one28 PodcastThe End of the Matter
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
2008.05.18
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We encounter an almost endless array of choices every day, yet our information is rarely reliable and our perspective is usually shortsighted. Under the sun it’s easy to be confused, distracted, and discouraged, either because we can’t predict the future–and even if we could, we have no control over it–or because for all the commotion around us nothing ever really changes. We wonder about our purpose on the planet, we question why certain things happen and who we are and what it all means and where we fit in the “big scheme of things.”
Those are the kind of questions that everyone asks at some point, and it’s no surprise because God puts those holes in every man’s heart. We all know, deep down, that there is something bigger than us, that God exists, that eternity is undeniable, and that there’s a problem between us and God for eternity. But though everyone deals with those questions, only a small number of people know the right answers, namely, the people who have God’s special revelation, the people who understand the Bible, and in particular, those who pay attention to Ecclesiastes.
The book of Ecclesiastes contains an out of this world sermon by the preacher (Qohelet), Solomon. Through twelve, often grueling and excruciating, chapters he has exposed the emptiness of a large bank account, the fleeting–if any at all–benefits of popularity, the seeming worthlessness of being hurt or even oppressed by authority, the pointlessness of listening to know-it-all fools, the meaninglessness of cheaters who never get caught, and the futility of thinking we can figure all that out on our own by human wisdom. It is all striving after wind.
But exposing the consummate vanity of our short little, forgettable, trivial lives isn’t the preacher’s only purpose. He also explains that, smack in the middle of vanity, it is possible to enjoy the process.
There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from Him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? For to the one who pleases Him, God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to the one who pleases God. (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)
The toil is the same for the the two persons, but one has joy, the other misery. Both are exhausted from being worked to the bone, often unsuccessful and never finished, but one finds something to enjoy in the work, the other loathes it all. Both face vanity, only one does it with a smile. It is the one who looks to God moment by moment, who measures everything in light of eternity, who sees life as one big worship service. Those are the people who really live; those are the people who are ready for death and God and eternity.
If anyone should know it was Solomon. He had been there, owned that, thrown that party, finished that project, married 700 trophy wives. He climbed to the top of the mountain and turned back to tell us,
Men that are in the valley think if they were at the top of such a hill, they should touch the heavens. Men that are in the bottom of poverty or disgrace or pain think if they could get up to such a mountain, such a measure of riches and honours and delights, they could reach happiness. Now Solomon had got to the top of this hill, and seeing so many scrambling and labouring so hard, nay, riding on one another’s necks and pressing one another to death to get foremost, doth seem thus to [tell] them: “Sirs, [you] are all deceived in your expectations! I see the pains [you] take to get up to this place thinking that when you come hither [you] shall touch the heavens, and reach happiness. But I am before you at the top of the hill. I have treasures, and honours, and pleasures in variety and abundance (Ecclesiastes 2:11-12), and I find the hill full of [difficulties]/quagmires instead of delights, and so far from giving me satisfaction, that it [causes] much vexation; therefore be advised to spare your pains, and spend your strength for that which will turn to more profit; for, believe it, you do but work at the labour in vain. “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity,” [says] the Preacher. ~George Swinnock
And now we’ve reached the end of the matter in 12:13-14. He took great pains to write his words of wisdom in motivating and memorable form, not so that we’d appreciate his book, but so that we would apply it. In some ways Ecclesiastes is like climbing a slippery rope to satisfaction and eternity, but Solomon ties a huge knot for us to hang on in his conclusion. If you didn’t get anything else in the book, get this. He’ll point out that his argument is sufficient, there’s nothing else to add, and then provide a comprehensive application, the bottom line for what we need to do.
A Sufficient Argument v. 13a
The quest is complete; the observations are over. All the evidence has been laid on the table and arguments presented by the preacher.
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard.
Solomon has told us everything we need to know for enjoying the process, for basking in life and youth, while remembering our Creator and preparing for judgment.
This is the end of the matter. Not only have we made it to the last page of the book, the last verse of the closing chapter, we’ve come to the final word on the subject, at least as far as Solomon’s concerned. This is the end, the conclusion, the sum of the argument.
And all has been heard. There is nothing left to say, no more points to make, no more to discuss. Everything that needed to be said has been said (though perhaps not everything that could have been said). The loose ends are tied and the packaged wrapped. The case is closed.
