LIVING THE BETTER LIFE, UNDER THE SON

“The Epilogue”
Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
Bob Bonner
July 18, 1999

Life is very much like going to school. Sometimes we don’t learn the lessons until after we have failed the examinations. For instance: Learning just how expensive it is to own and operate a car usually doesn’t come until you have purchased and cared for your first car; or until you have received your first ticket, or get into your first accident and watched your insurance rates skyrocket.

Another area of life that we often don’t learn the important lessons we should until after we have failed the exams, is in the area of sexual activities. As a single person, some don’t learn the wisdom that God designed sex for married partners until they have lived with the emotional and physical results of having had an abortion, or having an illegitimate child or living the rest of their lives with some sexually transmitted disease, or some other emotional or mental trauma caused by having others using them to get to their body, or being enslaved or addicted to sex.

One final example of an area in which we don’t learn lessons until we have failed the exams is in the area of managing our finances. It isn’t until we find ourselves over our heads in debt, or forced to pay for a loan that we cosigned that we realize God’s biblical principles of finance are written down in His Word to follow for a reason.

Such was the case with the wise man Solomon as recorded in his personal journal, the book of Ecclesiastes. In the last paragraph of his book, which is autobiographical, there is a lesson he wants us to learn from his own mistakes. He wants us to learn the lessons he did without having to fail the exams of life. It is the very broad consensus of theologians that these last verses of the book, 12:9-14, were penned by Solomon as an epilogue after the conclusion of the book in verse 8.  In other words, Solomon is looking back over his life after he finished this, his personal journal, and he makes these final personal closing remarks to his readers about his life as a preacher.

These are words that need to be heard by everyone, but especially for those who are parents, mentors, disciple makers of Jesus Christ, for those would be preachers and teachers. In short, for all of those who have been given the responsibility before God to lead or guide others.

Solomon begins this autobiographical section of his life in verses 9-11 with telling us a little about his personal goal in life as a preacher, In these verses, Solomon summarizes his goal in life as a preacher, to be to teach truth correctly to others about living with God.

Verses 9-11 are an unusual section of Scripture in that Solomon analyzes his calling to teach others. I personally believe that it sets the standard for what it takes for anyone who believes that it is his or her calling to teach the Word of God to others. That would not only include preachers and Sunday School teachers, but parents and all who are in the process of discipling others in their walk with Christ. To me there is no greater tragedy than to bore people with the Word of God or to not show them how it points them to better living with God and how God’s Word applies to their lives today. I have personally based my philosophy of preparation for teaching the Word of God on this very passage of Scripture.

Allow me to first read verses 9-11, and then we will come back to look at them more closely. Solomon writes, “In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.”

Solomon begins with telling us how he goes about preparing to preach. He first shows us his three-step preparation that went into his teaching. Each of the three verbs found in the second half of verse 9 show us these three steps of preparation. In addition, you should be alerted that in Hebrew, each of these verbs is written in an intensified form. They are emphatic. Solomon says first, “...he pondered” or to be more emphatic in our English translation we might say, “he pondered diligently.”  That intense verb, “to ponder” literally has two meanings. One means “to give ear to,” that is to listen carefully to someone and to seriously consider what he has to say. The other meaning and the root word from which this word “ponder” comes is “to sift” or “to carefully weigh” something 

Two things are happening to this preacher as he ponders. On the one hand, he is prayerfully listening or giving ear to the Lord’s voice as to what God wants him to say on the subject at hand. Secondly, it refers to the teacher weighing his choice of words carefully, sifting through meanings so as to communicate as clearly as he can what it is that God would have him to say. He compares different ways in which he could say something, wrestling with the language and debating over just how to say it.

One thing that is typical for me on Monday mornings is Monday morning quarter-backing. Come Monday, I often reflect on how I could have said better or differently what I had said the day before. Basically, I have learned that I will never get it just exactly the way I want it, but I will still do the work to ponder, to listen to the Lord and sift for the words that will best drive home to one’s heart the practical application of the truth from the Word of God.

