Understanding The Bible
STUDY REFERENCE
Clarence E. Mason's "OLD TESTAMENT POETIC BOOKS"
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Notes on Ecclesiastes: Part 5: THE ONLY SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO LIFE ... AND DEATH

 

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Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr.
Philadelphia College of Bible
1969

THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES
Notes on Ecclesiastes: Part 5 - The Only Satisfactory Solution to Life ... and Death


  1. The Only Satisfactory Solution to Life ... and Death, 12:9-14
    1. Return to God's Word, 12:9-12
      12:9 Set in order many proverbs. Many proverbs were set in order by Solomon to guard against the evils and vanity of life. He wants others to avoid his useless searchings in human reasonings "under the sun" (v. 12).
    2. Final admonition: Trust and obey, 12;13-14
      12:13 Let us hear the conclusion. Verse 13 may also be read, "This is the end of the matter, all hath been heard; fear God, and keep His commandments; for this is the duty of all men."
      12:13 Keep His commandments. This plainly teaches that God has revealed Himself in certain definite obligations, recorded permanently in written form; in other words, IN HIS WORD: THE BIBLE. It proves also that Solomon forsook the uncharted sea of human ideas and returned to the safe harbor of God's Word, this being the ONLY authority in the moral and spiritual realm. Nothing less than trusting in God and obeying His w=Word will keep us happy and safe when we appear before Him in judgment (v. 14).

      In New Testament language we would say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior" ("fear God"), and "obey His Word" ("keep His commandments"), for (v. 14) "we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ" (2 Cr. 5;10) to be examined concerning "the things done in the body," not to see if we are saved, for John 5:24 says, "he that believeth ... cometh not into judgment"; but to receive rewards and to purge away the worthless works (1 Cor 4:5; 3:12-15).

 

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