is like the beast that perishes. That's basically the end of him. He's not going to see God. He's going in another direction. And the spirit will return to God who gave it. This implies the continued existence of the soul. It returns to God who created it. Psalm 116 verse 15. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. In conclusion, remember now your creator. Remember him before you grow old. And even in old age, remember him before it is too late. Before the light of God's lamp is extinguished and the pitcher holding the water of life is broken. Then God will cause your dust to return to the earth. Are you ready for that day? What does that mean? It means to hear and obey what Jesus Christ has said. It means to obey His Word, to repent and believe what He has said. Do not forget what He has told us. The Gospel in one verse, not John 3.16, though that is one. I think of Acts 16.31. The Apostle Paul says to the Philippian jailer, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon is concerned that we would consider the character of man. He is a weak and frail sinner who needs to listen to God's word. God the creator is sinful mankind's only hope for deliverance from the slavery of sin and corruption. The creator alone can make things right in a fallen world subject to sin. Romans 8.21 says, The creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Do you know the Savior? Know and believe His word. And let's pray before we sing one more hymn. Dear Lord, I thank you for this passage from Ecclesiastes chapter 12. I pray that you'd continue to impress these truths upon our hearts, whether we be young or old. But I think especially of so many old people here today at Sunny Hill, I just thank you for everyone who's come out. And I pray that you would use these truths that I've preached in their heart, in their life, in their memory. Pray that you'd convict people of sin who need that. And for believers, I just pray that they would be encouraged when they may be discouraged to see their lives, at least bodily, falling apart, things not working as they used to. I pray that you'd encourage them by your word. Thank you for your goodness to us. In Jesus' name, amen.