Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ecclesiastes 12:1

"Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;" — Ecclesiastes 12:1 (ASV)

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Do not give God the dregs of life. Do not offer in sacrifice to him anything that is worn out. Remember that, among the first fruits which the Jews were to bring to the priest to be offered on God's altar, there were to be green ears of corn, dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears. The Lord delights to have the hearts of his people while they are yet children. The Lord says, through Hosea the prophet, I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; as if, while they were but little, God had taught them to take their first steps in walking.

There is also that passage in the prophecy of Jeremiah, I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness. God delights in those early evidences of love in the morning of life, while the dew is upon everything, and there is a sparkling freshness all around. I pray that you who are young will remember your Creator in the days of your youth.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth:

Now we get on solid ground. There is an irony in the advice: Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes. There is no irony here; there is solid, sound advice: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth. May every young man take this advice, and carry it out!

While the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble,

These arms and hands of ours shake because of weakness.