1. Wisdom in Seeking the Creator (Ecclesiastes Ch. 11-12)

2. Wisdom in Seeking the Creator Ch 11: “Call of Duty” for youth –Call for Faith –Call for Joy Ch 12: Seeking Him Early –Remember your Creator in the days of your youth –Weaknesses of old age –Way of victory

3. Call of Faith Read - Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 “Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun; " (11:7) Seeking Him early in life – sun rise Faith – what enlightens us: –“Faith in Christ is life-giving light” (St. Isaac the Syrian) –“Blessed is He who is worthy to enter the city of the spiritual, where his soul beholds the face of God, tastes the sweetness of her Lord, is joyous, inhales His pure aroma, is bound by His greatness, enlightened by the ray of His goodness, clings to Him, and does not desire to leave” (St. John Saba) –“We can not behold the Sun without clear skies and healthy eyes, likewise, we can not behold the Sun of Righteousness who is in the sky of the heart, without faith, love and perseverance.” (St. John Saba)

4. Call of Joy But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all… (11:8) Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; (11:9) God wishes us to live in Joy –“Joy is the food of soul, by which is grows” (St. Antony) –“Sadness puts out the light of the mind” (St. Basil the Great) Can there be no sadness in life? –“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy... Against such there is no law.” (Gal 5) –Yes, but Joy of God will still remain. –A sign of the presence of Christ

5. Call of Joy “Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many.” (11:8) Remembering the dark days, of sin and bondage, before/without Christ, increases our joy. –We remember how Christ took us out of darkness and into light –We remember our weakness, and are humbled –We remember His salvation, and are joyous –“…that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Pet 2) “Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh (11:10)

6. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth Read - Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth… –While still young, and strong and energetic –I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. (1 John 2:15) –Why not wait? Enjoy life now and serve God later… “Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them” (12:1)

7. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth Difficult days may come early: One may lose his reasoning (disease/accident/…) and can not consciously repent and return to God Death may come early/unexpected Debilitating disease Old age comes quickly as one is spending his youth in mirth and play –“O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” (Ps 71:17-18)

8. Weaknesses of Old Age The sun and the light, the moon and the stars, are darkened (12:2) –One loses his sight, so that sunlight is the same as darkness –One loses the beauty and joy of life (light) –Spiritually: Can not see the Light of Christ, Sun of Righteousness Cloud returns after rain (12:2) –Continuous storms (temptations) –Easily fall into sin - weak

9. Weaknesses of Old Age In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down (12:3) –Weakness of health –Absence of the Spirit of God – the Protector –One becomes weak, falls before small temptations When the grinders cease because they are few (12:3) –Teeth (grinders) fall out –One can not even enjoy food –Can not enjoy God’s words, for lack of spiritual grinders And those that look through the windows grow dim (12:3) –Sight/senses are weak –Loss of spiritual senses, can not smell the aroma of Christ, can not praise Him

10. Weaknesses of Old Age The doors are shut in the streets (12:4) –Inability to go out to the market and buy necessities of life –Inability to reach heaven and get God’s words One rises up at the sound of a bird (12:4) –Due to weak nerves, they awake to the slightest sound –Loss of inner comfort of Christ All the daughters of music are brought low (12:4) –Can not rejoice with their fellows, due to their weakness and tiredness –Can not rejoice and praise with the heavenly They are afraid of height (12:5) –Can not live in high places, due to fear of falling –Do not grow in spirituality, but remain at low levels

11. Weaknesses of Old Age Afraid of terrors in the way (12:5) –They live in fear, no desire to do anything –No desire to struggle and gain spiritual exerience Almond tree blossoms (12:5) –White hair everywhere –Loss of spiritual youth Desire fails (12:5) –Loss of every desire for joy and happiness –Loss of inner peace, and desire for Heaven

12. Finally… Death For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. 6 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. 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. Spiritually, one feels his life if without cause, closer to dust than to Heaven.

13. Way of Victory Read - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 The solution to vanity! The answer to the big question Fear God and keep His commandments The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10)

14. Way of Victory The Fear of God is the beginning of virtues, and it is said to be the birth-giver of faith. (St. Isaac the Syrian) The gates of heaven and the heart are one and the same; If we keep our heart by keeping Christ’s commandments, the gate of heaven is opened for us, for He who dwells in us, dwells in Heaven. (St. John Saba)

15. Wisdom in Seeking the Creator Call for faith –“Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun; " (11:7) Call for joy –“Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;” (11:9) Remember your Creator in the days of your youth Weaknesses of old age –“ For man goes to his eternal home” (12:5) Way of victory –Fear God and keep His commandments