The Silver Cord and the Golden Bowl - Ecclesiastes 12:6

In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon shared about, “when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets”, and in chapter twelve and verse six of his book Solomon said,“the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken” where we read,

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, 

or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

The verse reads, “Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, …” Solomon began this verse with the words, “or ever the silver cord” which means “or before the silver metal rope, band or measuring line” “be loosed” or “exists as snapped or bound”, “or the golden bowl” which means “or the gold metal round pommel, spring or globe” “be broken” or “exists as crushed into pieces”. Solomon referred to the time when the silver cord is severed and the “golden bowl” is crushed into pieces. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “… or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.” Solomon continued with the words, “or the pitcher” or “or the large portable barrel, pail or jar used for domestic purposes” “be broken at the fountain” which means “becomes violently crushed, wrecked or ruptured at the spring of water”, “or the wheel broken” or “or the whirling dusty wheel crushed into pieces” “at the cistern” which means “at the pit, well or hole for cooking”. Solomon said the “young man” should also consider the time that a portable jar is ruptured at the spring of water and the whirling wheel becomes crushed into pieces at the cooking pit. 

When we consider words in this verse, we learn through Solomon how domestic activities also become difficult for a person who ages including using jars for water and cooking pots. Solomon instructed the “young man” to take advantage of the use and implementation of these items in advance of the “silver cord” of life is severed and the “golden receptacle” is crushed. God wants us to live our lives in keeping with His ways and with eternity in our minds. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone, and He raised Him from the dead after three days so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will lead and guide us into His ways well in advance of our dwindling years while we always have living with Him in our minds. 

Next time Solomon says, “then shall the dust return to the earth as it was”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".