Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20031210.htm

ECCLESIASTES: PROVIDING A CORRECT WORLD VIEW FOR A LIFE OF MEANING
Part VIII: The Need To Heed Ecclesiastes Over Secular Books On World Views
(Ecclesiastes 12:9-12 with 12:13-14)
  1. Introduction
    1. To cite our Statement of Faith, we at Nepaug Church believe " . . . The Bible is God's sole written revelation to man . . " and that "There is no further revelation, prophecy or vision to be expected before the Lord's return, for the Bible is both sufficient and authoritative until His return to equip us thoroughly for every good work.'" (Section 1 with a reference to 2 Timothy 3:15-4:2)
    2. In viewing this statement, one may wonder if we place too lofty a degree of importance on the Bible as compared to books by other gifted humans, but Solomon answers this concern in Ecclesiastes 12:9-14:
  2. The Need To Heed Ecclesiastes Over Secular Books On World Views, Ecclesiastes 12:9-12; 12:13-14.
    1. Knowing his readers might want to disregard what he wrote in Ecclesiastes in preference for what other "authorities" might write on a proper world view, Solomon included a closing section that reveals the superiority of Ecclesiastes relative to those of secular authors on the same subject (Ecclesiastes 12:9-12):
      1. First, Solomon claimed he was wise, Ecclesiastes 12:9a; since 1 Kings 3:11-12 reveals this wisdom was God-given and was greater than any mortal before or after Solomon (accept, of course, that of Christ), the reader owes his attention to what Solomon wrote above what all other sages have written!
      2. Second, Solomon gave a lot of thought in his God-given wisdom to produce Ecclesiastes in a way that would make the best impact, so the readers owe great respect to what Ecclesiastes expresses, 12:9b-10.
      3. Third, like other works by wise, godly men that stimulate people to wise living, Solomon's words had been produced under divine inspiration of the One Shepherd, God (See Gen. 49:24; Ps. 80:1 and Ps. 95:6-7 where the role of God as Shepherd and Creator are united as in Eccles. 12:1, 11, cf. Bib. Know. Com., O.T., p. 1006). Hence, Solomon warned against seeking better answers from secular works on the matters addressed by Ecclesiastes; they would wear themselves out trying to do so! (Eccles. 12:12)
    2. Accordingly, Solomon warned his readers to heed his teachings in Ecclesiastes versus what secular authors said on the same subject of a proper world view, for the readers would have to give an account to the divine author behind Ecclesiastes regarding every thing they do, be it good or evil, Eccles. 12:13-14:
      1. In final summary to his work on a proper world view, Solomon related the main conclusion to his thesis was that man was created by God to respect so as to come to obey Him, Ecclesiastes 12:13.
      2. Indeed, Solomon claimed God would bring every deed by man, be it good or evil into His accounting either in his earthly life or in the eternal state; man was thus responsible to heed His will, 12:14.
      3. So, in view of the existence of other works on world views, Solomon urged his readers to value his work above all the others by secular authors as follows:
        1. Solomon wanted his readers to realize his wisdom was God-given versus that of secular authors; thus, his readers were accountable to God to heed Ecclesiastes above the works of secular authors.
        2. Solomon wanted his readers to realize he had put much effort into the work to make the most edifying impact. Thus, he meant what he was trying to convey, so God would hold Solomon's readers accountable to adjust their lives to comply with Ecclesiastes' thrust.
        3. Solomon wanted his readers to realize that since Ecclesiastes itself was God-inspired, the reader was obliged to adjust every thought and act to respect so as to obey God as Ecclesiastes taught versus what some other secular author(s) taught in their works. After all, the reader would be held accountable by God for obeying Ecclesiastes and not for heeding these secular authors.
Lesson: As Solomon's wisdom was the GREATEST wisdom given to a man by God, as he worked hard to make Ecclesiastes an effective presentation on a proper world view and as Ecclesiastes is divinely inspired, GOD EXPECTS us to DO what ECCLESIASTES SAYS -- to RESPECT and HEED GOD so as to PREPARE to give an account to Him -- versus heeding what all other secular books teach!

Application: In view of the CLEAR divine ROLE in the FORMATION of Ecclesiastes, Solomon's work on the proper world view, and thus knowing that GOD expects us to HEED its message to respect so as to heed Him in view of our coming accountability to Him, may we subject what all other secular authors say about a proper world view (philosophy) and respect and heed God!