27th April 2024

27th April 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Ecclesiastes 12v13-14)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


There are various little signposts throughout Ecclesiastes that direct us to the book's grand conclusion. One such signpost is Solomon's focus on vanity, another is his call for us to enjoy life's simple things and yet another is his understanding of the fear of God.


What is the fear of God? I've written about this before but it bears repeating. There is a difference between servile and filial fear. Servile fear is the kind that a servant has for a wicked master. The servant is constantly living on edge and does his best to stay in his master's good books hoping to avoid punishment. God is not a wicked master and servile fear is not the fear of God.


On the other hand, filial fear is the kind that a child has for a beloved parent. The child longs to please and honour and glorify their parent. It is driven by deep love and respect and it certainly does not cause the child to run and hide from an evil overlord. The Lord God is our heavenly Father and He is completely good. The true fear of God is a filial fear and the one who fears the Lord is very wise indeed (Proverbs 1v7).


Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon stresses the importance of the fear of the Lord. Here is a wee reminder...God's deeds last forever and so everyone should fear Him (3v14). Endless words are vanity, God is the one we should fear (5v7). The one who fears God will persevere (7v18). The God fearer will do well because he fears the Lord (8v12) but the wicked will perish due to their lack of fear (8v13).


As the book comes to a close, Solomon's conclusion is that our entire duty as humans is to fear God and keep His commandments (v13). If you are ever asked about life's meaning, Solomon gives it here. As Presbyterians we have paraphrased Solomon by saying that our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. In summary, we are on earth to fear our Maker and to do what He says. If you think you can avoid such a conclusion then you are a fool for the Lord will surely bring every human deed into judgement at the last day (v14) - so fear God!


Brothers and sisters, I trust you have been blessed by this journey through Ecclesiastes. It is a challenging book but it is full of gold. We've read it, heard it preached and come to the end of the road. What should we take away from it? Vanity all is vanity but your job is to fear God each day under the sun. We don't receive this as mere good advice but the life giving word and wisdom of God. How do we put this into practice? To do the work of God is to believe in the one whom He has sent (John 6v29). To God alone the glory. Amen.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q24 How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
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