ECCLESIASTES 12
Remember the LORD while you are young verse 1- 3
Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth
while the EVIL days come not – nor the years draw nigh
when you shall say
I have no pleasure in them
while the sun – or the light – or the moon – or the stars
be not darkened – nor the clouds return after the rain
in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble
and the strong men shall bow themselves
and the grinders cease because they are few
and those that look out the of the
windows be darkened
Remember the LORD while there is opportunity verse 4
And the doors shall be shut in the streets
when the sound of the grinding is low
and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird
and all the daughters of music
shall be brought low
Remember the LORD before you become fearful verse 5- 7
Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high
and fears shall be in the way
and the almond tree shall flourish
and the grasshopper shall be a burden
and desire shall fail because man
goes to his long home
and the mourners go about the streets
or ever the silver cord be loosed
or the golden bowl be broken
or the pitcher be broken at the fountain
or the wheel broken at the cistern
THEN shall the dust return to the earth as it was
and the spirit shall return to God WHO gave it
Solomon keeps repeating that life is meaningless verse 8
VANITY of VANITIES – says the preacher
all is VANITY
Solomon learned to express truth clearly verse 9- 10
And moreover – because the preacher was WISE
he taught the people knowledge
YEA – he gave good heed – AND sought out
AND set in order many proverbs
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words
and that which was written was UPRIGHT
even words of TRUTH
Solomon learned words are powerful verse 11
The words of the WISE are as goads
and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies
which are given from one shepherd
Solomon warned against too much study verse 12
AND further – by these – my son – be admonished
of making many books there is NO END
and MUCH study is a weariness of the flesh
Solomon warns of coming judgment verse 13- 14
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter
Fear God – and keep HIS commandments
for this is the whole duty of man
For God shall bring every work into judgment
with every SECRET thing – whether it be GOOD
OR whether it be EVIL
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw night, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. (2656 “pleasure” [chephets] means delight, desire, longing, joy, or please.)
DEVOTION: Solomon’s first concern is that those who are young understand that they are created beings. They have a God who created the universe and all that is in it. The Bible starts with the truth that God created the world in six twenty-four hour periods. The first created humans were Adam and Eve.
Adam and Eve decided to disobey the LORD while still in the Garden of Eden. They were tempted of the Devil. All three created beings were cursed by the LORD for their disobedience by the LORD. Man was cursed regarding his work. Woman was cursed regarding child birth. Satan was cursed regarding his future relationship with the Messiah.
Solomon learned all he could from the literature of his day and warned the youth that old age was coming. He informed them that a time was coming that would be called “evil days.” These days were going to happen to every youth. They were days that they would not enjoy as much as when they were young.
Now was the time to serve the LORD. If they started out right they could end up right with the LORD. If they started out wrong they could end up wrong for eternity. This was a warning that all youth have to understand. A good start with the LORD can make life better.
Obedience from a young age with understanding can help every youth to grow up loving the LORD and raising a family to love the LORD and then helping with grandchildren that love the LORD. It is a generational truth that the Bible instructs us in regularly.
CHALLENGE: Parents teach your children the truth of the book of Ecclesiastes. If you are still young believe the truth. Grandparents teach your grandchildren these truths. Honor God!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 7 “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
DEVOTION: It is an amazing fact that we are created from elements that make up the ground and all earthly matter. The fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made is in the truth that the spirit of God is within us and we are spirit beings. The dust of the body returns to the ground it came from and the breath of life (spirit and “breath” are translations of the same Heb. word rûaḥ) to God who gave it. This obviously alludes to part of the Creation account (Gen. 2:7; 3:19; man was made from the dust of the ground and was given breath). [The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 1004.]
The astonishing truth that Solomon makes and wants us to understand is the fact that in the mundane and often monotonous cycle of life God is interested in us and is continually involved in our existence. From the difficult to the simple, from the macrocosmic of outer space to the microcosm of atoms and cells the Lord is involved. From conception to the last breath of life the Lord is in tune with us. Is it any wonder that the psalmist declared that, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Ps. 139: 14
CHALLENGE: Take time to consider that the Lord uses common elements to make a very special and peculiar individual. He has chosen and equipped you with all you need to be His ambassador while here on this sphere. Praise Him for His wondrous works today! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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: 12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (3024 “weariness” [yagiah] means a tiring, temporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental work, or the state of tiredness and need for rest.)
DEVOTION: We have to be selective regarding what we are going to study. We should be studying the Word of God.
Solomon knows that there are many books in the world. He knows that you can study many books that will not help you but confuse you if you are not listening to what the LORD has to say to you.
