Ecclesiastes 12:1-14

The final chapter of Ecclesiastes begins with a poignant description of old age, using a variety of touching metaphors. It is a reminder to those who are young to be thankful to God for the gift of life before the pleasure of life is taken away by the pains and limitations of old age: before eyesight darkens and becomes clouded (v. 2); before legs can no longer stand and one’s few teeth can no longer chew (v. 3); before hearing loss and interrupted sleep takes over (v. 4); before the onset of vulnerability and the loss of virility (v. 5); before death smashes life, one’s corpse disintegrates, and one’s breath goes back to God (vv. 6-7).

For those of us who are now considered seniors, we can testify that aging isn’t for wimps. It is disconcerting to experience year by year the growing pains, limitations, and fragility of one’s body, and to be increasingly aware that death is closing in. The author of Ecclesiastes sees no particular benefit to old age, but here I think he is wrong. The research I’ve read suggests that those in their senior years generally have more satisfying friendships. The pace of life has slowed and allows for more attention to what is meaningful. The traumas of the past tend to soften while the good memories of the past glow more warmly. Seniors typically rank their happiness higher than those in middle age. The task of old age is to accept, trust, and be grateful.

At the end of his soliloquy about old age and death, the Teacher returns, for the final time, to his refrain: Pointless, pointless, all is pointless (v. 8). His rests his case. The book is done.

But it’s not done. Verses 9-14 appear to have been added by later editors who were not satisfied with the bleak meaninglessness of the Teacher’s message. Verses 9-10 assure us that the Teacher truly was a wise man, that he compiled many useful proverbs, that he composed “pleasing words,” and wrote the plain truth. This sounds like an endorsement for a book that otherwise might be too challenging for some readers!

Perhaps another editor then added the comment in verse 11 that wise sayings (such as the book of Ecclesiastes) are meant to guide us, even if they hurt, and that this book has nailed down truths from God–the One Shepherd. This editor judges the book as scripture. Indeed, he seems to be saying no more books are needed (v. 12)! This is the end of the canon. Additional books would simply confuse us.

Then another editor adds one more conclusion. First he says, “Enough–we’re done!” Then he adds a central truth that may not have been clear enough in this book: fear God and keep his commandments–that’s the whole purpose of life (v. 13). Far from life being pointless, God will judge every aspect of our lives (v. 14). I think it is these last two verses that probably made Ecclesiastes qualify as scripture for Judaism (and Christianity). The Jewish community insisted on including a book that wrestles honestly and fearlessly with the unpredictability, injustice, and “vanity” of life. But ultimately, we must still live by faith that God is God and our lives are in God’s hands. That, I think, is the consistent core of the entire Bible’s message. Several authors argue with it, but in the end that’s the conclusion.

I am grateful that Ecclesiastes is in the canon of the Bible. It is a reminder that honest faith includes doubts, frustrations, and unanswerable questions. But at the end of it all, we have to decide whether to live our lives for things we cannot see nor prove–things that are greater than us. Personally, I think the Teacher neglected to recognize the deep satisfaction and meaning we experience when we live–not for ourselves–but for others. Service to others is the purpose of life. This is what saves us and makes us whole. And it is God–the love of God–that inspires us to do this. Trust in God and service to others brings gratitude, and gratitude recognizes it’s all gift.