Your Duty

October 16, 2011

Lesson: Ecclesiastes 12:1–14

Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 12:13

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Introduction

Solomon wrote, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (12:13). M. Henry wrote that “The root of religion is fear of God reigning in the heart, and a reverence of his majesty, a deference to his authority, and a dread of his wrath. Fear God, that is, worship God, give him the honour due to his name, in all the instances of true devotion, inward and outward.” The Lord “hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8). Men believe themselves to be the source of wisdom. Scripture teaches us: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning (source) of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments” (Psa. 111:10). We obey God’s commandments because we have been given wisdom by the Spirit of God through His Word. Calvin comments: “But to serve God is the purpose for which we have been born, and for which we are preserved in life. There is, therefore, no worse blindness, no insensibility so groveling, as when we condemn God, and place our affections elsewhere. For whatever ingenuity the wicked may possess, they are destitute of the main thing, genuine piety. To the same effect are the words that immediately follow: a good understanding have all they who keep God’s commandments.”

The wisdom the world has no King but the mind and reason of man. They are most religious; for they place their faith in the idol they have built, calling this idol, ‘evolution’—thus denying the true God as He has revealed Himself in His Scriptures. By their idol they seek to claim our children through state-education, our minds through psychology, and our hearts through pluralism, etc. The Sabbath is desecrated, our Savior is replaced by mother-state, its programs become sacrosanct, and the King of kings is relegated to the place of the pew. However, God Himself sets the record straight. There are two world views of life, that of the wicked who claim man as the greatest authority, and that of the Lord who is the majestic Creator and Savior; and by His Word alone our world view is established. The Lord speaks: “For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. Behold God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor” (Psa. 36:4–6).

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Vanities of Vanities—Ecclesiastes 12:1–8

Solomon is the Preacher whose world view is founded upon the Word of God, who sees the pleasures of the world as inferior to the wisdom of God. In the midst of the folly of the world view of man who sees himself as the center of the universe, stands the wisdom of God: “Consider the work of God; for who can make straight, which he hath made crooked” (7:13). Even the vain thinkers of this world are in the work and plan of the Almighty God: “Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him. But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God” (8:12–13).

“Vanities of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.” How vain man is to think that he is a rock instead of sifting sand. Man lies to himself as he laughs one day and cries the next, as he tries to be a benefactor to others, but cannot save himself. His life is emptiness, for his greatest work and happiness soon blow away as sand in the first storm. The Word of God speaks: “Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie, to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity” (Psa. 62:9). God “only is my rock and my salvation, he is my defense; I shall not be moved.”

Discussion: What is Vanity?

The Preacher has given counsel to those in their youth, who have walked in the way of their own heart, saw with their own eyes, and of the judgment of God, saying, “Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth are vanity” (11:9–10). His admonition now points his listeners to Wisdom Himself, God. We are to remember, now, our Creator. Wisdom will pass us by if we do not remember from whence we come. We are to remember, to bring to our minds, to have our minds pierced by the truth of the matter. We do this through the Word of God by the teaching of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16–17, 2:15). We are to do this while there is still light. Youth passes us by, as does the time when there is light. Today is the day to remember the majesty of God and His great salvation in Christ the Son, the true light of the world.

The Preacher speaks of the darkness wherein men tremble, though they love darkness rather than light (John 1:4–5). The windows of the eyes grow dim as age progresses. He who has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him come to God, before the doors are shut, and fears become prominent and desires fail, “because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the street.” The wicked, young or old, who turn from their Creator, are like the aged whose ears no longer hear the grinding of the wheat which gave them hope, not the hearing of the birds which made their morning awakenings a pleasure. They now drag themselves to the “long-home” when mourners cry over them in the streets.

The Preacher says that the silver cord will be loosed, and the golden bowl will be broken. To dust man must return. And so must the soul be returned to its Creator: “the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” All is vanity if we do not believe that it is God in Christ who has saved us, “and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. … who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:9–10).

Discussion: What is the difference between light and darkness, death and life, in Christ?

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The Conclusion—Ecclesiastes 12:9–14

The conclusion of the matter is this: “Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” In this we learn to glorify God and enjoy Him forever! How do know our duty and obedience before our Creator and Savior? What rule has God set down before us? The Shorter Catechism speaks to this: “The word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him” (# 2).

The Preacher has spoken of his own folly, of the vanity of vanities in his own life. He spoke of the vanity of man which brings about an emptiness of spirit. Now the Preacher teaches from the truth which God Himself has given him, saying that “the Preacher is wise, he still taught the people knowledge.” The Preacher taught the fear of the Lord. If we teach anything less, then all is vanity. His pastoral care of the flock includes instruction, knowledge, and wisdom (Prov. 1:2–4, 7). The Preacher finds acceptable words of wisdom, even words of truth, and admonishes his people. Christ is our “Preacher,” our Good Shepherd, who is the Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6).

There are the making of many books: from how to do it, to how it works. Should not our reading of books find those that deal with faith, love, and hope; books that drive us to the Word of God, written; all else is vanity? The goad could be like the prod of a shepherd’s rod and staff, the nail as that which fastens a wood frame to a house. The wise, then, are those who have the Word of God written upon their hearts by the Spirit, whose lives bear His fruit.

Herein lies our faith: “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever; nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it; and God doeth it, that men should fear before him” (3:14). God has done it all. From Creation to Salvation, God preserving us in His providential care; enabling us do our duty to our Father, our Savior, and our Comforter, to fear God and obey His commandments. Every secret thing, including the works of all men, is judged by Him, as to His righteousness. No man or woman will be exempted from His judgment. All will be there in that last day. Our works will be judged as righteousness or evil. In Christ alone there is no condemnation. For in Christ we are prepared as we earnestly desire to fear God and do what He wants us to do.

Discussion: What should our relationship be to our Creator?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2011 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.