So we have to make sure that when we study we are not getting confused by what we are reading but that we ask the LORD for wisdom to study the right things and learn the right things that are pleasing to the LORD.
This world wants to teach us it’s wisdom which in not God’s wisdom. We need discernment regarding what we should study and what we should believe. The Bible has the answer to those questions and our relationship with the God of the Bible is very important to our understanding of what HE wants us to practice in our daily life.
CHALLENGE: We need to ask the LORD for wisdom to know what is HIS teachings and what is not HIS teachings. We need to learn what HE wants us to do with our life and what we are to do in our world to serve HIM.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (3605 “whole” [kol] means all, complete, every, enough, entire, whatsoever, or totality.
DEVOTION: This chapter is dealing with senior citizens. This chapter also deals with youth. Solomon wants people to think about what they are doing from the time they are youth until they are senior citizens. In those years individuals can either fear God or not fear God.
Somewhere in the middle of life they can begin to fear God. However, very few begin to fear God as a senior citizen. It is wrong to think that when we get old we can get closer to the LORD. Some of us will not live that long.
Solomon is concluding this book with a summary of what man is responsible to do with his life according to the LORD. This is the bottom line statement. This is the total at the end of life.
If an individual fears God and lives according to the truth of the Word of God with the help of the Holy Spirit, they will spend eternity in heaven with the LORD. However, someone who claims to be a follower of the LORD that just lives for himself and really doesn’t fear God, he will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels. The choice is real.
Those who are genuine believers will be chastened of the LORD if they are not living right. Those who are not believers or think they are believers that are not following the LORD might not have anything go wrong with their life until they face the LORD at the Great White Throne judgment – but then it will be too late.
Remember the chastening of the LORD can be weakness, sickness and pre-mature death. As genuine believers we have to ask ourselves if we are living in the fear of the LORD each day. These daily exercises in taking inventory of our life help us live right and set a good example for the generations to follow our lead. We are God’s workmanship in action.
After giving an evaluation of all the pleasures of life and of all the sorrows of life, he comes to the conclusion that there is only two things that man must do while here on this earth. He is to fear God and keep his commandments.
The reason we are to live this way is because there is a judgment day coming. However, as we well know, it is impossible to keep all of God’s commandments. The commandments purpose is to teach us that we sin DAILY. The commandments teach us that there is only one way to God and that is through Christ.
Once we have the “fear of the LORD” in our life, HE will help us live obedient lives for HIM. Our total duty to God is to live a life that is pleasing to HIM and that will give HIM glory. We can do that only with the Holy Spirit’s help. We need to ask for HIS help DAILY.
We ask through our prayer life, which is, our way of communicating with God. Christ set us an example of how to communicate with the Father. HE did it and so should we. HE took time to be alone with the LORD, and so should we. We pray to the Father with the help of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ. HE will answer our prayers regularly.
CHALLENGE: When people observe us to they say that we have a reverence for God? Do they observe us trying to live a life that is pleasing to the LORD? Practice these duties daily with the help of the Holy Spirit and fellow believers.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Commandments verse 13
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Creator verse 1
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 7, 13, 14
Every work into judgment verse 14
Every secret thing is revealed verse 14
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Youth verse 1
Keepers of the house verse 3
Strong man verse 3
Daughters verse 4
Spirit of man verse 7
Preacher verse 8- 10
Masters of assemblies verse 11
Shepherd verse 11
Son verse 12
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evil verse 1, 14
Afraid verse 5
Fear verse 5
Vanities of vanity verse 8
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Wise verse 9, 11
Taught knowledge verse 9
Give good heed to teachings verse 9
Acceptable words verse 10
Upright verse 10
Words of truth verse 10
Words of the wise verse 11
Admonished verse 12
Fear God verse 13
Keep HIS commandments verse 13
Whole duty of man verse 13
Good verse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Solomon: Preacher verse 1- 14
Dealing with old age
Tremble
Not able to stand up straight
Teeth are gone
Can’t see well
Can’t hear well
Afraid of heights
Not able to lift
Spirit of man return to God
Taught the people knowledge
Wrote many proverbs
Used acceptable words
One shepherd
Admonished his son
No end to books
Much study is weariness of the flesh
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Death (dust) verse 7
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QUOTES regarding passage
14. A final reminder repeats teaching found earlier in the book (3:17; 11:9). A new note is the warning that every hidden thing will be brought within the embrace of God’s verdict. The ‘hidden things’ which the law rebuked (Lev. 4:13) and the psalmist confessed (Ps. 90:8) will not escape the assessment of God (cf. 1 Cor. 4:5). The Preacher’s God combines within himself grace (2:24f.; 3:12f.; 9:7–9) and judgment. The life of faith is offered; the warning of judgment is held out alongside. Let men rejoice (11:9), but let them also remember (12:1) and fear (12:13)! (Eaton, M. A. (1983). Ecclesiastes: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 18, p. 177). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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13–14 A good author usually summarizes the main points that he has been making when he comes to the end of his book. The summary here is especially important, since commentators have tried to interpret the book as the thoughts of a skeptic.
