Ten Truths Ecclesiastes Has Taught Me, and What to Do Next

I cannot be surprised when the news explodes with stories of fallen leadership or foolish government policies. Solomon has taught me that living in a broken world means foolishness will make wise leadership vulnerable and weak. I must pray for my leaders and use discernment when I elect them into office, which means I cannot simply vote along part lines. I really need to pay attention to their character and their convictions.

Because life is painful, I have to make the most of it, which is hard, and I must find joy in the mundane things of life like meals and marriage.

I need to stop and smell the roses more often. Solomon has made me realize that God is very aware of my hardship on earth. He has given me outlets of joy if I will take advantage of them. A beautiful sunrise is a joy. Riding the bus in the morning with Abigail and Abram and the TTV kids is a joy. Hearing bubby laugh is a joy. Eating a big meal together with my friends is a joy. Last night I sat next to my wife on the couch with no T.V. on or kids pressing in for something. There is great joy all around us in-spite of the nonsense. Look for it.

I live in a world where bad things happen to wise people, and good things happen to foolish people, creating an uncomfortable tension between my faith and God’s mysterious ways.

We live in a world where things get turned upside down creating an uncomfortable tension in our faith. I’ve followed your ways as best as I can. Why am I suffering? Why am I suffering, while, my neighbor who despises you seems to flourish? I don’t know, exactly. I know the world is broken and that allows it to get turned upside down. I know that God is far wiser than I am. He is able to 10 million things at once and see light years into the future. He is sovereign and able to do whatever he wants without anything stopping him. So if you are really feeling the tension of between your faith and God’s mysterious ways, hold fast. God is working everything for your good.

William Cowper was a hymn writer in the 1770’s. He was close friends with John Newton. he suffered greatly from depression and despair. It got so bad that he unsuccessfully tried three suicide attempts. Cowper could not always reconcile the tension he felt of God’s sovereignty and his faith in suffering, but he understood it. He wrote a powerful hymn about it, that has brought comfort to me when I am blind to God’s wisdom in allowing the wise to suffer and the foolish to prosper. Listen to Cowper’s wisdom:

1. God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.

2 You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.

3 His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding ev'ry hour. The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flow'r.

4 Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan his work in vain. God is his own interpreter, And he will make it plain.

Pride corrupts my religion. I am prone to be foolishly religious by coming to God’s house without any humility or intent to listen and obey his instruction.

Hebrews 3:12–19 ESV

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

To enter God’s house without humility or any intent to obey his instruction is enter his house with unbelief. Unbelief is rooted in pride and is deadly. Guard your heart from such evil and have ears to hear and eyes to see. it is so easy for the religious to enter God’s house depending on their religion, their works, and their own righteousness. Never lose sight of the cross. He is your confidence to stand before a holy God. Come to church in humility. Come ready to hear God’s word with a joyful heart eager to obey what you learn.

I am also prone to foolishly believe that earthly wealth will satisfy eternal longings.

I get messages every day from my culture that tries to sell me the idea that wealth will satisfy my heart. I get the messages through text, on billboards, through commercials; its everywhere. More wealth more power more prestige more pomp. Solomon, the richest man who ever lived, says to me, “God put eternity in your heart, Jason. There is no earthly lust that can satisfy your enteral longing.

Jesus says to me, “Jason, what good is it for you to gain the entire world and lose your soul in the process? Don’t you know the lust of this world, the pride of your eyes, all of this is perishing. Store up treasure in heaven where the thief cannot steal nor rust destroy. Above all, do not fear the one who can kill the body, fear the one who can kill both body and soul.

I am so surrounded by the corruption of the wicked that my heart burns for justice, but not too much justice.

Over the last two years, we have seen justice challenged at its very core. With government overreach and anti-establishment groups having a platform to decide what is just and what is unjust, our hearts long for Christ to return and establish his sovereign rule. However, as much as we like justice for others, it is difficult for us to be as passionate for it when justice is wielded our direction. When God comes to reconcile every injustice, that includes yours as well. If you are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, his atonement will absorb your injustice. But if you are here playing church, being religious, you don’t want God’s justice. It will consume you.

I have to come to terms with the reality that God has ordered time for everything in this world to have its season.

Life is a rollercoaster of sorts. There are good times and there are bad times, both must come to an end. For the bad times, that means suffering will only last a season. This too will pass. For the good times, that means that the valley is on the horizon. We have to come to terms with this reality in the world. Enjoy the good while it is good. Endure the bad, knowing it will not last forever.

I desire pleasure, prudence, and productivity in this life, which is good, however, I go about it the wrong way.

Work is good. Pleasure is good. Wisdom is good. How I go about getting these three things in my flesh always leads to destruction. I find pleasure in unholy desires and appetites. I use worldly wisdom to manipulate. I work too much to gain so little. I’ll continue this cycle over and over again until I die. That is how you get the American Dream. God has no problem with pleasure, prudence, and productivity. He designed all three of them for us to enjoy. Sin distorts them and only God can sort them out.

