Aging Teaches Us About Eternal Priorities | Ecclesiastes 12:4-5

Welcome to The Daily, where we go through the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day.

We are in the last chapter of Ecclesiastes. That means today we are 4 days away from starting the Gospel of Mark. Go to the website and grab the Scriptural Journal for this study so you can study along with us.

Today, we’re looking at Ecclesiastes 12:4-5:

And the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low—they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— Ecclesiastes 12:4-5

Solomon continues his poetic descent through the aging process—and this time, he describes not just physical breakdown but also emotional and social decline.

The “doors on the street” are shut—perhaps the ears or even social isolation. The “sound of grinding is low”—daily activity slows to a crawl. Rising at the “sound of a bird”—sleep becomes fragile and easily disturbed. “Daughters of song are brought low”—joy is muted, and singing no longer lifts the soul as it once did.

And then the fear creeps in. Fear of falling. Fear of going out. The almond tree blossoms—white hair. The grasshopper drags along—once agile, now slow. And desire? It begins to fade. Not just sexual desire (though let’s be honest—testosterone replacement therapy is more common than ever), but also a decline in passion, motivation, and drive.

Solomon isn’t rubbing it in—he’s inviting reflection. Because the destination is clear: man goes to his eternal home.

He’s asking us: Do you really want to wait until life grows silent, slow, and sorrowful to make eternal decisions? What you still have—your energy, joy, desire, and courage—use it now. Before the mourners gather, choose the joy of the Lord.

#EternalPerspective, #ChooseJoyNow, #DailyDevotional

ASK THIS:
What “desire” in your life has faded over time?
How do you respond to fears that come with aging?
Are you making eternal decisions while you still have strength?
What does it mean for you to choose joy before the mourners gather?
DO THIS:
Reflect on one area of your life where you’ve lost desire—and ask God to reignite it with eternal purpose.

PRAY THIS:
Lord, help me see the brevity of life not as a burden but a blessing. Teach me to live each day with eternal purpose and lasting joy. Amen.

PLAY THIS:
Grow.