Ecclesiastes 12: 9-14

Only one thing to say

Ecclesiastes 12: 9-14

Wisdom Around

In short, we do not know for certain why or how this book {Ecclesiastes} found its way into such esteemed company.

Shields, M.A., 2006. The End of Wisdom: A Reappraisal of the Historical and Canonical Function of Ecclesiastes. Eisenbrauns, Winona Lake, Ind. (use)

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

Byrds. 1965. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) (use)

A great philosopher once wrote... naughty, naughty very naughty.

Shamen, 1992. Ebeneezer Goode. One Little Indian, UK. (use)

Ecclesiastes 12:8

Useless, useless, said the Philosopher. It is all useless. (use)

Ecclesiastes 12:11

The sayings of the wise are like the sharp sticks that shepherds use to guide sheep, and collected proverbs are as lasting as firmly driven nails. They have been given by God, the one Shepherd of us all. (use)

In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man's welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it.

Lincoln, A., 1864. Reply to Loyal Colored People of Baltimore upon Presentation of a Bible. (use)

Ecclesiastes 12:10

The Philosopher tried to find comforting words, but the words he wrote were honest. (use)

...the more victim categories someone is in, the more empowered that person is, the more important that person is, the more truthful that person is, the more authoritative that person is.

MacArthur, J., 2018. Social Justice and the Gospel, Part 1. (use)

Matthew 11:8

What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in fancy clothes? People who dress like that live in palaces! (use)

Yes, many on ye are lookin’ to yourselves, but it’s no use lookin’ there. You’ll never find any comfort in yourselves. (Spurgeon listening to the sermon that led to his conversion.)

Spurgeon, C., 2010. Collected Works Vol. 2. Revelation Insight, Haines City, FL. [pg.169] (use)

Proverbs 3:18

Those who become wise are happy; wisdom will give them life. (use)

The eternal and immutable law of God still stands, like the proverbial elephant in the room, as it has since the beginning of human existence.

Tompsett, D., 2015. Religion and Spirituality: Paul: The Man at the Intersection. (use)

1 Corinthians 1:23

As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles; (use)

Acts 17:30

God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now he commands all of them everywhere to turn away from their evil ways. (use)

Ecclesiastes 12:13

After all this, there is only one thing to say: have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that human beings were created for. (use)

We were created by God and for God, and we will find ourselves most fully when we find ourselves in him and turn our attention towards him.

Smith, Judah. 2016. How's Your Soul? (use)

Acts 8:26

An angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get ready and go south to the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This road is not used nowadays.) (use)

Let us not be shaken by the tempests that arise, but let us always remain constant in our purpose; and stand as witnesses for the Son of God, seeing He is so gracious as to use us in such a good cause.

Calvin. J., Thirty-Six Sermons. (use)

Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. (use)

Ephesians 2:10

God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do. (use)

We’ll want to love our neighbors. And loving our neighbors means meeting their physical need while recognizing that their most important need is decidedly spiritual. They’re dead and in need of life. We need justice operated out of gospel love.

Crowe, J., 2016. Gen Z, Let’s Prioritize the Gospel as We Pursue Justice. (use)

Jeremiah 6:9

Listen, earth! As punishment for all their schemes I am bringing ruin on these people, because they have rejected my teaching and have not obeyed my words. (use)

As sinful people, we have every reason to fear God’s judgment; it is part of our motivation to be reconciled with God.

Sproul, R.C. 2018. What Does it Mean to Fear God? (use)

Titus 1:16

They claim that they know God, but their actions deny it. They are hateful and disobedient, not fit to do anything good. (use)

"You do you" has become the slogan for a generation that prides itself on individual expression. It’s a statement of one’s individual right to judge what’s best for himself, regardless of what others say or think.

Fobes, C., 2018. The False Gospel of 'You Be You'. (use)

Hebrews 9:27

Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. (use)

Ecclesiastes 12:14

God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret. (use)

One of the key tenets of Christianity is not to judge. That judgement will come from a higher authority in due course.

Rees-Mogg, J. 2019. Interviewed by Channel 4 News, 12 June 2019. MPs reject Labour motion to prevent no-deal Brexit. (use)

2 Kings 24:20

The LORD became so angry with the people of Jerusalem and Judah that he banished them from his sight. (use)

That in the mingled web of human affairs God's judgment is present, though it cannot be discerned.

Augustine of Hippo. 426. City of God. (use)

Ezekiel 18:30

Now I, the Sovereign LORD , am telling you Israelites that I will judge each of you by what you have done. Turn away from all the evil you are doing, and don't let your sin destroy you. (use)

God has the right at any moment to destroy those who turn away from Him to falsehood, and it is a sign of His grace and patience that He does not immediately destroy everyone who does this and that He even chooses to save some of them.

Rothwell, R. 2018. Religious Genocide? Canaan? Tabletalk. (use)

Psalm 75:2

"I have set a time for judgement," says God, "and I will judge with fairness." (use)

Even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation. All participants in 2018 Finding: 23% agree vs. 69% disagree

LifeWay Research, Ligonier Ministries. 2018. The State of Theology. (use)

The cross stands high above the opinions of men and to that cross all opinions must come at last for judgment.

Tozer, A.W., 2006. The Radical Cross: Living the Passion of Christ. Wingspread, Camp Hill, PA. (use)

Romans 3:23

everyone has sinned and is far away from God's saving presence. (use)

If you are a preacher, regardless of what people’s social condition is, you have one job, and that is to warn them of wickedness and the coming judgment of God.

MacArthur, J. 2018. Social Justice and the Gospel, Part 1. Grace to You. (use)

This doctrine of god's judgement should not be an embarrassment to the church. It is not simply a negative doctrine. It is profoundly positive.

Wells, D.F., 2008. The Courage to be Protestant. IVP. (use)

Acts 17:31

For he has fixed a day in which he will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man he has chosen. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising that man from death! (use)

The central issue of Jesus’ death is not the cause, but the purpose—the meaning.

Piper, J., 2006. Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die. (use)

1 Peter 1:17

You call him Father, when you pray to God, who judges all people by the same standard, according to what each one has done; so then, spend the rest of your lives here on earth in reverence for him. (use)

For this reason, social activism was deemed irrelevant to the most essential task: the work of preparing oneself, and helping others prepare, for final judgment.

Gerson, M., 2018. Trump and the Evangelical Temptation. (use)

2 Corinthians 5:10

For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. We will each receive what we deserve, according to everything we have done, good or bad, in our bodily life. (use)