Death is the greatest antagonist to everything I do in this world.

In 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to French Scientist Jean Baptist, offering an update on how the ratification of the United States Constitution. Benjamin Franklin said to Jean Baptist,

“Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin

He knew he was dying, which makes the comical quote have a bit more levity to it. Here was a man who helped found one of the greatest nations on earth, and death was on the verge of taking it all away. No some will argue, “You are talking about him today. His legacy lived on for us to enjoy.” True, but not for Franklin. He is not here to see the fruit of his labor. Furthermore, Franklin made it clear that he was not a believer, even after hearing the likes of George Whitfield-whom Franklin said was the closest man to persuade him toward Christ. We assume way to much about death. Ask your neighbor what they think their dead relative is doing right now. Most will say something like watching them from heaven or even living int heir heart. Death comes for men. You die and face God’s judgement. In Christ, you have eternal life, and everything you did by faith will be rewarded to you. Apart from Christ, you suffer God’s wrath, and everything had will be taken away, and you will spend eternity in hell. Death is an enemy. For Christians, death is a conquered enemy, but still an antagonist nevertheless.

The meaning of my life is to trust the Son with everything in my life under the sun.

Jesus us the meaning of life. Come to Christ. Receive his salvation and he will ensure the meaning of your life now and for all eternity. Confess and repent of your sin. Surrender to His Lordship. This is how you fear God. Allow Jesus to take his wrath from you and place it on the cross. He will give you his righteousness and justify you before God. He will give you new life and a new family sealed with a new covenant. There is no need for you to suffer his wrath in hell. He promises you new life, eternal life. Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and make him Lord of your life. Then, you can fear God properly and follow these three applications.

Fear God and obey his commands by receiving his instruction (Eccl 12:9-10)

Ecclesiastes 12:9–10 HCSB

In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately.

In verse 9, the Hebrew word yoter, gives the idea that the writer of Ecclesiastes is coming to a conclusion, or that he is writing something of an epilogue. Keep in mind, we have been listening tot he preacher for most of the book. He is a separate character from the writer of the book. You see that in verse 9

Ecclesiastes 12:9 ESV

Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.

Notice the writer says in the third person, that “the Preacher also taught.” Now the writer is writing an epilogue and wants to add his own perspective to the book.

From the writer’s perspective, the teacher did two wise things.

First he sought to give the people wise teaching.

The Preacher wisely listened to many proverbs and searched them out. The Hebrew conveys he examined thoroughly, like a lawyer or judge does in a legal case. He set the proverbs in order, or straightened them out, meaning he kept them in the right context so that the truth could be understood rightly. And then he taught them so that the people could have the truth about the meaning of life.

Second, he sought to present the wise teaching with creative arrangement.

The teacher did not just regurgitate wisdom. He organized the text appropriately and with clarity and creativity so that wisdom could be understood. Duane Garrett points out that ,

“This verse indicates that the Teacher not only sought to give sound teaching, but to present it in a way that was appealing and appropriate. This suggests that there is more care in the wording and arrangement of books such as Proverbs and Ecclesiastes than first meets the eye.”

Daniel Akin concludes,

“The teacher faithfully taught his students the Word of God. And he sought to do so in an appealing and attractive manner.”

The point is, the wise teacher presented truth in an appropriate and appealing way so that those who fear the Lord could understand and apply it to their life under the sun. This is the sum of preaching.

The goal every Sunday morning from the pulpit is to present God’s truth in an appropriate (truthful) and appealing (creative/attractive) manner so that you followers of Jesus will live more faithfully to him because you understand what is expected of you- that is, to help you fear God and obey his instruction.

If you wonder why I preach the way I do, it is because I am committed to expository preaching. What I mean is, to exposit a text is to pull out the truth from the text and create my sermon from the truth. This is why we spend a lot of time in a text and I defend the truth by walking through the text. I agree with Article XXV of the “Chicago Statement on Hermeneutics” of 1982. This statement is rooted in a commitment to the Bible as the inerrant and infallible Word of God. It reads,

“We affirm that the only type of preaching which sufficiently conveys the divine revelation and its proper application to life is that which faithfully expounds (exposits/expository) the text of Scripture as the Word of God.

We deny that the preacher has any message from God apart from the text of Scripture.” Article XXV of the Chicago Statement of Hermeneutics

John MacArthur says, regarding preaching the bible expositionally,

“By expositionally, I mean preaching in such a way that the meaning of the Bible passage is presented entirely and exactly as it was intended by God.” John MacArthur

The church has suffered from bible illiteracy and heresy because God’s word is not properly understood. There are many reasons for this, such as Christians not reading their Bibles on a regular basis. However, preachers are just as guilty of watering down the truth with one liners and slogans of self-help nonsense. Or, preachers have not don the work to study the Bible, but instead implant their soap box political or social or theological ideology on the Bible. Walk Kaiser lamented this unfortunate reality in 1981 in his book, Toward an Exegetical Theology: Biblical Exegesis for Preaching and Teaching. He says

