Ecclesiastes 12:9-14--The Teacher’s Objectives and Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14
Christian Standard Bible

The Teacher’s Objectives and Conclusion
9 In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. 10 The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. 11 The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.

​12 But beyond these, my son, be warned: there is no end to the making of many books, and much study wearies the body. 13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

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We are now at the end of the book and the Teacher states his purposes and conclusion.  He taught the people knowledge and weighted and explored the words of "wisdom" that were being taught to find out which of these things were actually true and worthy of acceptance.  He realized that it wasn't just about finding things that made you feel good (though that was one of his goals) because many people believed lies that made them feel good.  He wanted wisdom that would keep people going in the right direction (even if it felt like the sharp poke of a cattle prod) or something that you could hang your life on like a firmly driven nail that was anchored in the stud that was attached to the foundation.  He realized that all truth comes from one Shepherd--the one who is called the Truth in John 14:6.

He also wanted to warn his son in particular that many people write many books on many topics (sometimes knowing nothing about what they are writing about or writing things that are of no real value or contain no real wisdom worth studying).  How can we know then what is worth our time?  After Solomon had heard and weighed everything, he discarded this "under the sun" perspective and tells us to fear God and obey His commandments.  That is the chief purpose of man in the eyes of Solomon.  Leave for God the issues of justice, for even though we seem to see injustice now, one day, everything will be subject to His final judgment.  Though it may seem there is no advantage to righteousness if we only consider this natural life, there is eternal life to consider that hangs in the balance, and only the LORD we should live with eternity in our hearts so that we would seek to serve the LORD both now and forevermore.