The second step in Solomon’s preparation to teach was to “search out.” Again, this is an intense verb. One might translate it “to search deeply.”  Here, Solomon refers to the study of the rest of Scripture and the works of other godly persons to make sure that what he is about to say is correct and not in disagreement with anything else the Word of God says. It’s very easy to read someone else’s work, agree with what that person says, but to never do your own research to see if what others say is correct. Solomon, the wise man that he was, researched his conclusions to make sure that he wasn’t out on the limb with some weird interpretation or application of Scripture.

Finally, the third step in his preparation was to “arrange many proverbs.” Again, the verb here is intensified. It means to be very particular and careful as you put your thoughts together. One’s ideas are not haphazard. There is order and logic involved. This is why I choose to manuscript my messages and strongly encourage anyone who plans to preach to do likewise. Very few people can arrange their thoughts well without a pen and paper. I obviously don’t read my messages, but by the time I am finished writing them, I clearly understand what and why God wants me to say what I do.  Furthermore, I can literally make sure that all the points flow together with smooth transitions between each point. 

In my early years as a Christian, I heard my fill of what I call “Texas Longhorn Sermons.” Many of you have heard them before: a point here and a point there with a lot of bull in between!  The message may have been warm, friendly, and even entertaining, but more often than not, it had nothing to do with the text. Those kind of messages really don’t help anybody grow in their walk with Jesus and for sure, they don’t help people get a better grasp of the Word of God. For the most part, they are too general, not specific enough in their content to produce mature believers. I appreciate what Chuck Swindoll once wrote about this subject of ministers and sermon preparation. He writes, “If you hear good sermons from your minister week after week, it isn’t because he’s creatively shooting from the hip. Count on it, it is because he’s doing his homework. More specifically, hard work is taking place in his study: searching, digging, meditating, reading, arranging thoughts, thinking it through, getting at it, refusing to surrender to sloth. In a word, diligence.” [EDGE p. 367]

Someone once said, “If it is a mist in the pulpit, it will be a fog in the pew.” In other words, if the teacher or preacher hasn’t done his work, he won’t fully know what he intended to say. Rather than having a clear point to make, it is more of a mist to him. I can guarantee you that if it is a mist to him the people are not going to be able to make much sense of what he is talking about or why he is talking about it. It will be even a greater fog to them. Hence, teachers and preachers must do their work so as to clearly present truth.

When we get to verse 10, Solomon shows us that after he has done his homework as to the points he wants to get across, he tells us about the manner in which he hopes to communicate. He wants to communicate in such a way as to be heard.  He says that he seeks “to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.” Whatever it was that Solomon preached or taught, his first and foremost concern was that it be true. But sometimes, the truth is hard to hear, accept and understand. Some people can tell you the truth in such a harsh manner that it is unpalatable; you just can’t listen to it. Because of that, Solomon says that he “sought to find delightful words.”  The word there for “delightful” means “winsome, easy to grasp, readily applied.” I believe that Solomon’s use of this term “delightful” affirms that even humor in preaching is a good thing, if employed the right way–a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.

Yet, there can be a danger in trying to use “delightful” words. One can fall into the trap of which Paul warned Timothy about preaching to tickle people’s ears or to make them happy and not offend them. Many have been known to preach so as to flatter at the expense of not telling their audience the truth or so watering it down that they miss the point entirely.

In the medical profession, they refer to a physician who “finds delightful words” as one who possesses a “good bedside manner.” It’s the ability of a doctor to tenderly tell the patient the truth about his or her serious condition. Do it gently, but clearly and compassionately enough that they don’t miss the point. However, sometimes the patient doesn’t really want to hear the truth or the doctor’s warning, so then, more than delightful words are called for. For instance: if a diabetic refuses to watch his or her diet and take the proper amount of medicine, it is time for the doctor to be blunt. “Look, patient, you either do what I am telling you or someone will but cutting off your legs soon!” But no communicator likes to start there or have to go there. We would rather win the person with honey than with a bear trap!

