After we read a litany of the way life is dreary in verses 2-11, we come to the second portion of the lectionary text, Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, where the teacher says that applying wisdom leads to the conclusion that God has left humans with a hard task. New American Standard Bible Update. We could dismiss “this life” in favor of one we might consider “above” or more spiritual. Is it possible that he starts with what people with a lesser vision believes about life, then offers the solution: “enjoy life,” for life is the ordinary and constant gift of God. Life in light of eternity. But what if, say, washing dishes in a thoughtful way leads to wonderment and not weariness. 11:1 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Verse 8 reminds the reader where Solomon's treatise began. The first verse ascribes authorship to Qoheleth, “the son of David”—leading many to presume that he is Solomon, who wrote the preceding book, Proverbs. Beyond this text, the treasure that is Ecclesiastes appears for only one day in the Revised Common Lectionary. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 12:8-14 Solomon repeats his text, VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS VANITY. a. 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. He that is fully convinced that there is no solid happiness to be found in this world, and that there is a world to come wherein God will adjudge people to happiness or misery respectively, as they have made their choice and acted here, must necessarily subscribe to the truth of Solomon's conclusion, that true religion is the only way to true happiness.Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary14. Ecclesiastes 12:13(NASB) Verse Thoughts. And maybe the 21st-century preacher can make good fodder from that. Here is a man who has seen it all, done it all, tried it all, according to this text. Ecclesiastes 12:13 What Does Ecclesiastes 12:13 Mean? Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary12:8-14 Solomon repeats his text, VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS VANITY. Commentary on Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 (Read Ecclesiastes 12:1-7) We should remember our sins against our Creator, repent, and seek forgiveness. 1 Comment to “ Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14: 2:18-20” Nathan Jenkins says : August 1, 2019 at 8:46 pm I have used bubbles as an illustration for this. The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Zeitsch. This article is about the meaning of life. (w) "super omnem occultum, sc. \"Remember now also thy Creator in the days of the youth, before the evil days come, and thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.\" \"Creator here is not merely a synonym … He ponders every natural situation that man has experienced. For many readers, the book of Psalms is a collection of songs or hymns and prayers. These are the words of one that could speak by dear-bought experience of the vanity of the world, which can do nothing to ease men of the burden of sin. Enter stage right: Qoheleth, the Hebrew name of the book which has come to be known as Ecclesiastes. 1. By casting our bread upon … Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 King James Version (KJV). Luth. (x) "Sive bonus fuerit, sive malus", Schmidt. I don’t mean that a preacher who decides to use the text merely says the Preacher is wrong; Qoheleth is not wrong. A person's life will end in vanity if he does not take advantage of the life of faith that God has given to him. Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will find it after many days. Before we start studying Ecclesiastes 12 meaning I want to deal with a few matters before we get into the text. He knows everything that goes on; he knows every thought of the heart, every word of the mouth. This certainty of a final judgment of personal character is the Ariadne-thread by which Koheleth at last brings himself safely out of the labyrinth of his scepticism. The fear of God includes in it all the affections of the soul towards him, which are produced by the Holy Spirit. Ecclesiastes 12 Ecc 12:1 Ecc 12: "Creation" theme: Ecc 12:1 with Gen 1:1; Ecc 12:2 with Gen 2:17; 1:14-18; Ecc 12:7 with Gen 3:19. What Job 19:25-27 postulates in the absence of a present judgment of his cause, and the Apocalyptic Daniel 12:2 saw as a dualistic issue of the history of his people, comes out here for the first time in the form of doctrine into that universally-human expression which is continued in the announcements of Jesus and the apostles. Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. Submitted by admin on Wed, 2011-02-02 11:41. 1 Kings 10:3; and, on the other hand, Nehemiah 3:11; Psalm 26:4). Solomon has searched to find the secret of life. The prophets sought diligently, what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Now, we move on to chapter 11 for our Ecclesiastes 11 Commentary. He has made provision for it all; nothing can be hid. These are the words of one that could speak by dear-bought experience of the vanity of the world, which can do nothing to ease men of the burden of sin. Ecclesiastes 12 – The Conclusion of The Matter A. Season Finale - Ecclesiastes 12.1-14 from Damascus Road Church on Vimeo.. Introduction | Beginning of the End Good morning! Ecc 12: "As the years roll by, the energy and enthusiasm of youth becomes increasingly more difficult. This shows, as well as many other things in this book. Suddenly, Solomon turns from the natural man to the spirit of man. receive a preponderance over the national view; such figures of an universal and individualizing personal judgment as Matthew 7:21-23; Revelation 20:12, are nowhere found in it; the object of the final judgment are nations, kingdoms, cities, and conditions of men. He makes our duty to be our interest. (Ecclesiastes 2:9) Don’t you just feel that way sometimes? Teachers and guides all receive their communications from him. This couldn’t be more clear then as it finishes. The preacher who faces this text could merely agree with Qoheleth that chasing “vapors” or “wind” is futile, or the 21st-century preacher might come to an idea that chasing could be a whimsical exploration of life, a way to consider how we might enter the human project beyond the drudgery of get up, go to work, go home, then go to bed. The synagogal lesson repeats the 13th verse after the 14th, to gain thereby a conclusion of a pleasing sound. He sees the duplicity, the deception, the lovelessness. 