Ecclesiastes 12

¹¹ Here, as in many Old Testament passages, fools are those who are morally deficient, who despise knowledge and discipline, and who generally lead godless, even wicked, lives (see Proverbs 1:7 and comment).

¹² Religious people often try to cover over character flaws and moral lapses by engaging in external rituals. It is easier to “offer sacrifices” than to deal with our sins and sinful attitudes.

¹³ In verse 3, the Teacher cites a proverb: Just as empty dreams are caused by the cares of life, so are empty prayers caused by too much talking.

¹⁴ Many people make vows to God; they promise God that if He does something for them, they will do something for Him—contribute money or time, or serve Him in some special way. There is nothing wrong with such vows—as long as they are fulfilled. If we hold back from God what we have promised, we will surely lose what we withhold—and more as well (see Acts 5:1–11).

¹⁵ For Christians—those who look forward to a glorious life in heaven—there is a large element of truth in this saying. To die and go to heaven is indeed better than to continue living here on earth—that is, if we go at the time of God’s choosing! (see 2 Corinthians 5:1–10; Philippians 1:21–23).

¹⁶ Early in his life Solomon had asked God for wisdom, and God had granted his request (see 1 Kings 3:7–12; 4:29–31). But gradually Solomon began to disobey God (1 Kings 11:9–10), and perhaps he lost some of his God-given wisdom as well. Now, in his old age, Solomon feels that wisdom is far off (verse 24). Yet God inspired Solomon to write this book to show us the futility of seeking wisdom apart from Him and to warn us that, if we persist in disobeying God, any wisdom we have gained will count for nothing.

¹⁷ It is not clear why the Teacher says in verse 28 that he found one upright man but not one upright woman; possibly he said it for poetic effect. Or perhaps he was given a prophetic vision of the one upright Man who was still to come, Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ For further discussion of mankind’s fall into sin, see Genesis 3:1–13 and comment; General Article: The Fall into Sin.

¹⁹ Many people take the words eat and drink and be glad out of context (verse 15). The Teacher is not saying that the only meaning in life is to get all the pleasure out of it one can. Rather, he is saying that life can be truly enjoyable and worthwhile if it is lived in dependence on God and in submission to Him. If we seek God first, He will grant us the things we need in life (Matthew 6:33): one of those things is gladness (joy); another is wisdom.

²⁰ When the Teacher uses only human reasoning, he cannot comprehend life’s meaning. But when he turns his mind to God, he sees truth and meaning he didn’t see before. Many of us are like this Teacher: we are on a pilgrimage, a search. One moment we receive a glimpse of divine truth; the next moment we are beset by doubt. But such a search need not go on forever. By the end of the book, the Teacher’s search for meaning comes to an end and his faith is made firm (see Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).

²¹ People who believe in God know that nothing on earth happens by chance; God is sovereign over the entire universe, including every detail of our lives (Matthew 10:29–30).

But that doesn’t mean we humans are robots. Within God’s overall sovereignty, we have been given freedom to make moral choices, and we are responsible for those choices.

²² Some Bible scholars have interpreted verses 1–6 differently: they believe the Teacher is calling us to be generous in our giving to people in need. Those who are generous will not be the losers for it (see Proverbs 11:24–25); God will reward them, whether in this life or the next.

²³ For the godless, everything is indeed meaningless (verse 8). For the godly, however, their days of darkness will be replaced by unending days of light.

²⁴ In verses 1–5, the Teacher uses figurative language to describe the aging process. In verse 2, the lessening of light suggests the loss of vitality and joy; the clouds refer to the aches and anxieties of old age. In verse 3, the body is pictured as a house, the arms as keepers, the legs as strong men, the teeth as grinders, and the eyes as those looking through the windows. In verse 4, the doors. . . are closed, that is, contact with the outside world decreases; sleep is easily disturbed, hearing grows faint. The almond tree blossoms (verse 5) signify the white hair of the elderly; the lame grasshopper signifies loss of motion, loss of desire. Soon man goes to his eternal home—in this context, the grave.

²⁵ The Bible is the infallible source of God’s wisdom. Anything written or spoken that is contrary to the Bible is not wisdom, it is not truth. Books and articles that are based on biblical truth are good to read. But much study (of other books) wearies the body (verse 12). The Teacher is referring to people who are forever reading and searching but who never find the answer, because they are not looking in the right place.

The second source of wisdom is the Holy Spirit Himself. We need the Holy Spirit’s help to understand the Bible and to live our lives according to God’s will. By giving us His word and His Spirit, God has given us everything we need to lead a meaningful and joyful life—a life that will last forever.

²⁶ For the meaning of the expression, Fear God, see Deuteronomy 6:1–3; Proverbs 1:7 and comments.