Which means, if you get Ecclesiastes you get life. If you followed Solomon’s argument you are prepared not just to endure the vanity, but to enjoy it. You need no other philosophy, no fresh perspective, no new wisdom. Solomon’s claim is that his argument is sufficient, it is the end of the matter for life under the sun.
A Comprehensive Application vv. 13b-14
It’s thorny for a preacher to make application for his people at the end of a sermon. He runs the risk of being so specific that some slip outside the small net or on the other hand, being so general that the net is too weak to constrain anyone. But Solomon’s application is comprehensive, catching not only every man, but gripping every part of every man.
There is nothing subtle or perplexing about this application. It his expectation for all who read Ecclesiastes.
The Requirements v. 13b
All of Ecclesiastes can be boiled down to this:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
The case has been made and the required response now commanded: fear God and keep His commandments.
Fearing God, or the fear of the Lord, is the “kernel and star” of the whole book (Keil & Delitzsch) and dominates the landscape of wisdom literature, which isn’t surprising since we know the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fearing God is also found throughout much of the Old Testament. But what does it mean to fear God?
We do great disservice to the phrase and ourselves by oversimplifying the fear of God. By making the definition too short and simple we distort it. We mostly hear it explained as reverence or awe, in contrast with an alarm, panic, fright, dread or terror. We’re told that God doesn’t mean for us to be scared of Him; He wants us to appreciate Him and show Him respect.
That’s fine, but I wonder if it’s too easy. I’m afraid it doesn’t help us sense the urgency and the weight of what it means to fear God or the burning responsibility we have to do it.
Fearing God is not less than showing respect to God, but it is so much more than that. It is an all-consuming attitude and approach to every moment and event that includes awareness of His presence and humility before His prominence and appreciation for His power. It is a minute by minute consciousness of God’s character and His control. To fear God is to be more concerned about Him, His standards, His authority, and His sovereignty than anything else. Fearing God is not a Sabbath or Sunday only event. It doesn’t take place only during your daily spiritual disciplines. It means you don’t take a step without thinking about how where your foot lands relates to the God who made your foot and the thing your foot is stepping on and the direction the foot is aimed.
Fear of God is opposite of the fear of man, where we are constantly concerned about what others think of us. We dress, move, talk in ways to get them to think highly of us, to accept us, to like us. We are consumed with seeking their approval.
I know that’s not a sound bite definition, so let’s see if I can summarize it a little more memorably. To fear God is to:
- acknowledge His position – attitude of humility
- accept His authority – attitude of submission
- appreciate His power – attitude of thankfulness
- adore His worthiness – attitude of praise
- all the time
It is to depend on, seek to please, and look for joy from Him above all.
Fear of God is an attitude, an approach to life and relationships and the future and possessions and toil and suffering and parties and youth and death that recognizes and rejoices to say: God did that! Even more, to say, God did that, and He deserves all my devotion for that!
This is our responsibility, but how do we fear God? How do we start if we’re not? How do we increase and intensify our fear? Let me suggest two simple things.
First, pray. In its essence prayer acknowledges that we are not God and that we depend on Him, no matter what we’re praying for. And why not ask Him to increase our fear of Him? Who better to help us than God Himself. You may not have fear because you have not asked.
Second, pay attention. Pay attention to other people who fear God. Find a good God-fearer and watch them work. Not only that, pay attention to what’s happening around you. Everything in Ecclesiastes teaches us to fear if we will pay attention. You do realize, the vanity of life under the sun works to our God-fearing advantage. Good or bad, happy or hurtful, sunny or stormy, God did that so that we’ll fear Him.
I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. (Ecclesiastes 3:14)
You don’t have to understand how or why stuff happens, you don’t even have to like how it’s going. Just pay attention. We should squeeze every incident and circumstance through the matrix of God did that so I’ll fear Him.
And pay attention to God’s revelation, starting with Ecclesiastes. Every single verse in this book of wisdom aims us to fear God. Pay attention to the preacher. He will goad you to fear and firmly fix you in fear. Ecclesiastes is a sufficient argument that expects everyone to fear God.
What does it look like to appreciate God’s position and adore Him most of all?