13 … His life will simply end in meaninglessness. ; cf. 1863, p. 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. So, working to both enjoy the fruits of one’s labor and make peace with dying. This should be done early, while the body is strong, and the spirits active. Home » Bible Commentaries » Ecclesiastes. Perhaps you are need of a little adrenaline rush. It’s merely mileage on the road that leads to Jesus. Biblical Commentary Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: The book that we know as Ecclesiastes is known in the Hebrew Scriptures as Qoheleth (sometimes spelled Qohelet or Koheleth). Ecclesiastes 12 Meaning Commentary Summary. In that booklet were scriptures that we can share with non-Christians to help them understand the way of salvation. Ecclesiastes 12:1 "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; " We were discussing the problems of youth in the last lesson. An unexamined life, lived in an unconscious or even selfish way does lead to the conclusion that it is all futile, a waste of time, a chasing after wind. If you’ve ever read the book of Ecclesiastes you’re probably aware of the contents of this last chapter. All things would be vanity and vexation, except they led to this conclusion, That to fear God, and keep his commandments, is the whole of man. Today we have a dramatic case in point. —The word occurs here only in the Old Testament; but is not a Talmudic word. [Ecclesiastes 12:14 RSV) We can't hide from God. When we started Ecclesiastes back in September and when we did we said this book is not a destination. \"This is one of the most beautiful chapters in the Bible.\"[1] Along with Ecclesiastes 11, and a few verses out of Ecclesiastes 10, we have here Solomon's conclusion. 1. Certainly the natural, and particularly the national connection in which men stand to one another, is not without an influence on their moral condition; but this influence does not remove accountability, - the individuum is at the same time a person; the object of the final judgment will not be societies as such, but only persons, although not without regard to their circle of life. When we walk through an empty house, we may see possibilities for it, but because it is empty, it is not a warm, accepting, and welcoming place. Ecclesiastes 12:1-14. (11:9-11:10) Even in youth, remember that judgment will one day come. In verses 1-2, Solomon is recommending that the reader spread out her investments over 7 or even 8 different areas. Biblical Commentary; Español Comentario; Sermons; Children’s Sermons; Hymns; Previous Next. ECCLESIASTES 12. But “time” and pursuing life is all humans have. Ecclesiastes 12:8-13. It is true that we work hard, then die and someone else benefits from our labor (Ecclesiastes 2:18-23). In the Book of Koheleth the O.T. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. This is the last end of all things, and in which every man will be concerned. Things we think will make our life happier or give us meaning, but just as soon as we think we have taken ahold of one it pops, leaving us empty and wanting. Because according to him, life is monotonous, tedious, and futile, at first glance. 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. Verse 8 reminds the reader where Solomon's treatise began. And, for me, the preacher who chooses this text — if they will present good news — must argue with Qoheleth about what that fact means. Ecclesiastes 12:8-13. 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. The holy days and festivals are riveting and awe-inspiring. Before we start studying Ecclesiastes 12 meaning I want to deal with a few matters before we get into the text. As he considered the worth of souls, he gave good heed to what he spake and wrote; words of truth will always be acceptable words. This shows, as well as many other things in this book. In any event, the Preacher comes to the conclusion later in the book that laborers should “eat and drink and find enjoyment among friends” because death comes to all of us (see Ecclesiastes 2:24, where he says enjoying “toil” is “from the hand of God.” See also Ecclesiastes 3:13, 5:18, and 8:15. And Ordinary Time means we have to intentionally watch for the center of life in a different way from what happens during the holy days, where ways to encounter God is prescribed. Brent Kercheville August 3, 2008 Chapter 10 and the beginning of chapter 11 contain single proverbs much like what can be read in the book of Proverbs. Death is inevitable and no amount of work will change that fact. Some books of the Bible are far more prominent in our Sunday readings than others are. One may not be able to work one’s way to joy, but one should be able to figure out if the tedium of one’s current life is all there is, or whether there is a dream, a wind worth chasing. My reason for loving this time in the Christian cycle is in this truncated portion of Ecclesiastes, the words of a royal connoisseur of life. Why does God record in his word, that ALL IS VANITY, but to keep us from deceiving ourselves to our ruin? After we read a litany of the way life is dreary in verses 2-11, we come to the second portion of the lectionary text, Ecclesiastes 1:12-14, where the teacher says that applying wisdom leads to the conclusion that God has left humans with a hard task. The prospect of a general judgment upon the nations prevailing in the O.T., cannot sufficiently set at rest the faith (vid., e.g., Psalm 73; Jeremiah 12:1-3) which is tried by the unequal distributions of present destiny. Ordinary time, the season after Pentecost, can be the best time(s) of the year. 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