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"Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to  behold the sun. But if a man lives many years, and rejoices in them all;  yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All  that has come is vanity." (vs 7-8 )

Jacob, in looking back upon his life, commented: "The days of the years  of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have  been the days of the years of my life..." (Gen 47:9)

And yet he also remembered -who- had sustained his life, "God, before  whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me since I  was born to this day, the Angel who redeemed me from all evil..."  (Gen 48:15-16)

When a person is young is there not often a sense of optimism and  invincibility: Nothing can hurt me! And is it not the younger ones who  engage in the X-treme sports; flipping motorcycles in the air, and all  sorts of other things. The other day I saw a TV promo for 'something'  where they showed these young punks attempting to jump between buildings  and walls, and not making it...so they bang their heads and faces on the  other side. When X-treme 'athletes' are interviewed it often comes out  how many bones they have broken over the years. But then as they get  old, all those joints that had been injured during the young years of  "invincibility" begin to ache with arthritis and other ailments, and you  see them hunched over, walking with canes and walkers, hobbling along.

Paul was given a "thorn in the flesh" to keep him humble. (2 Co 12:7) And  yet he also could confidently say, "I have lived in all good conscience  before God" (Ac 23:1) and again, "I have fought the good fight, I have  finished the course, I have kept the faith. Hereafter, there is laid up  for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,  will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all the ones  loving His appearing." (2 Tim 4:7-8 )

But he also had darker memories, "For I am the least of the apostles,  who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church  of God." (1 Co 15:9)

But he also understood, "And we know that all things work together for  good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His  purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to  the image of His Son..." (Rom 8:28-29)

By way of personal testimony, I can attest to God's grace in one's life.  During my college years I became persuaded, not by the college elites of  the world, but by a trusted fellow-Christian, to "become tolerant" of  all the apostasy that surrounded me. I never turned away from God; my  heart was always as fervent with the desire to serve Him. But the  tolerance tainted me. Then, due to my compromised state, having become  blind to certain things, I became unequally yoked. Where God's purpose  for me was to preach the Gospel, I spent time doing music, assuming  that's how I was to preach. But those were also years of "leanness of  soul" (Ps 106:15); even when going from church to church doing concerts,  in my heart I knew there was 'something' -more- I should be doing. Then,  at a certain point God began pealing away the dirt and corruption:  the  -correct- "Gospel" message was renewed into my consciousness, the music  was left behind, and the unequal yoke was removed. If the question were  to be asked today, "What do you want to do when you grow up?", my answer  is "-Exactly- what I am doing right now!"
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Today I can "behold the sun" and enjoy the "sweetness" of life. Memories  are still vivid of the youthful failures, and childhood abuses when  growing up. But if I hadn't made those past choices, and if those other  things hadn't happened to me as they did...all of which, in looking  back, were "days of darkness", I would not be where I am to day. God  -does- cause all things to work together for "good" to those who love  Him. He takes everything in one's life and uses them to "conform" His  child and servant into the "image of His Son".

And so, the exhortation to youth is, "Rejoice in your youth, young man"  (vs9)  One of the vigors of youth is fruitfulness, and the quiver that  is full is blessed of God. (Ps 127:3-5)  The exhortation is to, "rejoice  with the wife of your youth" (Pr 5:18 ) There is so much that youth can do  -because- of their youth, that becomes limited with age. So "rejoice" in  youth. Enjoy it. God has blessed it.

But also, take stock of the "ways of your heart, and the sight of your  eyes" because a time of judgment is coming. (vs 9) We all give account  before God concerning ourselves (Rom 14:12)  "every idle word" will be  called into account. (Mt 12:36)

Youth is often brash with its tongue, and impulsive in its deeds. And  there is the attitude that this youthful state is forever, and there is  no end in sight. But there -is- an accounting. As in the previous  lesson, "what goes around comes around". They speak of youth "sowing its  wild oats". Thing is, what is sown sprouts and grows up...and wherever  the tree fell...there it is. (vs 3) Whatever is sown, grows up, and one  must live with the consequences. Things can never be UN-done!

Therefore, what is the exhortation to youth?

"..remove vexation from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh"  (vs 10a)

It's like a verse we did not address a couple lessons ago...

"As dead flies cause the perfumer's ointment to stink and ferment; so  does a little folly to one esteemed for wisdom and honor" (10:1)

Yes, God can take a messed up life and "cause" it to turn out "for  good"... But the even better way is to not mess up in the first place.  This is one reason fathers are exhorted to use the "rod of correction"  to "drive [foolishness] far from him" (Pr 22:15)  But even better than  the rod is when a young person finds it in their soul to have a "heart"  that is purified. Take those "flies" out of the ointment. Put away the  evil deeds.

Today's society has things backwards. They assume childhood is  "innocent", as they exhort parents to "listen to" their children...in  so-doing they might learn something. But God's wisdom exhorts children  to...

"...hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of  your mother;" (Pr 1:8 )  "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for  this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first  commandment with promise:" (Eph 6:1-2)

But they are "sooo old"! Remember? This book is about the "vanity" of  physical life. "for childhood and black hair of youth are vanity"  (vs 10b) How long does the full head of hair last? At what point do the  silver/white strands begin to appear? Wrinkles? The curvaceous curves  begin to bulge and get flabby. When those things happen, will you still  be able to see the "beauty" in each other?

But there is something even more foundational, which also concludes the  book. While this book is about "body", the physical; ultimately it all  goes back to the origin, the spiritual...God. That's next lesson.