What Are Your Days Like // Ecclesiastes 12

Days of decline (1–8). Solomon makes one last plea: make use of your opportunities while you can, before you get old and the storms come (v. 2). This poetic description of old age is quite graphic: trembling limbs and poor vision (v. 3); deafness and nervousness (v. 4); fear, gray hair, loss of appetite and then—death (vv. 5–7; 2 Cor. 4:16–18).

Days of learning (9–12). Listen to what God says and be admonished, no matter how old you are. You are never too old to get wiser—or to act like a fool! You can read many books about many subjects, but major on understanding God’s Word and living a life of wisdom. His words are like nails: you can depend on them. They are goads: they prod you to do His will.

Days of obedience (13–14). If you fear God, you need fear nothing else; you are safe in the Father’s will. So live that God could publish a book about you and you would not be ashamed for the whole world to read it. Live with eternity in view, and the ravages of time will not distress you.

Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ec 12.