Conclusion of the Whole matters (Ecc 12: 9- 14)

CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTERS (Ecc 12: 9- 14):

After pouring out all the feelings and thoughts from the heart and mind, the author makes a conclusion of the whole thing. The author is wise, mentioned himself as a preacher and he further writes that besides being wise and had taught the people knowledge, he did weigh and study, arranging many proverbs with great care. Also, the author had sought to find words of delight, and uprightly wrote the words of truth. The author was also an eloquent spokesperson and his wisdom was well known. He had been equipped with so many things and gained knowledge about many things, the power to analyze, and synthesize many things including morals, through the proverbs with careful consideration of different things. The author had not just written whatever he had felt and thought, but wrote it with smoothening words as far as possible, with delighting words without compromising the reality or truth, temporarily gratifying things, worthy things, as well as the unworthy things.

Also, the author writes that the words of the wise are like goads, and collected sayings are like nails firmly fixed, and they are given by one Shepherd. The author advises his recipients calling them as his son, to be beware of anything beyond those, as making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. As goads help the ox or horse to be controlled and move in a particular desired direction, to be efficient, so are the words of the wise which would provide a desirable direction and purpose to be efficient, though hard at times. The saying of the wise never changes and is firm as firmly fixed nails, as it is placed based on consideration of many things after discretion. Wisdom comes from only Sovereign God, who is a good shepherd. The author had written a complete picture of his life and all the important things that human beings could try to gratify themselves with, as he or someone associated with him tried out and experienced. The author could have written much of his knowledge, analyze or synthesize, like that of many books that are existent that day about diverse subjects, but it is not much necessary for coping with life and thereby the author cautions about the extravagance notions, fallible knowledge, unreasonable arguments or discussions, and irrational morals.

The author expresses his final and most valuable thoughts for all the people to follow for a worthy life, by writing that the end of all the matter that has been heard is to Fear God and keep his commandments, for that, is the whole duty of man because God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. There is no other thing that could really give hope, assurance, peace, satisfaction, and Joy that resides in the heart and mind in the life on earth, other than following the commandments of God which ar primarily Loving God and Loving Others as self. If a person makes his duty as submitting the self to the most sovereign God, then the person would be able to rightly balance his life by keeping the values and virtues of life. God is omniscient, He looks into our hearts and He is righteous, thereby God judges every deed even if it is hidden from the sight of men, whatever it may be. God rewards the good and gives the consequence for the evilness, for all human beings. Knowing God, Fearing God, and Keeping His commandments will help to grow perfect in love, progressively. Perfect Love banishes fear.

Stimulations for Self-Reflection:

1.    What did the author do besides being wise? How he addresses himself? Why?

2.    How the author says that he wrote the writings?

3.    How the words of wisemen are? Who gave it?

4.    Why the words of wisemen are compared to goads and firmly fixed nails?

5.    What does the author say to his recipients to beware of?

6.    How, much study is a weariness of the flesh?

7.    What is the end of the matters according to the author?

8.    Why a person should fear God?

9.    How we can fear God and keep His commandments?

10. How we can make our life just and worthy, through the wisdom and experiences of genuine people?