When we come to verse 11, we see the purpose or goal behind Solomon’s preaching and why he goes to such trouble to prepare his message well before he preaches. He uses two expressions that come from the shepherd’s life, that depict what his goal is in preaching. He states, “The words of wise men are like goads, and master of these collections are like well-driven nails.”

The words Solomon fights so hard to find and put together are to be like a shepherd’s goad.  A “goad” was typically a wooden rod with a sharp metal point on the end. These goads were used by shepherds to prod their sluggish or stubborn sheep in the right direction. Hence, Solomon chose words that would motivate others to follow after the Chief Shepherd’s leading, that Chief Shepherd obviously being Jesus Christ. 

Also, understand that a goad was not something delightful to feel. In this case, it is the firm painful word spoken to the stubborn individual. It is a word that may irritate and even anger you, but it is true and you need to hear it so as to move in the right direction. Although loving, I believe that Jesus’ words to the Pharisees were correctly stated and at times, even harshly stated. But that was the only way He could cause them to hear. They were goads.

The “nails” to which he refers could point to several things used by a shepherd. It could refer to the tent stakes used to hold down a shepherd’s tent. It could refer to the pegs used to hang things on the inside of the tent. It could refer to a nail used to put two things together, like truth and a person’s heart. Basically, it is a poetic reference to anchoring something or establishing stability in another’s walk with God, by so using words that communicate truth that the truth will be lodged in a person’s memory, and prove later to be a stabilizing factor in one’s life.

Note something else that I believe Solomon is telling us is important for a person’s spiritual growth. He uses the plural form for “men” and the singular form for the word “Shepherd.” The “Shepherd” does not refer to the preacher here. Rather, it refers to God or Jesus Christ. Because the source from which the wise men are given these “goads and nails,” literally, in Hebrew, are “given by or from the Shepherd.” 

In addition, I am convinced that when Solomon uses the plural form of “men” he is underscoring the importance of not following just one man’s teaching, but being exposed to several men of God who preach the Word. None of us have the full or untainted picture of the Christian life. But God uses many preachers to build into a person’s life. That’s why I am committed to sharing this pulpit with other Bible expositors--so that you won’t only get my point of view, because I might not always be right. It’s not that I don’t like to preach or that I need a break or am lazy. The sole reason for this is that there is balanced feeding, that ultimately is dependent upon the Spirit of God, using different personalities to convey truth about our life with Jesus. It’s why I encourage you to read other Christian authors.

Having said all of that about a preacher’s studying and preparation for teaching, Solomon, from his own experience cautions others about a danger to studying, preaching and writing books, a danger in which Solomon found himself entrapped for awhile. Solomon writes, “But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to [or studying of] books is wearying to the body.” Basically, his point is that one can become so focused on the study of Scripture and research, so impassioned about systematizing theology that one may forget why we are studying the Word of God in the first place. We may lose sight of God in the midst of our research.

Probably the best example of this is found in seminaries. In fact, I think this verse would stand as a good word of caution to all seminarians and Bible College students if it were printed over the doorways of many classrooms. It is typical of many seminaries that their students arrive their very first year, in love with Jesus and want to get to know Him better by becoming good students of His Word. But what often happens is the students fall in love with studying the Bible, and fall out of love with knowing Jesus. Hard to believe, but it is quite common.

Take Solomon, for example. Back in 1:13, and 17, we read these words...words I believe say much more with what they leave out than with what they actually say. Solomon, at the very beginning of his journal tells us what it is that was driving him to write this personal journal called Ecclesiastes.  He writes, in verse 13, “And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven.” Then in verse 17 he repeats again his purpose, “And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly.”