Obviously, the Teacher is sometimes skeptical; but God is real to him, and he believes that God has revealed his will to mankind. If God had not done so, man could not be held accountable for his actions (v. 14). Thus, although he would like to know more of the total plan of God, man knows enough to be held responsible for what he does or fails to do. His life day by day is to be lived as in the sight of God, who has given him the opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose for that day. His actions, as well as the secret intentions of his heart, are open to God and one day will be opened up for reward or punishment (cf. 3:17; 11:9b). (Wright, J. S. (1991). Ecclesiastes. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 1197). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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Prepare for final judgment (v. 14). “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked” (3:17). “But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment” (11:9, NKJV). Man may seem to get away with sin (8:11), but their sins will eventually be exposed and judged righteously. Those who have not trusted the Lord Jesus Christ will be doomed forever.
“The eternity of punishment is a thought which crushes the heart,” said Charles Spurgeon. “The Lord God is slow to anger, but when he is once aroused to it, as he will be against those who finally reject his Son, he will put forth all his omnipotence to crush his enemies.”
Six times in his discourse, Solomon told us to enjoy life while we can; but at no time did he advise us to enjoy sin. The joys of the present depend on the security of the future. If you know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, then your sins have already been judged on the cross; and “there is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1 and see John 5:24). But if you die having never trusted Christ, you will face judgment at His throne and be lost forever (Rev. 20:11–15).
Is life worth living? Yes, if you are truly alive through faith in Jesus Christ. Then you can be satisfied, no matter what God may permit to come to your life.
“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12, NKJV).
You can receive life in Christ and—be satisfied! (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Satisfied (p. 19). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
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12:13. The book concludes (here is the conclusion of the matter) with an explicit recommendation to fear God and keep His commandments. These words were not added by someone other than Solomon, as is often claimed, but are the culmination of many other implicit references in Ecclesiastes to fear God and serve Him acceptably (cf. comments on 2:24–26; 7:15–18; 11:9–10; 12:1). Here Solomon said such reverence and service are everyone’s duty (nasb‘s “this applies to every person” is preferred to niv‘s this is the whole duty of man).
12:14. The fact that revering God is every person’s responsibility is underlined by the truth that God will bring every deed (every human act) into judgment (cf. 3:17; 11:9) including every hidden thing (cf. Matt. 10:26). Everyone is answerable to God for everything he does, whether obvious or concealed. Though this is often taken as referring to a future judgment after death, a comparison of Psalm 90:7–8 and a proper understanding of Ecclesiastes 2:24–26; 7:15–18; 11:9–10 show that this is doubtful. Though a future judgment after death is indeed the solution to the enigma Solomon had observed in the unequal distribution of justice in human history (cf. 7:15; 8:14), no evidence suggests that Solomon believed in such a judgment. Life after death was as enigmatic to him (cf. 11:8) as the unequal distribution of justice. His emphasis was on this life (“under the sun”) and its opportunities for service (cf. 9:10; 12:1–7) and enjoyment (cf. 2:24–26; 3:12, 22; 5:18–20; 8:15; 9:7–9; 11:7–10); he thought life after death offered no such opportunities (cf. 9:5–6, 10). Therefore he did not comment on any differences after death between the righteous and the wicked, the wise and the fools, man and beast.