“It is no secret that Christ’s Church is not at all in good health in many places of the world. She has been languishing because she has been fed … “junk food.” …pg 7 Kaiser

“The Biblical text is often no more than a slogan or refrain in the message.…”pg 19 Kaiser

“Biblical exposition has become a lost art in contemporary preaching. The most neglected of all biblical sections is the Old Testament—over three-fourths of divine revelation!…” pg 37 Kaiser

“Motto preaching may please the masses in that it is filled with a lot of epigrammatic or [modern] proverbial slogans and interesting anecdotes, but it will always be a powerless word lacking the authority and validation of Scripture.” pg 191 Kaiser

Preachers must preach the truth. The truth is found in God’s inerrant and fully sufficient word. The truth is revealed when preachers exegete, that is mine out or draw out the truth from God’s word, and preach it in an appropriate and appealing way. That is how the church is fed and nourished in God’s word.

The Psalmist says

Psalm 111:10 ESV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

It is not enough for you to merely posses the scriptures. You must understand them. One way you understand them is by listening to expository preaching every single Sunday morning. Wise teachers exposit God’s word, and wise listeners fear God and obey him by receiving the instruction-meaning you listen to it and apply it appropriately. Fear God by receiving his instruction.

Fear God and obey his commands by heeding his wise admonishment (Eccl 12:11-12)

Ecclesiastes 12:11–12 HCSB

The sayings of the wise are like goads, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd. But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body.

Solomon says these wise sayings, or the word of God, is like goads. A goad is like a cattle prod used to motivate the sluggish or non-compliant cattle. The goads are meant to get you going in the right direction. Philip Ryken explains , “A “goad” is one of the tools of a shepherd’s trade, a sharp stick that spurs a stubborn beast to keep moving. It is not designed to injure the animal, of course, but to inflict just enough pain to get his full cooperation!”

When you hear God’s instruction, and it pricks your heart like a goad, you must move with compliance in the direction that God is telling you to go and do what he wants you to do.

So, when the preacher tells you that your pursuit of health, wealth, and prosperity is vain in this life, or that worldly lusts will not satisfy eternal longings, but only the goodness and greatness of God will make your heart content, you must heed the warning and the word of God, move His direction.

Craig Larson told a story once of a former park ranger at Yellowstone National Park who was leading a group of hikers to a fire lookout. The ranger was so intent on telling the hikers about the flowers and animals that he considered the messages on his two-way radio distracting, so he switched it off. Nearing the tower, the ranger was met by a frantic and out of breathe tower lookout, who asked why he hadn’t responded to the messages on his radio. A grizzly bear had been stalking the group, and the authorities were trying to warn them of the danger. The goads of God’s word, His wisdom warn you of the danger of forgetting God and his work in this meaningless world.

Solomon also says that God’s word is like nails. Think tent pegs. Large tents have 12 inch nails that are driven into the ground to stabilize the tent, like an anchor. So the word of God pricks you to move in the right direction and also stabilizes you to hold fast-like the rock Jesus says to build your house on so that when the waves crash into it, the house does not collapse.

We nail the truth down into our lives when we hide God’s word into our heart. We drive God’s word, like hammering a nail into wood, into our thinking, and our affections, so that it manifests itself in our actions. By doing so our conscience is sensitive to the temptation to stray from God’s reservation, and we are able to heed God’s admonishment to return quickly to his pasture.

Solomon says that the words are given by the one true shepherd. This is none other than God himself. Shepherd is one of God’s titles in the scriptures. God is the shepherd who satisfies all our wants in Psalm 23. He is the Shepherd of Israel in Psalm 80, and the is the one and only Shepherd in Eccl 12. Solomon implies that the words of Ecclesiastes are the very words of God that demand to be received and heeded. Again, Philip Ryken is helpful when he says,

“Ecclesiastes is the very Word of God. The Preacher’s words are not merely the musings of some skeptical philosopher; they are part of the inspired, infallible, and inerrant revelation of Almighty God. Therefore, it is not enough merely to admire their artistry and respect their integrity—we must also submit to their authority. As the Shepherd of our souls, God uses this book—as he uses everything written in the Bible—to prod us into spiritual action.” Philip Ryken

Fear God and obey his commands by believing His One True Shepherd (Eccl 12:11, 13-14)

Ecclesiastes 12:11 TOTC Ec (Heim)

11 Words of the wise are like the goads, and the masters of collections are like fixed nails, that are given by one shepherd.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 TOTC Ec (Heim)

13 The end of the matter: all has been heard. God you shall fear, and his commandments you shall keep; for this is the whole [responsibility] of every human being, 14 for every deed God will bring into judgment over its hidden motives, whether good or evil.

God is our Shepherd and our Savior. Listen to what Jesus says about being the Shepherd:

John 10:11–18 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

The Good shepherd lays down his life. The good shepherd defends and protects his sheep. The good shepherd speaks and his sheep hear his voice. The good shepherd leaves the 99 to find the one. The good shepherd does whatever it takes to save his sheep.

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