Stop there for a moment and ask yourself: “Where did Solomon get his wisdom?” Obviously, it came from God. Do you see him giving any credit to God for the wisdom he already possessed? No.  When Solomon wanted to gain more wisdom, did he go back to the author of wisdom, to the one who gave him the wisdom he had already obtained? No. He didn’t look to God, but “under heaven” or from man’s point of view, he decided to do his own research on life without asking God to direct his path. Nowhere in this entire book do you see Solomon going to God for answers or wisdom. But over and over he tells us that he took it upon himself to discover wisdom. And where did it lead him? According to Ecclesiastes 12:12, it led him to “weariness of body” and a sense of futility of spirit.

Hence, his caution here is one of don’t just seek an education. Instead, as he will state more clearly in the next two verses, seek out God first. Because in doing so, God will give you answers that will lead you into more wisely living your life.

In these last two verses Solomon drives home his final and probably largest nail. These verses conclude the biggest lesson he learned in life. For the believer, it is the key lesson for living a meaningful life under the Son. For the non-believer, it should be a wake-up call. These words are addressed to all of his readers. Remember, the term “Ecclesiastes” comes from the word for an assembly. In essence, these words are his closing remarks to the assembly of all who read them.

Notice as well, that in these two verses, Solomon does not mention anything about seeking wisdom or an education. When you think of Solomon, you can’t help but think of wisdom. So, it should seem obviously strange that his last key point omits the topic of wisdom. Instead, having sought after wisdom at the expense of losing sight of God for many years of his life, Solomon gives us two exhortations. First he writes, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God.” In the Hebrew, the word for “God” is in the emphatic position. In other words, keep your eyes focused on Him and nothing else. Don’t ever lose sight of who gave you life and the opportunity and purpose to live it. When you are studying the Scriptures, keep in mind who you are truly studying.

To “fear God” means to continually recognize who He is and to respond accordingly, in worship, awe, love, trust and obviously, as he will list in a moment, obedience.

Do you remember what Psalm 46:10 basically teaches us? It teaches us that if you truly learn to fear God, then from that point on, you will never fear anything else. The Psalmist writes, “Cease striving...”, or cease worrying and getting all worked up about those things that you can’t control or fretting the unknown. Instead, he writes, “...and KNOW [or fear] that I am God.” This verse, this principle to know and fear God so that you will not fear anything else and live in peace, was the whole basis of the “Attributes of God” series we completed before this one on Ecclesiastes. The more you know Him, the less you will fear things in this world and the more apt you will be to do what is right.

Allow me to give you just a quick list of some of the attributes of God that Solomon has pointed to throughout this book alone. I do this to show you that Solomon, by the end of his life, had finally learned to know and fear God and this is what he learned about God’s nature. God is:

Transcendent  5:2
Creator 12:1
Sovereign 3:1-8
Eternal 3:11
Righteous 7:29
Shepherd (provider and protector) 12:11
Personal (he hears) 5:2
Holy 5:1
Good 2:24-26
Just 3:17
Immutable 3:14
Omniscient 2:26
Omnipotent 3:11

Now I don’t know how much of these attributes of God Solomon knew before he decided to turn away from God and search out the meaning of life on his own. My guess is that he did not personally know much about God. But I rather think that when he came to a dead end in his searching, he returned to God and realized that these things were true of God all along, and it changed his life. Hence, his charge to those of us who want to get the most out of a life that can oftentimes become confusing is “fear God!” Furthermore, Solomon is saying this to every person, believer or not.

But just in case we are slow on the uptake as to why everyone, believer or not, should do this, should fear God, Solomon goes on to explain why in verse 14. He explains, “For God will bring every act to judgment [or for every deed or act of investment of your life here on earth you will be held accountable], everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” You will have to give an answer to God for every day of your life and how you spent it.  Obviously, his goal is to motivate us to step wisely each day.

