Ecclesiastes 12:3

"in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop, the grinding ones stand idle because they are few, and those who look through windows grow dim;"watchmen of the house tremble" -"Likened to. great house in decline, it's former glories of power, style, liveliness and hospitality can now be surmised only by contrast with their few, pathetic relics" (Kidner p. 102). Some feel that the watchmen (keepers, guards) of the house are the arms of the human body, which can accomplish most by way of protection. In these verses Solomon appears to depict the declining physical and psychological powers of old age. The arms and hands grow weak and actually begin to tremble.

"mighty men stoop" -the legs grow bent and feeble. The legs of the aged bend themselves, i.e. are shaky and unreliable. "Stooping with age, dragging their feet heavily along, when men are no longer upright in stature" (P.P. Comm. p. 298).

"the grinding ones stand idle because they are few" -Some feel this is. reference to the teeth, which cease to function properly because few of them are left

"those who look through windows grow dim" -i.e. the eyes becoming dim with age (Deut. Ecclesiastes 34:7).

Point To Note:

It appears to me that God might be comparing old age to the decline of an estate. In youth the human body is like. prosperous estate, filled with servants, productivity and activity. But old age is like an estate that has fallen into disrepair. Resources are limited, the "servants" (arms, legs, ears, eyes) are old and feeble.

There is. myth in our society that we will eventually turn old age into. great period of vigor and productivity. But since these words were penned almost 3000 years ago, advanced old age hasn't changed much. Christians need to prepare now for the years of declining health, our faith needs to be strong to face the setbacks, frustrations, problems, etc…, that often face the aged.. need to have the faith in God whereby. cannot only die gracefully but also age gracefully at the same time.