Ecclesiastes 12
There is a big difference between a wise man and a wise guy. In our vernacular, we view the wise guy as someone who is proud, thinking he knows everything and looks down on others. In reality, he has limited information and uses his confidence and charisma to take control and sometimes take advantage of others.
A wise man is the person who has read, researched, listened and learned truth. One who knows where to look and who to listen to, combined with the desire and discipline to pursue what is right, honest, trustworthy and noble (see: Philippians 4:9). However, information is limited, until one has learned how to apply it into practical application and life transformation.
Paul wrote to Timothy about false teachers who were “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7). The Hebrews author tells us that the mature Christians “have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14). We must consistently practice, apply, live out and teach others the knowledge that has already been revealed to us. Then we will grow to the next level of wisdom.
Often when we visit the doctor, we get a prescription that is designed to reduce pain, increase healing properties and strengthen our own immune system. Sometimes sick people refuse to seek help from a medical professional. Others may get the diagnosis and prescription, but don’t take it as directed. A few people don’t mind being sick or in pain because they can escape other problems in their life or it may make others pay attention to them.
Solomon examined the questions, problems and issues of life through experimentation and observation. At the end of Ecclesiastes, he gives his final diagnosis and prescription for those who would seek help, health and healing. Solomon’s wisdom was not limited to his own mind, but he also taught others by spoken lessons (1 Kings 10), righteous judgments (1 Kings 3) and a written biography and over 3,000 of proverbs (1 Kings 4:32) which he arranged with great care (Ecclesiastes 12:9).
The Teacher’s words were not only right and true but also conveyed in interesting, appealing and delightful ways. Sometimes a long lecture, filled with facts might be true but boring and tedious to listen to. But when the lesson is delivered with creativity, artistic flow and engaging appeal the lessons come to life. The lecture hall becomes a life group.
Words of truth are not always easy to hear. Sometimes we need to be corrected because we are off course in our thinking and our lives are drifting away from the truth of God. Solomon speaks of wise words using the analogy of a goad, which is a long stick that the farmer used to keep the oxen or mule in line and moving in the right direction. Jesus asked Paul on the road to Damascus, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14). God’s truth is like the goad of motivation, correction and discipline. It may be similar to the shepherd’s “rod and staff that comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) While the disciplinary action is not pleasant at the time of correction, it is comforting to know that if we not walking right, there is someone who cares for us and loves us enough to bring us back onto the right path. It is not enjoyable at the time, but it is for our greatest good and God’s glory. (Hebrews 12:10-11)
Solomon uses another metaphor that we can understand. When builders construct a home, barn or fence they often connect the pieces of lumber with nails. How many times have we hammered a nail and split the wood, or missed the secondary stud or post? Someone who is inexperienced might bend the nail or not be able to drive it in all the way. Words of the wise are able to assess the right place, the right time, the right amount of force to drive the truth into the mind or the heart of the one who needs to be held in place into the foundation. Then the whole structure is strengthened and immovable (see: Ephesians 4:15-16).
The key to chapter 12 is that the rancher with the goad and the carpenter with the nails is much wiser than Solomon. He is the One who gave Solomon his wisdom. He is the one (and good) Shepherd. The Psalm 23 “the Lord is my shepherd” (written by Solomon’s father, King David) and the “I am the good Shepherd” (John 10:11,14) is the One who imparts eternal and spiritual wisdom. While the teacher invested time, energy and many personal case studies, he realized that the source of his wisdom came from above.
We are reminded of Paul’s statement to Timothy that “All scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16) and is not based merely man’s experience, interpretation or memory. A similar concept is Luke who wrote, “I carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:3-4) Is this gospel based on Luke’s careful and diligent research or is it from the Spirit of God? Yes, both!
There are many books today, plus many more bloggers, digital designers, content creators, documentaries, movies, shows and music that we could spend all day, everyday chasing stories – many fictional, sensational, but irrelevant to life. At the end of the day, we will be tired out, more confused and no smarter. What is most important is to listen to, learn from and follow the one author – the designer, creator, sustainer and ruler of life itself. The book about Jehovah and Jesus is the only book required for understanding, enjoying and living in this world and finding a new home in heaven forever.
The conclusion of Solomon’s life-long quest into the meaning of life is summed up in only one requirement: “Fear God and keep His commandments.” We must honour, respect, worship and love the Lord. Fear is not a constant terror, anxiety or paranoia of our Creator but it is a recognition that He is holy, pure, righteous and perfect. Because God is all-knowing and all-loving, we can trust His plan, path and purpose for our life.
It is interesting that many translations state, “for this is the whole duty of man” with the footnote that the word “duty” is not in the Hebrew text but was inserted to give a sense of flow. Let’s take out the word “duty” and see what we might learn: “for this is the whole of man.” Everyone has a deep desire to be whole, complete, healed, perfect and fulfilled. We can only experience this wholeness if we fear God and keep His commands.
It is a frightening thing to consider that God will bring all of our deeds into judgment and every secret thing will be revealed whether good or evil. Jesus said, “on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” (Matthew 12:36) This would cause people to fear God if they truly understood the judgment day.
Christians also know that Jesus died for our sins that we might be forgiven by His blood. When you, as a disciple of Christ, stand before the judgment seat of God, your record will be clean because the debt, ransom, penalty has been paid. God will remember your sins no more and as far as the east is from the west, so your sins have been removed. (Psalm 51:7, 103:12; Isaiah 1:18, 43:25; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 2:14; Hebrews 8:12, 9:28; 1 John 1:7–9) We no longer need to fear the judgment day, instead we look forward to seeing the face of God because we are sanctified and justified by our Saviour and His beloved Son.
One other point of urgency: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’” Today is the day of salvation. Do not be distracted. Do not make excuses. Do not give up. Do not harden your heart (2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 4:7). Listen to wisdom and live accordingly to the will and Word of God.
Royal Oak, Michigan