1) Whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13
Many people seek wisdom. Many more seek knowledge and will study until late at night to pass exams, and keep up a gruelling study regime for years. Some people seek acumen in how to 'get ahead' and self-help books often enjoy huge sales. But what if we are missing the key to it?
Ecclesiastes 12: 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Solomon here states that understanding and keeping God's commandments is an important key. In fact he says that it is the “whole duty” of man. In Proverbs 2, he had developed this theme.
Incline your ear unto wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yea, if thou cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; Then shall you understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2 :2-6)
How do we gain knowledge, wisdom and understanding? The Psalmist explains the means by which this is achieved.
Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
This word is the Bible. In the world we are surrounded by many things that take up so much of our time, our energy and thoughts. So much so, that to open the word of God requires determination. Salvation depends on an understanding of the mind of the Spirit and this can only be achieved with a regular reading of his divine word to remove the influences of all that takes over our lives in a world that is dominated by pleasure.
The Psalmist states that the word is a “lamp”, a guiding “light”, that shows the way to understanding. This is explained in the preceding verses. The Psalmist seeks understanding so that that right path is made clear. He wants to understand the Lord's own words.
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. (Psalm 119: 103-104)
The Apostle Paul also advised those who sought salvation to search the scriptures and the Bereans proved to be keen students of the scriptures, the writings of Moses the Psalms and the prophets.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming there went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. (Acts 17: 10-12)
For us, can we find at least some time daily to absorb the word of God and the mind of the Spirit? This is the communication that Yahweh has given to mankind. In Psalm 119 there is frequent repetition of the Psalmist's desire to understand the law and commandments of the Lord. Paul in the book of Romans explains it in the following way:
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8: 5-8)
Paul advised Timothy to seek to understand the 'word of truth' and reject the philosophising of men.
Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (II Timothy 2 :15-16)
For more see Unbelief in God
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)
This may be one of the most misunderstood passages of the Bible. Paul is notorious for long sentences of connected thoughts, and this is part of a complex wide ranging thought which lasts 2 chapters, and includes what seems opposite advice:
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Cor. 5:11-13)
As I was thinking to write this article, having just read Psalm 46 as I do each year on that day, on January 25th a Bible was found untouched after a tornado hit Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
We have been given many time periods to prophetic events in the Bible. Many people think it too hard, and do not make an effort to understand them. However, if they were not to be understood, why were they given? And the Bible says the wise shall understand (Daniel 12:10).
In the light of the findings of science, how literally do we take what the scriptures say about the power of the God of the Bible, Yahweh Elohim (literally He who will become Mighty Ones)? Science at its best is a measurement of observable and repeatable phenomenon wrapped up in explanations which abound in analogy. There is no doubt in the benefit of investigating phenomena of the natural world. The surprising thing is that the more we investigate natural phenomena, the more it fits the explanations recorded over 2000 years ago.
The God of Israel is approachable and reasonable. He often speaks directly to his people. The following will seek to understand a passage where he speaks via the prophet Amos which has a few variant translations.