Wow! Why would Solomon conclude his book with this charge? I think he does so for two reasons. First, is that he doesn’t want us to be fooled by a lie of the world and wake up one day too late to do anything about it. When it comes to the final exam of life, he wants us to pass and not learn the key lesson of life when it is too late and we have failed. He is warning us about the lie that many think we can live the life of an irresponsible playboy and get away with it, when the truth is, we really aren’t free to run wild and wink at God, figuring that the big Teddy Bear in the sky will yawn at what we are doing, pat us on the head and say, “Everything will be just fine.” No, Solomon correctly reminds us that we will have to answer to our creator as to how we used what He gave us, our very lives.

Someday, our life will come to a sudden stop, exam time and we will come face to face with the Professor, God. That will be a sobering moment. He has reminded us several times throughout this book that no one will get away with sin or for rebelling or ignoring God. They will either have to seek the Lord or be doomed forever. That is a sobering thought and Solomon means it to be so. It’s definitely a “goad” a prodding on his part. He doesn’t want us to arrive at the other side of death’s door and be surprised and without hope.

On the other hand, seeking after the Lord is not a bad thing to do. For more than six times in this discourse, Solomon has told us to enjoy life while we can, with God. The missing link to enjoying life for so many people, is that they don’t enjoy God because they have never met and entrusted their lives to Jesus Christ. When you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you can be satisfied and find meaning in life, no matter what comes your way. The Apostle John tells us that “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

But I think there is a second reason Solomon ends his journal with these words. From the very beginning of this book, we have heard over and over that everything, from the view of life without God is meaningless or vanity.  Solomon, throughout this book has very pointedly showed us that there are many enigmas in life that really leave the inquisitive person perplexed. There are so many things that make absolutely no sense.  For instance: Why certain people get rich. Why, it appears that the wicked prosper. Why the righteous often suffer the same fate as the wicked. Why death suddenly comes to people that you would least think should be dying. Why certain people are placed in authority positions. Why the righteous and god-fearing people suffer at the hands of the wicked.

Solomon has shown us that you can’t study nature and find the answers to these deep, searching questions. A study of history won’t answer these questions either. Solomon studied the best philosophers of the world and they had no answers. Hence, after a lifetime of research apart from God, Solomon’s only conclusion about life is that it was meaningless and not worth living.

However, we have seen brief stopping places in this book that remind me of an oasis in the desert. They are places in which Solomon has come back after the first writing of his journal and added editorial remarks. These remarks were added later following his turning back to seek after God. These later remarks give us hope that life does in fact have real meaning when you seek to make God number one in your life. It will not enable you to find the answers to all the enigmas, but it will still give you direction in how to invest your life, under the Son and find it worthwhile rather than meaningless in the end. The key to it all, begins with having a relationship with God, who, in the end, will bring all the enigmas together, and when they do, they will make sense, not chaos. In the meantime, we need to wait upon and trust Him.

When it is all said and done, this epilogue, which gives us Solomon’s final counsel and conclusion on life, leaves us with two major principles, goads or nails for life. As he looks at his own education in life’s school of hard knocks, this is what he has learned and wants us to remember from the final exams he failed. First, he wants those who consider themselves to be fellow students and teachers of wisdom that includes anyone who considers himself or herself a student of the Bible, to be warned about a danger in their avocation to becoming a learned and wise person. His warning could be stated this way: Don’t just become a student of God’s Word, but get to know the God of the Word. For one’s life to have meaning, direction and order...for life to have satisfaction, joy and contentment regardless of what hand you are dealt...all of life is based on having a live and vital relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ.

Secondly, whether you claim to know Jesus or not, today is the day to take your life with Jesus seriously.  For one day you will give an account to Jesus for all that you have done today in secret and in the open. You will have to answer whether or not you seriously considered Jesus in what you did today. For the believer, this will be the basis of what eternal rewards you will receive. For the non-believer, it will be the evidence by which you will be judged. Today is the day to take your life with Jesus seriously.

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