“Fear God and keep His commandments” Ecclesiastes 12:13

“Fear God and keep His commandments” Ecclesiastes 12:13


INTRODUCTION

1. Solomon as the writer of Ecclesiastes

2. A book that reflected how torn he was in his life

a) He had great wealth

b) He had much knowledge

c) He had great power for he was a king

d) But deep down he had to fight abouts of despair

 

AN IMPORTANT SUMMARY STATEMENT

9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge;

yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.

10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd.

12 And further, my son, be admonished by these.

Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Ecclesiastes 12:9-12

1. The Preacher

a) Solomon uses this term to describe himself

b) He saw himself as the teacher-preacher rather than the king

c) He wanted his people to appreciate the worth of the truths proclaimed

2. The Task of the Preacher

a) To teach effectively

b) To admonish

c) To communicate vital truths given by God

3. The process

a) To gather proverbial material

b) To ponder over them

c) To set them in order

d) To find acceptable words

e) To teach words of truth

f) Recognition of God as that One Shepherd who gives needed wisdom

i) Words of the wise

ii) Words of scholars

iii) They are meant to admonish

 

THE FEAR OF GOD

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

14 For God will bring every work into judgment,

Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

1. The Fear of God

a) This was placed first

b) This highlights the significance of this teaching

2. The keeping of God’s commandments

a) The fear of God is closely related to the commandments of God

b) God’s commandments

i) They are to be discovered

ii) They are to be comprehended

iii) They are to be kept

3. This is man’s all

a) This is a startling statement!

b) This goes back to what Moses taught

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God,

to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” Deuteronomy 10:12

i) God’s requirement

ii) To fear the Lord God

iii) To walk in all His ways

iv) To love Him

v) To serve Him with all the heart and with all the soul

4. God will judge all things

a) He will assess

b) He will pass judgment

c) God will see through all of man’s work in life

 

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To discover Truth

2. To practise the fear God

3. To fulfil what God has commanded

4. To serve the Lord faithfully

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