In chapter 11 we have exhortations to be liberal in giving, to sow seed on all occasions and in all places, for we know not what evil shall be on the earth. “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand.” All will not be lost. The works of God cannot be fully known. The more one knows only shows him how much more there is unknown.
Then in chapter 12 he says, “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.” One is called to remember his Creator while young, before the deceitful ways of the world so ensnare him, that he loses all desire for the things of God.
At last in verses 3-7 we have in poetical language the sad picture of man at the close of his life, when the infirmities of old age overcome him—his strength gone, his sight failing, his ears dull of hearing, and his desire for pleasures once sought after now gone. Then he goes to “his long home,” for death overtakes him, his body goes back to dust and his spirit returns to God who gave it.
Finally his trial of everything “under the sun” is over, and the writer returns to his starting point: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity”—a mere breath or vapor passing over the earth.
“Moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.” He would instruct all who would hearken to him that they might benefit from his discoveries. He sought to find out “acceptable words,” or words of delight; “and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.”
Then he tells us that “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.” Like the goads used to urge on the oxen, so the words of the wise should urge us on in the Lord’s things. “As nails fastened ... .”— In the East many articles are hung upon nails for safety, so a “nail in a sure place” would speak of the security of anything that depends upon God. The “one shepherd” would speak to us of Christ, the source of all true wisdom and blessing.
The Preacher then calls us to “hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole of man.” J.N.D. Trans. This ought to be the rule of his life. Man should own the authority of his Creator for He will bring every work into judgment. In the New Testament we read that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” 2 Cor. 5. This should have no terror for the believer for the Judge has put his sins away, but it will be a solemn thing for those who will appear there in their sins and without the righteousness of God.
Up to a certain point the book of Proverbs is the opposite to Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes shows us the vanity of things here, while Proverbs brings us that true wisdom from above and teaches us how to walk wisely on the earth. Ecclesiastes closes with man taken away in death, but the last chapters of Proverbs gives us the happy picture of two, man and wife, enjoying life in usefulness in the fear of the Lord.
ML 12/17/1961