- content in every circumstance
- submissive to authority, even when it’s hard
- hard-working in opportunities
- hold on to life loosely
- think about eternity
- respect Him in worship
- faithful to our commitments
- talk appropriately
- dig in and dress up and bask in the sun
And as we regularly repeat, what you do comes out of what you think about God. So, fear God and keep His commandments. Unlike fearing God, this part of the application makes its first appearance in the book. It is a key part to our theme for the year, Playing for keeps.
The command keep frequents the OT. To “keep” meant to keep watch, to guard, and even more specifically as here, to observe. If fearing God is more of an attitude, keeping His commandments is clearly concerned with our actions. We are responsible, we are required in light of everything we’ve learned in Ecclesiastes to obey.
Fear and obey. Remember who He is and do what He says. Respect His authority and comply with His law. Bow and behave.
It doesn’t matter if it seems like someone is getting away with their disobedience. Don’t be deceived into disobedience because punishment and consequences are delayed.
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. (Ecclesiastes 8:12)
The contrast is between the sinner and the fearer. The implication is that the sinner sins because he doesn’t fear, and that the fear keeps the fearer from sinning.
If you want to know the bottom line of Ecclesiastes: fear God and keep His commandments. Those are the requirements, they are the heart of the end of the matter.
The Reasons vv. 13c-14
The preacher gives two reasons, two motivations for the commands.
for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
The final phrase in verse 13 is why I call this a comprehensive application, for this is the whole duty of man. The ESV highlights totality while the NAS emphasizes the universal aspect, “because this applies to everyone.” So which is it? Does this mean that the purpose and priority for all mankind is to fear God and keep His commandments or, does it mean that the whole of each part of man is meant for this? Both. All men and all parts of each man. It is the whole duty of all mankind.
Fearing God is not a part time requirement. It demands your all. Keeping His commandments demands all of you. Every deed will be judged, public and private, so there is no time or place or thought or response exempt from this. The entire reason you exist, the final purpose and meaning of your life and everyone’s life, is for the glory of God through your right attitude and righteous conduct. This is what it means for you to be a human.
It is your whole duty, with every dollar you earn or lose, in every task you finish or finish to fail, as you take every bite of breakfast, while you use caution and take preparation to sharpen the axe, there must be a permeating, sweeping recognition: you exist from God, through God, and for God. Fearing Him and keeping His commandments is not your top priority, it is your only priority. It isn’t the first thing you should do, it is involved in everything you do.
Maybe you think that’s an overstatement, but I think that’s the very point of the second reason given in verse 14, for God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. This isn’t like when a parent keeps threatening to discipline their kid but never gets off the couch. God is faithful to follow up and follow through. His threats are not empty.
every deed with every secret thing call attention to the comprehensiveness of the requirement and reinforces what I said about our duty. Every person will be judged, every person’s deeds will be judged, every hidden, secret, private thought will be judged, by how we did it. It is a judgment of conduct and character. It isn’t that God is an important part of your life any more than we would say the roots and trunk are part of a tree. That’s why I said He isn’t the first of many, He is all of the many.
Judgment is based on our response to the revelation of who is He in His majesty and what He requires in His authority.
Conclusion
We tend to react to messages like these, “Oh, I guess I should read my Bible more, pray more, and be more faithful to church or small group.” And those may be necessary to help you practice a life of fear and obedience. But Solomon is giving us a much more comprehensive application. Nothing we do under the sun cannot be done for Him. In other words, do all to the glory of God. Even in how you eat and drink and find enjoyment in your unsuccessful, unappreciative, unending, monotonous, underpaid toil you can fulfill your whole duty.
Changing diapers when your kid is sick, washing your car when it’s supposed to rain the next day, working late when no one knows about it, keeping your word when you made a tough promise, dressing up for a special occasion, laughing with your wife when things are crazy, all the things we tend to believe don’t really matter, do to God.
So fear God, keep His commandments, enjoy the process young people in the days of your youth, for this is what life is all about. It’s the bottom line. That’s the end of Solomon’s argument, his application is relevant for each of us as long as we all shall live under the sun. This is the end of the matter, the whole duty of man.
You and I are are made to worship under the sun. There is no other source of satisfaction and enjoyment in this life. If we will not fear God and keep His commandments, we are stuck under a heavy, miserable, vanity now, and then we die, and then we face judgment.
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