Ecclesiastes 12 (6)

Pray Psalm 71.19, 20.
Also Your righteousness, O God, is very high,
You who have done great things;
O God, who is like You?
You, who have shown me great and severe troubles,
Shall revive me again,
And bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

Read Ecclesiastes 12.11, 12.

Prepare.
1. To what does Solomon liken the words of the wise? Why is this a good way of thinking about such words?

2. What is the ultimate Source of the words of the wise?

Meditate.
Here is Solomon’s claim for divine inspiration for His writings. We should always remember that, while God’s Word is fixed and sure, like well-driven nails, sometimes taking that Word to heart can seem a painful goad. He’s not apologizing for this, mind you; rather, Solomon is simply telling his foolish son that our Shepherd doesn’t tell us what we want to hear, but what we need to hear.

We may not like what His Word has to say, but that won’t change the certainty of it. We can “kick against the goads”, like the apostle Paul was doing, but we cannot overcome them. We may think to look elsewhere than Scripture for “wisdom” that is more congenial to our tastes – and certainly there is no shortage of such “wisdom” to be found – but that will only lead to more weariness and vanity. Unless our lives are grounded in, circumscribed, and guided by the Word of God, we are in danger of drifting into folly (1 Cor. 4.6).

Many contemporary preachers and teachers insist on tip-toeing around the hard teachings of Scripture. They know these words can be painful and hurtful – words like sin and repentance and the Law of God and self-denial; so, in the interest of “not offending” anyone, they focus on other thoughts and ideas, thinking to attract “seekers” to the truth and to keep the “faithful” coming back for more. They only want to use the Shepherd’s staff to serenely lead their flock, and they have set aside the rod by which He has to knock some sense into the sheep from time to time.

But the Good Shepherd has given us both kinds of words, and we must use them well, as Solomon was here.

We are not wrongly judging people when we talk to them about such matters as sin, repentance, death, self-denial, taking up our cross, the judgment of God, daily obedience, and eternal condemnation. Of course, we always want to put these within the framework of God’s redemption – the Good News of Jesus and the Kingdom of God; and we always want to be careful to speak the truth in love. But truth can hurt, even as it heals, and that is precisely what God intends.

If we shield people from the goads and nails of the Word of God, how will they ever have a decent opportunity to come to their senses?

Reflect.
1. Why should we expect the Word of God to cause us pain sometimes? What should we do when that happens?

2. I can imagine that Rehoboam, by the time he’d read this far in his father’s missive, was getting a little irritated and maybe feeling a bit bruised. Do you think Solomon understood that? How did he intend these verses to further his point about wisdom?

3. As in chapter 1, Solomon referred to himself as the “Worship Leader” (NKJV – “Preacher”), rather than by name or title. Why? To which season of his life was he pointing? Ultimately, Whom was he seeking to honor?

“The words of the wise are as goads.” Even the Lord Jesus goaded Saul when he was a persecutor. Consider how salutary was the goad that made of a persecutor an apostle, saying, “It is hard for you to kick against the goad.” Ambrose of Milan (333-397), Letter 15, To Constantius

Goad me by Your Word, Lord, and I will repent! Nail Your Word fast to my soul, and I will…

Pray Psalm 71.21-24.
Where do you want the Lord to “increase” your “greatness” today? In knowing Him? In your witness? To whom will you talk today about the righteousness of the Lord?

Sing Psalm 71.21-24, 3.
Psalm 71.21-24, 3 (Solid Rock: My Hope is Built on Nothing Less)
Increase my greatness, comfort me, and unto You shall praises be.
Your truth I will exalt full well, O Holy One of Israel!
Refrain, v. 3
A Rock of habitation be; command Your Word to rescue me.
My Rock and Fortress ever be!

My lips with joy and praises ring; to You, Redeemer, praise I bring!
I praise Your goodness all day long; Lord, humble all who do me wrong.
Refrain

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).