Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

Ecc. 12:12-14
My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

As the book of Ecclesiastes was just completed by me today, the verses that stuck out most to me were the verses that concluded my reading. Solomon has lived much, experienced much, and attempted much, and he has come to a very real conclusion. In a nutshell, that conclusion is that living for God is the most important thing that we can do in this world.

So Solomon here, as a father gently speaking to a son, referring back to a previous verse, says that the words of the wise have been given by God, and these should be those things that I am fixed upon. The words of God are the only thing that can bring delight and guide me on the path of the upright, so he says, “Any words beyond these are to be weary of.” The very words of the living and true God, who shepherds my soul are that which will keep me fixed upon Him. Without constant and continual guidance by the very words of God, I am like a ship in the ocean without a rudder.

Solomon then says that after he has spent a great deal of time researching, digging, trying to find out what the purpose of life is, he is tired, reading and writing books can go on forever, because of the vast size of the world and the amount of subjects that are contained therein. Studying and seeking inordinately can wear a purpose out.

Thus, he warns of seeking and seeking and studying and studying, and sums up all of his studying in a concise statement, which he assumes I understand to be the meaning of life and its purpose. Then, he joins a reason why this purpose should be fulfilled, and a threat against not fulfilling God’s purpose for man.

The purpose of man is twofold:
love, respect and honor God (fear God)
do what God tells us He wants us to do

I think that number one, to love, respect and honor God, can be thought of as the Shama, which is to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

I think number two is a natural response or the result of doing number one.

Finally, Solomon gives a threat for not fulfilling the purpose of God. This is essentially quite simple, God will bring all mankind to judgment, including me. I will not escape the judgment. And when I come to the judgment, every action that I have done will be judged.

May my heart love, honor and respect God today, and may I keep His commandments through His Son, Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.


Like Peter, we must let our pride and self-sufficiency become our Christ confidence if our lives are to count for the Lord.[1]

The abiding characteristic of a spiritual man is the interpretation of the Lord Jesus Christ to himself, and the interpretation to others of the purposes of God. The one concentrated passion of the life is Jesus Christ. [2]

[1]Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 105
[2]Chambers, Oswald: My Utmost for His Highest : Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI : Discovery House Publishers, 1993, c1935, S. April 2