Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 says,...Bible reading week 14, day 5

Today's verses are Ecclesiastes 12:9-14, which read,

v.9, 10 - 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.

Solomon possessed wisdom but he also taught it to others.  He pondered it but then made a way to pass it onto others by writing it down and in a way to remember.  He put down these proverbs, these sayings, worthy of refrigerator magnets and Facebook posts.  He arranged them in these two books of the Bible, the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.  He was also concerned about how these words were written and passed on.  He wanted the words of truth to be recorded and recited correctly.  The Preacher not only preached but he also lived it and sought to preserve it beyond the length of the echo and distance of his human voice.  This is a really good definition of a preacher.  I not only sit in my office and study but I look for ways to live out what I am reading.  I am pondering how to communicate this and seek to use all the avenues given to me to broadcast the truth.  It matters to me that what you hear is correct in relationship to the revelation based on Scripture and not my own opinion. 

v.11, 12 - The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.  But beyond this, my son, be warned:  the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

 Those who are wise keep us in the pen with the rest of the sheep.  They poke at us with the truth in very sensitive areas to get us to move in the right direction.  They drive in nails to secure the structure that we are gathered in.  Where to they get their wisdom from?  They get it from the one Shepherd.  This wisdom is not their own but the wisdom of another.  It is hard not to read this and also not think of the well-driven nails put into our Savior Jesus on the cross and His poking in sensitive areas of the religious leaders of the day.  The One who was hanging on the cross used that poking and the nails to fulfill the mission God had put before Him.  He was the completion of the wisdom of God in word and in deed.  

Solomon gives us a warning in the midst of this wisdom from God that other books will emerge.  Actually there will be many books, endless and excessive.  Those other books may take up your time and draw you away from the wisdom of God.  They may support other ideas that go contrary to God's plan and you may jump the pen and run after them.  We live in a world that also preaches other messages in hopes that you will follow after them instead of following after God.  Solomon says, "be warned."

v. 13, 14 - The conclusion, when all has been heard, is:  fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.  For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

And therefore Solomon ends this book of the Bible with these great words.  What an ending!  In this world of vanity, fear God and keep His commandments.  We might not totally understand why bad things happen to good people or where evil came from or the exact explanation of free will and the sovereignty of God but our best position is to be in obedience to God.  Solomon says that this applies to every person.  Every person will come before the judgement of God.  Every action, whether good or evil, will be brought to light.  

There is a Great White Throne judgment that we find described in Revelation 20:11-15 that unbelievers will stand at and there is the Bema judgment that we find described in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10 that believers will stand at.  I will tell you that you want to be standing before the Bema judgment and not the Great White Throne.  How?  Well, in the words of Solomon, we need to be faithful to the wisdom of God in the midst of the futile world.  Faithfulness in the futileness is the Solomon's conclusion to this book.  You will be held accountable before God with your life.  Be held accountable for living for and after Him rather than held accountable for living for self and rejecting His wisdom, His plan, His Savior, Jesus Christ.  We haven't answered all the questions of this world but we have the One who will answer all.  Let us pray.

"Lord, we finished another book of Your book today.  Thank You so much for the words You have spoken through Solomon.  May we be faithful to You in the futile world.  May we stand before the Bema judgment because we have taken seriously Your wisdom and plan of salvation given to us through Your Son Jesus Christ.  May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts and the actions of our hands be pleasing to You today.  Amen."

Pastor Adam