Ecclesiastes 12:9-12

CONCLUSION Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

A. MAN IS ADMONISHED TO WORK IN HARMONY WITH GOD THROUGH THE WORDS OF ONE SHEPHERD. Ecclesiastes 12:9-12

TEXT 12:9-12

9

In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs.

10

The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.

11

The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.

12

But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 12:9-12

416.

What reason is given why the Preacher taught the people?

417.

How many proverbs did Solomon seek out? (Cf. 1 Kings 4:32)

418.

Give evidence that Solomon was concerned about writing a truthful account.

419.

Explain why words from wise teachers would be like goads and well-driven nails.

420.

What evidence in verse eleven speaks to Divine inspiration of Ecclesiastes?

421.

When does devotion to books become wearying to the body?

PARAPHRASE 12:9-12

In addition, because the Preacher was wise, he desired that others become wise also. Therefore he instructed them in the knowledge which he had learned. He was careful to examine, ponder and sort out many wise proverbial sayings. He not only desired to impart instruction to others, he wanted to say it in a way which would be a delightful experience for those who heard. Above all, he wanted to write down correctly the words of truthto be certain that that which he taught was exactly right. The words which he spoke served as goads to prod his readers onward. His words also served as nails to securely fix his truth in their minds. This collection of sayings actually proceeds from one Shepherd. My son, be warned about going beyond those words which do not proceed from one Shepherd. You should realize that the writing of this kind of information is endless, and studying such books exhausts the body and the mind.

COMMENT 12:9-12

Solomon has sufficiently defended and supported the thesis that all is vanity. Now he turns to a clear summation of his methodology and a statement of his objective in composing the book. He classifies himself among the wise, and offers, as it were, his credentials in the form of a claim to inspiration. In addition to being wise, he professes to be a disseminator of knowledge, an imaginative arranger of proverbs, a speaker of truth, and most importantly divinely inspired. He drives home (nails well-fastened) important lessons which come to him from God. (Cf. Ecclesiastes 12:11; 1 Kings 3:12) He warns against one searching for truth in books which are not inspired, and that devotion to such an endless number of books is wearying to the body.

Ecclesiastes 12:9 As a wise man, whose authority was respected and accepted, Solomon arranged many proverbs through which he taught the people. Some believe the reference is to the book of Proverbs which many attribute to Solomon. The word translated proverbs can mean maxims, parables, or allegories. (Cf. 1 Kings 4:32)

Ecclesiastes 12:10 Solomon's words are delightful words in that he never turned to obscene language, but spoke discretely and guardedly. He had written: Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances (Proverbs 25:11). Also, Listen, for I shall speak noble things; and the opening of my lips will produce right things. For my mouth will utter truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing crooked or perverted in them. They are all straight-forward to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge (Proverbs 8:6-9). The Preacher's words are framed for the spiritual minded and in them they will find their delight.

In addition to skilfully arranging his words, he gave diligence to write words of truth correctly. Most commentators see in this verse a twofold intention: (1) he wants to write sincerelythat is he spoke from the heart as honestly as he could; (2) he also spoke objectivelythat is he presented factual knowledge apart from a bias. He intended for his words to be well received, but he was not willing to sacrifice truth in order to retain his readers.

Ecclesiastes 12:11 Wisdom is directive. The words of wise men are designed to guide both the teacher and his audience on the road of right behavior. (Cf. Matthew 7:24) These words of truth are like goads. A goad is a stick or pole with a sharp point which is used to prod oxen or sheep in the direction one wishes them to move. (Cf. Judges 3:3; I Samuel 13:31; Acts 9:5) The collections could refer to the material found in Ecclesiastes. It would mean that he has arranged his material in such a way that one is drawn to a path of proper conduct because he is motivated by the thought and content of the ordered material. On the other hand, it could refer to the joint-authors of the collected canonical Scriptures. (Cf. 2 Peter 1:21) The truth taught by inspired teachers is now likened unto well-driven nails. The figure of the nails is used because it is the nature of the nail to penetrate easily. It could mean to plant or drive in, to fasten and secure. So the words of the wise nail down the truths which change men's lives and their eternal destinies.

Solomon's reference here to the fact that such truths have their origin with the one Shepherd is a clear claim to inspiration. The collected sayings have but one source and thus one authority. The one Shepherd is God who is elsewhere called the Shepherd of Israel. (Cf. Genesis 48:15; Genesis 49:24; Psalms 23:1; Psalms 80:1; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:11-12; John 10:14-16; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 5:4) On the subject of inspiration as claimed by Solomon, Leupold states: Observe what a correct and clear conception of the inspiration of the sacred writings prevailed in Israel at this time, especially of the fact that it was a unified work done by the Lord for the good of His people. Observe also that the Preacher is aware of the fact that God was pleased to use him to share in this work.[28]

[28] Leupold. op. cit., p. 296.

Ecclesiastes 12:12 There is more in this verse than the simple jest over the prolific number of volumes written on the subject of the meaning of life, and the subsequent weariness that comes to one who attempts to read all of what has been written. Solomon's tender address of my son suggests the teacher-student relationship and not the physical father-son relationship. It implies that all may come and hear these wise words which have been given through the Preacher, but which come from God. The writing of many books is in contrast to the Sacred Scriptures. They represent the thinking of men outside the circle of divine inspiration. The charge is not against studying as such, as it is wise to study human nature, and it is especially wise to study the inspired books. The warning is against those books or writings which contradict the truth and which lead one away from the path of righteousness. It is the nature of the wisdom of this world to never give a final answer to the most basic and penetrating questions of life. Paul spoke of this matter to Timothy when he said that men were always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). Although Ecclesiastes does not delineate the specifics of correct behavior, it does press hard toward the correct road: the fear of God. It motivates toward this conclusion by demonstrating the foolishness of searching in areas where God has not hidden the answers. It has been said that Ecclesiastes raises the question that the rest of the Bible answers. While this is partly true, it is not the complete picture. Ecclesiastes proves the emptiness of life apart from God, but it also demands that one fill the void of his life with the activity of doing the will of God.

FACT QUESTIONS 12:9-12

569.

Explain the methodology used by Solomon.

570.

Give proof that Solomon arranged many proverbs.

571.

Delightful words are prepared for what group of people?

572.

What does it mean to write objectively? (Cf. verse ten)

573.

What is the purpose of a goad? What is the relation of goad to the fact that Solomon was wise?

574.

To what could the collection of verse eleven refer?

575.

Identify and explain the claim Solomon makes for inspiration.

576.

My son implies what relationship? (Cf. Ecclesiastes 12:12)

577.

The writing of many books is in contrast to what?