The Final Conclusion

For the last 10 weeks we’ve been studying what many people believe is one of the most interesting books ever written. According to the famous author Thomas Wolfe, "Ecclesiastes is the greatest single piece of writing I have ever known, and the wisdom expressed in it the most lasting and profound." Herman Melville who wrote Moby Dick agrees, “The truest of all men was the Man of Sorrows, and the truest of all books is Solomon’s…Ecclesiastes". Even Bono, the singer from U2, describes Ecclesiastes as one of his favorite books. Hopefully you’ve been able to see for yourself why the study of this book is so important. 

Today we are going to look at Ecclesiastes 12:9-14. As chapter 12 comes to a close, it is quite obvious that the tone of the author changes. This leads some scholars to argue that verses 9 thru 14 are written by an editor. Others argue that Solomon is simply reflecting on his journey and providing a closing summary. Either way these verses are essential to the message of the book. They provide us with important insight into Solomon’s message, which is summed powerfully in verse 13: "Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”