9-10 Besides being wise himself, the Quester also taught others knowledge. He weighed, examined, and arranged many proverbs. The Quester did his best to find the right words and write the plain truth.
11 The words of the wise prod us to live well.
They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together.
They are given by God, the one Shepherd.
12-13 But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There’s no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you’re no good for anything else. The last and final word is this:
Fear God.
Do what he tells you.
14 And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 (The Message)
We come to the end of the book of Ecclesiastes written by the Teacher, called the Quester in the Message, and considered to be King Solomon, son of KIng David, and considered a wise man. He concludes that wisdom is like nails holding the boards of our life together. When we are foolish the boards of our life fly apart. When we are wise, regardless of how counter intuitive it may seem, life holds together better. I think of the words of wisdom of Christ – forgive our enemies and allow God to judge, turn the other cheek, or return good for evil. Crimes of violence against another — whether it be shooting, abuse, or violent language resolves nothing. Speaking truth to power is is absolutely necessary but “fearing God” by which I think means factoring him in the scenario as present is important.
The Teacher opened the book of Ecclesiastes with those famous words, meaningless, meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless. He has analyzed life from many angles. He comes to the conclusion that without a God, without a final judgment to set things right, life is meaningless. It is as we acknowledge the presence of a God walking with us, before us, and dealing with our past that life gains meaning, perspective, and is no longer meaningless. We believe Evil will be brought to account be someone smarter and stronger than I.
As we close our study of Ecclesiastes’s today let us thank God for his forgiveness for our foolishness that he somehow is able to work for his glory and let us thank Him for walking with us and giving us to face the challenges of today and tomorrow. To Him be the glory!
On the Way to Wonder 