before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
In the 12th chapter of Solomon’s book we read the decline of life due to old age and then culminated in the final moment of death, as written above. As always, to understand the above we need to go to the end of the book to recall Solomon’s conclusion to life:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV)
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Solomon is telling us that life, without God, is vanity. So, as we read the language about a golden bowl, or a sliver cord, or a broken pitcher, we understand that THIS life comes to an end. That is what Solomon has been trying to teach us throughout the book. He has been outlining the fact that everything on this earth is vanity. He has experienced it all and even if you have it all, it is vain. In the end we return to dust. This entire book leads us to Philip’s words said to Jesus:
John 14:8 (ESV)
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
We have to come to the point that nothing on this earth is ours and nothing on this earth lasts. We are to have our entire focus on the Father. He and He alone is enough.
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