Solomon's observations about life, aging & death (Ecclesiates 11:8-12:7).

  Life:
 

life may be short	Indeed, if a man should live many years (11:8),
don't wait to enjoy	let him rejoice in them all,
life can be hard	and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many.
life will end	Everything that is to come will be futility.
enjoy life now	Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes (11:9).
observe limits	Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.
curb life's evils	So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body (11:10),
life seems short	because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.
find God soon	Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them" (12:1);

 

  Aging:
 

depression	before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain (12:2);
shaking	in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble (12:3),
failing posture	and mighty men stoop,
teeth loss	the grinding ones stand idle because they are few,
sight loss	and those who look through windows grow dim;
hearing loss	and the doors on the street are shut as the sound of the grinding mill is low, and
difficult sleep	one will arise at the sound of the bird, and all the daughters of song will sing softly (12:4).
increased fear	Furthermore, men are afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road (12:5);
graying hair	the almond tree blossoms,
physical slowness	the grasshopper drags himself along,
impotency	and the caperberry is ineffective.

 

  Death:
 

all will die	For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street.
find God on earth	Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed (12:6);
plan for eternity	then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it (12:7).

 

  Summary & Application of Solomon's Proactive Advise

• Get to know God now (12:1, 6).
• Get eternal issues settled now (12:7).
• Enjoy life all your days starting now (11:8-9).
• Observe God's moral limits (11:9).
• Remove anger, keep short accounts when wronged (11:10).
• Remove grief, don't become entrapped in mourning (11:10).
• Put away pain from you body, do what you can to be healthy & safe (11:10).