ECCLESIASTES EPILOGUE – JOY

“The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails – given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making of many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

Now all has been heard, here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:10-14)

The words of God’s commandments are like goads, like firmly embedded nails. St. Paul heard the voice of Jesus on the road to Damascus say, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (Acts 26:14) This is a Greek proverb for useless resistance. Goads were used to keep oxen walking straight on the road. It is a spiked stick meant to drive, incite or stimulate. The upright and true words of Scripture are meant to keep us on the narrow road that leads to life (Matt.7:14). It is fearful to stray from the paths of righteousness. Saul thought he was doing God’s will but instead he was destroying the church.

“The Whole Duty of Man”, published in 1657 became a standard devotional guide in England for two centuries. Faith itself was regarded as a duty and defined as belief in the literal validity of every word in Holy Scripture together with threats of wrath and everlasting destruction. There is little good news and the purpose of preaching is seen as merely to remind us of our duties. This led to a form of Christianity that was pure moralism and legalistic. I don’t think this was the intention of Ecclesiastes for there is much in the book about the gift of joy. Martin Luther, who was rescued from legalism by the Gospel of grace wrote, “we may happily enjoy the things that are present and not care at all about the things that are in the future, lest we permit the present moment, our moment, to slip away.”

The commandments give us boundaries and guidelines to keep us from going off the rails and hurting ourselves and others. They are not meant to be burdensome or to kill our joy in the Lord. However we must not ignore them or flout them as though there are no consequences, for a world that has no moral sense, no conscience, no reverence for God’s commands, descends into chaos and anarchy.

Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:9-11)