Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Solomon’s concluding statement reiterated what he said earlier (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; Ecclesiastes 7:15-18; Ecclesiastes 11:9-10; Ecclesiastes 12:1) and elsewhere (Proverbs 1:7; cf. Job 28:28). Trust and obedience are what everyone owes God-in view of future judgment.

"Though a future judgment after death is indeed the solution to the enigma Solomon had observed in the unequal distribution of justice in human history (cf. Ecclesiastes 7:15; Ecclesiastes 8:14), no evidence suggests that Solomon believed in [i.e., was aware of] such a judgment. Life after death was as enigmatic to him (cf. Ecclesiastes 11:8) as the unequal distribution of justice. His emphasis was on this life (’under the sun’) and its opportunities for service (cf. Ecclesiastes 9:10; Ecclesiastes 12:1-7) and enjoyment (cf. Ecclesiastes 2:24-26; Ecclesiastes 3:12; Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 5:18-20; Ecclesiastes 8:15; Ecclesiastes 9:7-9; Ecclesiastes 11:7-10); he thought life after death offered no such opportunities (cf. Ecclesiastes 9:5-6; Ecclesiastes 9:10). Therefore he did not comment on any differences after death between the righteous and the wicked, the wise and the fools, man and beast." [Note: Glenn, pp. 1006-7.]

With the greater light of revelation that we enjoy, it is even more important for us to follow Solomon’s counsel. We should be content to leave the enigmas of life in God’s hands. We should also follow Solomon’s wise counsel to enjoy life, as God enables us to do so, and to serve God acceptably while we can. [Note: See Greg W. Parsons, "Guidelines for Understanding and Proclaiming the Book of Ecclesiastes," Bibliotheca Sacra 160:638 (April-June 2003):159-73; 160:639 (July-September 2003):283-304..]

"What is the ’profit’ of living? What does a man get for all his work? He gets the living God! And his whole profit consists of fearing Him and obeying His Word." [Note: Kaiser, Ecclesiastes . . ., p. 125.]