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The Scriptorium

Short Memories

Living for the generations, or merely for yourself?

Ecclesiastes 4.13-16

13Better a poor and wise youth
Than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.
14For he comes out of prison to be king,
Although he was born poor in his kingdom.
15I saw all the living who walk under the sun:
They were with the second youth who stands in his place.
16
There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king;
Yet surely those who come after him will not rejoice in him.
Surely this also
is vanity and grasping for the wind.

The Story:These verses have a hint of nostalgia to them. Is Solomon reflecting obliquely on his own experience? Is he thinking back to his days of youthful wisdom, perhaps even trying to relive them? It seems he has come to where he is taking advice in his old age – his own advice, learned through the school of hard knocks. But what about Rehoboam? Will he be a foolish youth? Or will he be wise like his father was, and had become once again? Solomon seems to fear that he will not be remembered fondly (v. 16). If he, who had been so wise, would be quickly forgotten, for what could Rehoboam hope?

The Structure: There is in this verse the suggestion of an important Biblical theme, which is easily overlooked. That is the importance of living for the generations, and not just for the moment. We heard this theme in 1.11 and 2.16, and it echoes in other portions of Scripture (cf. Ps. 45.17; Ps. 78.1-8; 2 Tim. 2.2). We cannot know fullness of life by living only for ourselves in the moment. Yet this is the only “hope” that the secularist can have. He knows he’ll probably never have a page in any history book, so he tries to “grab for all the gusto” he can since he “only goes ‘round once in life.” This is not how God calls His redeemed people to think or live. We are part of the past and we contribute to the future. Good associations and a proper orientation to life in the present, conducted to the glory of God, will help to ensure that we make a lasting contribution to the generations to come.

How do you keep in mind your contribution to the generations to come? What legacy do you hope to leave for them?

Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “Frauds, Follies, and Fleeting Joys: Ecclesiastes 4,” simply click here.

T. M. Moore

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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