Sound Advice from an Old Rebel

In this final message of the series on the life of Solomon, Chuck Swindoll examines the tragic end of a king who “grew old the wrong way”. Solomon, once the wisest man on earth, ends his life as a frustrated, harassed, and guilt-ridden man who squandered the blank check God had given him. However, before he dies, the “old rebel” offers profound counsel to the next generation, hoping to spare them the futility he experienced.

Drawing primarily from Ecclesiastes 11 and 12, the sermon outlines four critical pieces of advice Solomon passes down. First, while young people should rejoice in their youth, they must live with the sobering knowledge that they are accountable to God for every action,. Second, priorities must be established early in life; waiting to “remember the Creator” until old age means dragging an anchor of regret into the future,.

Third, Solomon warns that age works against us, not for us. Through vivid poetic metaphors, he describes the inevitable physical decline—failing eyesight, hearing loss, and frailty—that makes postponing spiritual decisions a dangerous gamble,. Finally, he reminds us that death is inevitable and often comes sooner than expected. The message concludes with an urgent plea: the time to walk with God is now, not later, so that we might die with a soul that is well with the Lord,.

Message Key Facts:

• Solomon’s Age: At the time of his death, Solomon was likely no younger than 60 and probably not older than 70.
• The Lost Book: Scripture mentions a book called “The Acts of Solomon” (1 Kings 11:41) which contained his achievements. However, God chose not to preserve this record of his worldly successes, preserving instead his wisdom (Proverbs), his song of love (Song of Solomon), and his diary of futility (Ecclesiastes),.
• The Three Adversaries: In his final years, God raised up adversaries to harass Solomon: Hadad the Edomite, Rezon of Damascus, and Jeroboam, a trusted servant who defected.
• The Metaphors of Aging: Solomon uses specific imagery in Ecclesiastes 12 to describe the aging body:
  • Watchmen tremble / Mighty men stoop: Trembling lips and bent legs/back.
  • Grinding ones stand idle: Loss of teeth.
  • Windows grow dim: Failing eyesight.
  • The almond tree blossoms: White hair (implied by the context of aging).
  • The silver cord broken / Golden bowl crushed: The cessation of life, possibly referring to the spinal cord, stroke, or heart failure.
• The Legacy: Despite his late-life wisdom, Solomon left behind a rebel son, Rehoboam, who refused wise counsel and caused the nation to rebel against God—a tragic duplicate of his father’s behavior,.

Message References:

• 1 Kings 11:14–40: The rise of Solomon’s adversaries (Hadad, Rezon, and Jeroboam) as consequences of his sin.
• 1 Kings 11:41–43: The death of Solomon and the reference to the “Acts of Solomon”.
• Ecclesiastes 11:9–10: The command to rejoice in youth while understanding accountability to God,.
• Ecclesiastes 12:1: The command to “Remember your Creator” in the days of youth,.
• Ecclesiastes 12:2–7: The poetic description of the physical decline of old age and the inevitability of death,.
• 2 Chronicles 10: The succession of Rehoboam and the division of the kingdom,.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll