Ecclesiastes 12 The Conclusion of The Matter "What's It All About?" Alfie

Call To Worship Col 3:12-17

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Bible says that wisdom is greater than monetary power. Wisdom is greater than military power. Wisdom is greater than mental power. Look in Proverbs 4:7 "Wisdom is the principal thing…"

"The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here." Matthew 12:42

I want to tell you some ways that Jesus is greater than Solomon.

He Is Greater in the Wisdom He Proclaims

Now, you talk about a wise man - Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs. He knew 3,000 proverbs and had memorized 1,500 songs. What a mind he had! Solomon knew all about the created universe. But Jesus had greater wisdom. You see, Jesus made all of the things that Solomon knew about. We read in the Bible where Solomon studied ichthyology. He knew all about fish, but Jesus knew more. Jesus put enough fish in two empty nets to sink two boats. Solomon knew all about the cycles of the wind, but Jesus knew how to rebuke the wind and cause the Sea of Galilee to be still at His command. Solomon knew all about navigation. He sent ships out all over the earth to bring back riches. But Jesus could walk on water.

Greater in the Works He Performs

Not only did Solomon have great wisdom, but he also did mighty things. Solomon built a palace for himself. It took thirteen years to complete, and it defied description. But Jesus is building a greater house. He said in John 14:2, "In My Father's house are many mansions … I go to prepare a place for you." Solomon invited people in for great feasts. But Jesus could take five loaves of bread and two fishes and feed 5,000. He could turn plain water into sparkling wine. Solomon built a temple beyond compare. It was the most glorious, magnificent building that has ever been built. But Jesus has built a greater temple. You and I are His temple. First Corinthians 6:19 says, "…know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?"

Greater in the Workers He Pleases

Solomon built many things and employed many workers. And he was a great man to work for. Can you imagine serving in his court in all the lavish wealth? Solomon's workers were happy, but Jesus gives me joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Greater in the Wealth He Possesses

King Solomon was incredibly wealthy. King Tut, Bill Gates, and Donald Trump will have to stand aside when it comes to wealth. Tons of gold, along with ivory and spices, were poured into Solomon's coffers. But Jesus' wealth is greater. The cattle on a thousand hills belong to Jesus, and all of the diamonds and the rubies in those hills. Every star in the sky belongs to Him.

Greater in the Worship He Provides

Finally, Jesus is greater in worship. Solomon was there to lead the people in worship. That's why he built the temple, and God gave him a throne. But there's another throne, and Jesus sits upon it. Friend, Solomon no longer sits upon his throne, but Jesus sits on His! And He will never, ever be dispossessed.  Like other great kings, Solomon has come and gone. All that he had is gone. But Jesus is here. He will supply you with His wisdom. He will give you water so you will never thirst again. He's preparing a place for you in heaven. And Jesus will give you joy day by day. And that's why we worship the One, the Lord Jesus, Who is greater than Solomon. He's the everlasting King and our great Saviour.

 

 

Ecclesiastes 12

Remember also 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";² before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,³ in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,⁴ and the doors on the street are shut---when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low---⁵ they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets---⁶ before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.⁸ Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

⁹ Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.¹² My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

¹³ The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

 

What's it all about, Alfie?
Is it just for the moment we live?
What's it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?
And if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie
What will you lend on an old golden rule?

 

1. The Problem of Aging.

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them." (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

It is clear that this is an appeal to young people to think carefully about their Creator, not merely to remember that He is there. The thought is: recall God's presence daily; live in a relationship with him; seek to discover the greatness and glories of God while you are still young, before it is too late.  And here is the bad news do it before the "evil days come."

Those evil days are described in Verses 2-8. This is what we all have before us should we live long enough.

² before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,³ in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed,⁴ and the doors on the street are shut---when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low---⁵ they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets---⁶ before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern (Ecclesiastes 12:2-7)

"before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain," refer to the fading of the mental powers of an individual as he grows older. How true this is! When you are young, life seems to stretch endlessly before you; it seems that you will never approach old age. But as you live day by day, life seems to speed by rapidly; it is very brief. You suddenly find yourself exhibiting the appearances and experiences of age. As someone has well said, "Just about the time your face clears up, your mind begins to go!"

I  think pastors should retire at an appropriate time, as we tend to make mistakes (as does everyone) as our mental faculties diminish. The dad jokes become old granddad jokes: do you know the difference? The punch line is… umm .. I forgot.

"light". The mind, reasoning,  memory,  imagination begins to fade, like the fading of the light of the sun. The reasoning power of the brain, and memory fades.  There are three things that indicate the onset of old age: the first is losing the memory, and I can't remember the other two!  "The clouds returning after the rain," is a reference to how our emotions govern our thinking. These are common feelings and emotions of the elderly:

- uselessness – I am in the way, I am over the hill - guilt – I have totally fouled up my life ….If only . . . - bitterness and resentment - fear of the unknown and the future – What's going to happen to me?

As a child, one's life revolves around three simple things: eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom. When one gets old that same cycle returns again.

"in the day when the keepers of the house tremble." That refers to the arms and the hands, by which we defend ourselves if we are attacked; "the keepers of the house," which are so useful in maintaining the body, which begin to shake and tremble when old age comes on.

"The strong men are bent," is a reference to the legs, the strongest parts of the body, which start to shake and tremble in old age. Old people take very short steps; they can hardly walk. It has been well said that a sign of the onset of old age is when your knees buckle but your belt won't!

Then he speaks of "the grinders ceasing because they are few." That needs no interpreting for those who have lost many of their grinders through tooth decay. Have you seen medieval false teeth? Stumps of wood sewn into the gums. I am so glad of modern dentists, even when we can't afford them.

"Those that look through the windows are dimmed"  Cataracts form;  eye problems develop.  Some of us have to hold things further away to read them.. Someone asked me last week which Bible version I like most: the ne with the biggest print!

"The doors on the street are shut," is a vivid picture of what happens when the teeth fall. The doors of the face, the lips, fall in, one begins to mouth everything. When that happens "the doors to the street" are obviously shut.

"When the sound of the grinding is low"

Then, "one rises up at the voice of a bird." I have noticed that in the mornings any sound will waken me.

Yet, at the same time, "all the daughters of song are brought low." There is a reference to the increasing deafness of old age. "The daughters of song, " those parts of our body by which we hear the song, are brought low; they lose their powers.  Everybody seems to talk in a much lower tone of voice than they used to; people mumble all the time, as "the daughters of song are brought low." And the TV gets turned up louder!

Then there is a word on the increasing fears brought on by old age: "They are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way."

I've got to admit getting up and down the steps has become a more traumatic task as the years wind on.

"The almond tree blossoms" is clearly a reference to the hair, which turns white as old age approaches.  Although our ladies have found a way to avoid this.

"the grasshopper drags itself along." When I wake up in the morning I find myself stiff, and having difficulty walking at times. This increases as one grows old.  "The grasshopper drags itself along."

And finally "desire fails." That is a reference to sexual desire. It may be a great comfort to many of you to see that that is last on the list; it is the last thing to go, according to this. And even Viagra can't help it.

Wigs can be bought when the hair falls out, or dentures when the teeth fall out. Glasses, contact lenses, help with eye problems. Artificial legs, arms and hands, etc., can be fitted, and these are great devices. With all the help that modern technology avails, what a sight it must be when some people get ready for bed! It must be like watching the demolition of a house!

This description of aging in the Bible reminds me of the couple who wanted to get married. Jacob was ninety-two and Rebecca was eighty-nine. As they discussed their wedding, they passed a Chemist, and Jacob suggested they go in. Addressing the man behind the counter, Jacob said, "We're getting married. Do you sell heart medication?" "Yes, of course we do," said the pharmacist.

"How about medicine for circulation?"           "All kinds."

"Medicine for rheumatism, scoliosis?"           "Definitely."

"Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, jaundice?"  "Yes, a large variety," said the pharmacist. "Whatever the doctor orders."

"What about vitamins, sleeping pills ?"     "Absolutely."

"And wheelchairs and walkers?"                "All speeds and sizes."

"Great!" said Jacob, "We'd like to use this store as our bridal registry!"

And if you think this is bad so far, now he begins describing the ways death can occur. The end of life is death. In frankness and openness the Scripture faces the fact that "Man goes to his eternal home." Despite the many passages in this book in which the writer seems to be preoccupied with the grave -- he sees it as the end of all the good things made available to us "under the sun," i.e., in this life -- nevertheless there are several references in the book to the fact that life does not end with death; that human existence goes on beyond death. Here is one of them: "Man goes to his eternal home." The grave is not the end; there is life, there is existence, beyond; this verse recognizes that.

So, "the mourners go about the streets." This, Solomon says, is a result of various forms which death can take. First, "the silver cord is snapped." That seems clearly to be a reference to the spinal cord, that great nerve that runs up and down our backs, protected by our spines. If it is damaged, broken, or diseased, life can suddenly end.

Then, "the golden bowl is broken." That is a reference to the cranium, the skull. A blow to the head, damage to the brain, a fall, and we are gone.

"The pitcher is broken at the fountain" is a reference to the heart. Heart disease, cardiac arrest, is the most frequent cause of death today. The heart can suddenly stop; the fountain which continually pours blood through our bodies is broken and ceases its function.

"The wheel broken at the cistern" is a reference to the circulation of the blood.  A blood clot can arrest it and suddenly death occurs. I have had two friends die at a relatively young age through Deep Vein Thrombosis. One a sky diving accident and the other water skiing I think.

The body crumbles: "Dust returns to the earth as it was, but the spirit" - "the spirit returns to God who gave it."

 Life "under the sun," life lived without having discovered the reason for living, is vanity, emptiness, futility. The greatest futility of all is a life that has not found the reason for living. What a waste to live your life and never discover why you are here! What a waste, to die without learning the secret of true existence! That is Solomon's conclusion. He began the book with it, in Verse 2, and ends here with the same words, in Verse 8 of Chapter 12. He has searched through all of life and reached the same conclusion.

It is clear from this suggestion (to return to Verse 1 of this chapter) that it is hard to find the answer to life when you're old. Not many people do. There are stories (thank God for every one of them) of people turning to God in their last moments of life. Many of us, perhaps, know someone who did that in a real and genuine way. But what a waste of a life.

2. The Power of Scripture

God has revealed Himself to us through His Word.

⁹ Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.¹² My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Solomon, the author, speaks of himself in the third person. He was wise. In Israel that description simply meant that he knew the will of God. Verse 9 says that he taught people knowledge and arranged proverbs. A proverb is a truism that applies to life.  1Kings 4:32 tells us that Solomon wrote thousands of proverbs to help his people navigate life. He didn't just rule them; he led them. He gave them pithy little statements that they could memorise that were hard hitting guides for life.   Solomon wisely conveyed his knowledge of God to the people. Later, in verse 11, he says that these truths "are given by one Shepherd." Solomon recognized that these words did not originate with him; that the ultimate Shepherd of Israel was God. Solomon was accountable to Him. Here he claims to be something more than just a wise man; he claims that his words are given by God.

We have a term for God-given knowledge in theology; inspiration. God takes a human being and channels inerrant truth through him. Peter put it like this: "No prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (2 Pet. 1:21).  God took human authors and led them to do what they never could do on their own.

God still used Solomon's human expertise. Solomon pondered, searched out, and arranged his thoughts. God took his effort and unique combination of skills to give us an inerrant record in this book. Solomon goes on to describe the book that he wrote.

¹⁰ The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.  (10-11)

The book Solomon wrote is delightful and pleasing. Psalm 19 calls the words of the Lord sweeter than honey. First Peter calls them milk. I personally have no greater joy than for God to show me something wonderful in His Word. Almost every day God blesses my heart with new insight. He blesses me, I say, Wow.  Solomon also says in verse 10 that these words are true and correct. When you read something in the Bible, you never have to worry about being misled by it. God will never lead you astray. You can bank on it. That's what the Bible does for our lives. It is God's instruction manual for man, and if you'll follow it, He won't mislead you. It is perfectly in keeping with the mind of its Author.

The Bible is true, straight direction. It was given by one Shepherd.

¹¹ The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings;

Do you know what a goad is? If you are a shepherd, a rod and a staff are critical to your work. A staff is about six feet long and protects the sheep from a wolf. A rod is about three feet long and is used as a goad. When a little sheep gets off the path, a shepherd takes his goad and gives him a tap. It doesn't feel great to the sheep, but the shepherd does it because he loves the sheep. You also use a goad on an ox. An ox goad is about six feet long with a nail in it, and it is used to poke the ox so he will stay on the right path.

When Paul's name was still Saul, Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and asked him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads" (Acts 26:14).

The Bible is a goad. It will keep you from doing dumb stuff. It also can be unpleasant. It can hurt sometimes.  Knowing you're on the right path is a great comfort, and God's Word will definitely keep you on the right path.

Solomon also says people who master the words of wise men are like well-driven nails. When you entered Jewish homes in Solomon's day, there wouldn't be a coat rack; there would simply be a nail or a peg driven into the wall where a Jewish family would hang their most important articles. One of the names of the Messiah in the Old Testament is the peg that comes from Judah (Zech. 10:3-4). The Messiah is a peg. You can rest in Him. You can hang your life on Him, and He'll never give way. The Bible's a goad, and it's also a well-driven nail.

Have you ever come across a verse of the Bible and it has hit home with such force, you know God wants you to know that verse, so you memorise it, and you find you come back to it and back to it and back to it and hang your life on it.

Master the collection .. master the scriptures. Only those who have mastered the Bible are strong. They know it, they've struggled with it, and they've worked it into their lives.

It's not how many times you've been through the Bible; it's how many times the Bible's been through you. Do you have a time every single day when you withdraw and spend time with just you and God? Not you and a tape. Not you and a commentary. It's you with a confessed heart and the Holy Spirit working in His Word. It will bring you face to face with God. When is your time slot everyday that you're seeking to master the Bible?

In verse 12, Solomon shows us why many people never master the Bible.

My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

Solomon says that there is no end to the number of different ideas men will invent. You can read heaps of books…but there is only One book that you need to really know. Even though it can be enjoyable to investigate all the ideas of men, it is wearying to the soul.

We have now come to the end of the Book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon gives us his conclusions that summarize what we need to think and do. The climax of the book is found in verse 13.

¹³ The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

3. The Presence of Christ.

Another way to translate the last part of that verse is "this is the whole of man." When all is said and done, fear God and keep His Word. That is the whole of man.

Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the wholeness of man.

That is the secret of wholeness. To "Fear God, and keep his commandments" is to learn to be and to discover the secret of being a whole person. Who does not want that? We all want to be whole persons. Not broken, fragmented, easily upset, erratic, going off in all directions at once, but stable, controlled, balanced. Whole people. Here is the secret of it. This is what we are to learn when we are young: "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth," before all the pressures come upon you. This is the secret of wholeness: "Fear God, and keep his commandments."

Everything hangs upon that word, "Fear God." I know that this is a difficult word for us to comprehend. Most of us think of it in terms of abject terror, of running from God, of seeing him as a threat, but that is never the biblical meaning of the word. I have tried to put it in the form of an acrostic to make it easier for us to remember what the elements of fearing God include.

First, "F" stands for faith in His existence. You cannot come to God unless you know he is there. Hebrews 11:6 says, "He that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him." There is where fear begins: faith that God exists. The whole of the created universe is shouting that at us. All the inner responses of our heart are confirming it. The Word of God declares it. History confirms it. There is a world of evidence that God is there.