Many other Scripture passages, of course, do point up the eternal blessings of the righteous and the eternal punishment of the wicked. Solomon lived on the other side of the Cross and in the comparative darkness of the progress of revelation; nevertheless he affirmed belief in God and in His justice (cf. 3:17; 8:12b–13). He was content to leave judgment, along with everything else, to God’s timing (3:17) for “He has made everything appropriate in its time” (3:11, nasb). So Solomon counseled his readers to enjoy life in the fear of God as God enables. Would that people who live on this side of the Cross would be as content as Solomon was to leave the enigmas of life in God’s hands, to serve Him acceptably, and to enjoy life as He enables! (Glenn, D. R. (1985). Ecclesiastes. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 1006–1007). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Ver. 14. For God shall bring every work into judgment, &c.] Not in this life, but in the day of the great judgment, as the Targum explains it; that is, whatever has been done by men, from the beginning of the world, or will be to the end; all being observed and taken notice of by the omniscient God, who has registered them in the book of his remembrance, and, being Judge, will be able to bring them all into account at that awful day; which is here given as a reason why men should fear God, and keep his commandments. With every secret thing; that has been committed in secret by men, and is unknown to others, even every secret thought of the heart; see 1 Cor. 4:5 or, with every secret or hidden man; whose works are hidden from men, and are not known to be what they are, and who thought to hide themselves from God; but these, with their works, shall be brought into open court in judgment. Whether it be good, or whether it be evil; it shall then be examined according to the rule of the word, and be judged, and declared to be what it truly is, good or evil; and so be either rewarded in a way of grace, or punished: or, whether the man, the hidden man, be good or evil, so Alshech; all mankind, every one, will he bring into judgment, whether he be good or evil. This is the last end of all things, and in which every man will be concerned. This shews, as well as many other things in this book. Solomon’s belief of a future state and judgment; and that there is nothing in it to encourage the epicure and atheist: which being observed by the ancient Jews, they readily admitted it into the canon of Scripture. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 631). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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THE SEA OF LIFE
poem by Anne R. C. Neale (she is with the LORD now)
Some days when I sail on the Sea of Life
God’s Radiance Shines down on me,
Some days the Storm of disappointments appear,
Some days happiness rains on me.
Some days the gray skies of worry saps my soul
But the Wind of God helps clear the air,
Some days the sun shines all day long
And I know that God loves me and cares.
Some days the sky is so blue with white clouds,
Some days the clouds gently soothe my soul,
Some days the Radiant Light of God guides me too
And helps me get toward my days goal.
Every day the Sea of Life gives me Faith,
And Hope and Love and Trust too,
Each day that I sail my Sea of Life
I have God as my compass that is true.
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Cain and Abel
“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” (1 John 3:12)
These two brothers stand as contrasting prototypes. Cain was the first child born after the Fall who embraced the “wicked one” in spite of all the firsthand and face-to-face knowledge of God’s redemptive plan and offering of grace (Genesis 4). Cain’s arrogant lifestyle is noted in Jude 1:8-11. Abel, in contrast, was a man of great faith (Hebrews 11:4) who was both righteous (Matthew 23:25) and a prophet (Luke 11:50-51).
Adam and Eve would have taught the boys (and their other children) about God and the knowledge of the sacrifice (covering of skins) for their own sin. It is clear that sheep were not kept for food (Genesis 2:16) since Cain provided food (as instructed by God—Genesis 1:29). Abel provided clothing and sacrifice.
The events of the Fall would suggest that this sacrifice was an established practice (Genesis 3, the “covering” of skins—the Hebrew word for atonement means “to cover”). Furthermore, the language ofGenesis 4:3 (Hebrew translation “at the end of the days”) requires a specified time period when they brought (Hebrew translation “came with”), probably to the door of the garden (Genesis 3:22-24), an offering (used consistently of voluntary tributes to God, Exodus 30:9-10). It is completely parallel to “the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof” as later used by Moses in Leviticus 9:3-10.
Such specified action is hardly accidental. Thus Cain’s rebellion and heinous fratricide revealed an evil heart that would not repent. May God protect us from such evil. (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Defeating Self-Doubt
We ourselves speak proudly of you. 2 THESSALONIANS 1:4
If there’s anything that characterizes the teenage years, it’s self-doubt.
Barbara and I had six teenagers progress through our house. At one point we had four at the same time. And it was frequently obvious that the origin for some of their behaviors—and for many of the words coming out of their mouths—was their doubts about themselves.
As difficult as they sometimes would be, we knew how imperative it was for us to look them in the eye and say, “I love you. I believe in you. I’m glad you’re my son [or daughter].”
There’s nothing like a mom and dad’s love to soften their hearts and ease their doubts.
On our FamilyLife Today program, we interviewed Josh Weidmann, who has become a passionate Christian voice to teens and college students. He told us about once being at a youth camp and preaching on the biblical story of Esther. As he told about how beautiful the queen was in form and feature, he said, “You know, I want to stop here and tell you—every individual woman in this room—you are beautiful, and you are God’s creation.”
As soon as those words left his lips, he heard what he describes as the loudest gasp he’d ever heard in his life. Why? Because so few of these girls believed it. So few had been reassured at home that they had worth and value and were loved—just for who they were.
Even after my sons outgrew me, I would hug them and tell them I loved them. I never had the sense that I said it too much. When my girls had become beautiful young women and I wasn’t always sure I should hold them too close, I would hug them and affirm them and tell them how lovely they were to me.
No matter how big they get and how adult-like they look, never stop expressing your belief in your children. They need it. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainney)
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