Then "E": experience of his grace. You never can properly fear God until you have learned what kind of a God he is. He is a God of mercy, of grace, of forgiveness. Until you have stood before him and felt your guilt, acknowledged it, known you were wrong and corrupt, and heard him say in your inner heart, "There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus", you will never be able to properly fear God. One element of fear is the experience of the wonder of forgiveness.  We Ecclesiastes is about Wisdom, but the scriptures are designed by God to lead us to the Lord Jesus and the forgiveness that is found in Him.

2 Timothy 3: 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

That leads to the third element. "A": awe at the majesty, the wisdom and the wonder of God. What a God He is! What a marvelous mind that can comprehend all the billions of pieces of information in this universe and hold them continually before him, that can hear every voice and relate to every person who has ever lived! What a marvelous God! Awe at the sense of his majesty, his comprehensiveness, his unfailing wisdom and power, is part of fearing God.

The last letter, "R," stands for resolve. Resolve to do what he says, to obey his word, to "keep his commandments," as Solomon says. There are only two commandments; Jesus himself said that. All the law and the writings can be reduced to two simple things: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind," (Matthew 22:37 RSV). That is in response to his love already shown to you; love him because he first loved you. And two, "Love your neighbor as yourself." That's it. As Micah put it, "What does God require of man, but to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly before his God," (Micah 6:8). There it is: to obey him, to follow him, to keep the commandments. So this is what it means to fear God: Faith, Experience, Awe, Resolve.

You don't have to assume the lotus position and be a mystic to know God. You don't have to eat some odd mushroom and have a vision. You don't have to find a cave and live in it. You don't have to go anywhere.

God has made Himself known. He makes Himself known to you as you read His Bible. To know God is a matter of diligence and discipline in the things of the soul. He has rigged it that way. That's the way you'll come to Him and that's what He honors. It takes diligence, discipline, and effort. What is your relationship to the Bible?

God made you. He made you to know Him as the foundation for everything else in your life. On the basis of your intimate relationship with Him, get a job, get married, have kids, and build a life. But every aspect of your life should be bound together by the common theme of your faith and dependence on God.

All of life falls apart when we don't know God. How do we know God? We know God through His Word. He reveals Himself to us in it. He transforms us from the inside out with it.

How are you doing? Are you immersing yourself in His Word? If you don't spend time with God, you will have to find some kind of substitute. Spend time in the Bible. Make it a higher priority than eating. Your body will die one day, but your soul will live forever.

For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

The purpose of the Old Testament was to show the need for the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Son of God who came to die upon the cross. God punished Him for sins He didn't commit, so that people who placed their faith in Him could be forgiven of their sins.

The purpose of the Bible is to bring you to the person prophesied in the Old Testament, embodied in the Gospels, explained in the Epistles, and anticipated in Revelation Jesus Christ.

Solomon's conclusion gets to the heart of the matter. In a crazy, uncertain life, there has to be a source of wisdom that does not change and is never wrong. God has given us that wisdom in His holy Word. It's our task to love it, learn it, and live it. If we do, we'll find the joy that our souls have always longed for. The Christian gospel has better news to offer than the somber analysis of the old Preacher.  One great purpose of the Christian gospel is to help us grow as persons into a maturity patterned after Christ's. Doing the will of God is central to this growth. It is the heart of our relationship with God, a relationship that refines and mellows us, that strengthens and perfectsâ€"in spite of the limitations of aging. Is this not what Jesus meant when he pointed to his disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother" ( Matt. 12:49,50)?  Doing God's will means living in His love and centering on His purposes.

As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, Alfie
I know there's something much more,
Something even non-believers can believe in
I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love we just exist, Alfie
Until you find the love you've missed you're nothing, Alfie
When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day, Alfie
Writers: Burt Bacharach, Hal David