Wise Words --- Ecclesiastes 12:6-14.

The book of Ecclesiastes is a collection of wise words. Strange then that it opens with ‘Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.’ Stranger still is the fact that as it nears its conclusion the words are repeated. It seems to me that this is actually the end result of ignoring, rejecting or ridiculing God’s wise words. All ages should read this collection of sacred and secular wisdom and know its profit to heart and mind, relationship and motivation.

 The preacher, as he is called, concluded his insights to life and his testimony with incisive words for all, and especially for writers.  ‘The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. He likened that which was included within the collection to ‘goads and nails’ Ecclesiastes 12:10-11. Apparently in the days of the Preacher you needed to insert any nails where you wanted them as you built the wall. This was due to the fact that such structures were either too hard or fragile to have nails hammered in.

Be that as it may, when applied to our writing the principle is correct. The penetrating force of our words is woven into the story, not something simply attached later. Whether we write fiction or non-fiction our writings needs to have in them some goads and nails. These are for the Lord to use as He uses our stories to construct His dwelling within a reader’s life. As the reader journeys with us through the story, let us hope and pray something written goads them. A goad is a stick with a sharp point and is used to stick into the rump of the oxen. Such a reaction may well produce a kick-back or quicken the conscience. It can cause an about turn in behaviour (C/- Acts 9:5) an awakening to a greater understanding of our Lord and His call upon their lives. How many of us have read a book and felt the conscience react to something? Great! Your Lord has purpose in mind to goad you out of something or into something. If you feel somewhat reluctant, that’s okay. Think about all God’s reluctant servants whose names and deeds are honoured in Scripture and Church history.

The ‘nails’ are word pictures or illustrations upon which the reader can hang his heart or mind and know it will not give way. It could be something the Holy Spirit puts on it which is a constant irritation until resolved. You know, verses calling on you to worship when you’d rather be surfing, or learn to pray instead of playing with phone games.  Then, when acted upon it becomes a blessing! In the gallery of the mind there will be many ‘nails’ on which pictures, ornaments and other items will be placed. In our writing we should offer the best to be placed in another’s gallery. Some things we may have previously delighted in and had framed have become an embarrassment. The trouble is, they cannot be taken down. What the life changing Lord does with them is graffiti them. The Holy Spirit writes across them with the poured out life of Jesus ‘forgiven. Cleansed. Cancelled.’

 Being bookish type people we know the quote, ‘Of making many books there is no end and much study wearies the body.’ Ecclesiastes 12: 12. Your shelves probably echo “Amen!” However if my understanding is correct this statement is actually a warning. For in the preceding verses he is highlighting the words, proverbs and sayings of the one Shepherd. By my understanding that is a significant term for our Lord. The writer of Ecclesiastes concluded his own insights with a call for the recognition of priorities. There will always be new books and reprints on the market to capture our time, hearts and minds. Just make sure you do not neglect the most important, the most stimulating and the most spiritually enriching book for all time. That is, the book written by the Shepherd through the life experiences of His ‘pens’, the prophets, priests, apostles and faithful servants.

As the preacher is giving instruction to his son there is always ‘and further’ attached. ‘Be admonished’ arouses in the mind a sense of being prodded or disciplined into action. However, the Hebrew word holds within it such concepts as, teach, warn and shine. What the boy’s father is wanting to see is the words of the wise, the masters of the assembly and the one shepherd ‘shine’ into his heart and mind. That holds true for you and me today. What we allow to shine into our heart will teach us, warn us, guide us – or it will corrupt us, lead us astray and produce ignorance. The same applies to what you write. Will the light it shines open the heart and mind reveal the wonder of God’s grace, creation, providence, character?

 His concluding words remain true.

'Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.'

 This isn’t a grovelling attitude of terror but a recognition of God's holiness and power. For Christians, this fear is also a reverence flavoured by gratitude and amazement. By His mercy Jesus is able to deal with those secret things of the heart. What the Lord requires is when His light reveals these dark areas to confess them and hand them over to be dealt with and a new freedom to be experienced.

 

Ray Hawkins.

 

  

The Word becomes flesh.

 

God the writer, made Himself known through His creation. Psalm 19:1. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. However, whilst they reveal His presence and power we do not meet Him or know what He is like. Our Lord God of Glory had to distance Himself from the descendants of Adam and Eve because Sin came between them. Still our Creator set out to make Himself known and to overturn the barrier. The Scriptures are the record of how He went about doing it.

More than that however, within the pages of our Bibles are ‘word paintings’ and historical encounters which introduce us to the unseen God. Jesus in John 5:39 summed it up so well, “you search the scriptures … and they testify of me.” As our Lord said to Philip “He who has seen me has seen the Father” John 14:9. Most of the New Testament letters give us more and clearer pictures of the unseen God because of the miracle at Bethlehem. The gospel of John puts the Christmas event in most forthright and dramatic manner. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ The Creator was to become the Redeemer. The writer of the plan of salvation was putting flesh upon His words. This was foretold in the psalms and claimed by the writer to the Hebrews to be Jesus. ‘Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “… a body you have prepared for me.”’ (Hebrews 10:5 and Psalm 40:6-8).

 The Gospels are the account of the one we believe is Emmanuel – God with us.  He became flesh so as to be our Redeemer after being tested in the flesh as we are. The cross was the final act by which the truth of His person would be revealed. Would His righteousness stand the ultimate test? Is Jesus capable of being our sin-bearer and barrier breaker? The empty tomb is His answer. The words “He is risen” are our reply.

However, the Lord has given His followers a mandate. We have to bear testimony to Him and what He has done. There are any number of ways to do this, but as writers we have a great tradition preceding us in bearing testimony to Jesus. John sets the scene for us as he closes his gospel account. ‘These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.’ (20:31)

As writers, in whatever genre you choose, we have the privilege of mysteriously, subtly, overtly, humorously, in rhyme or parable Etc. presenting Him before the reader. (Think of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien) We are to be similar to the woman in John 4. She was a Samaritan and met Jesus at the village well. It changed her life. In a flurry of excitement see raced back into the village and told the men. Her testimony aroused their interest. They came to check out this wandering Nazarene. After two days on investigation they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the World.” (John 4:42)

We have a wonderful privilege to be creators of words on which people can ‘tread’ to meet the Master. What results from their encounter is not in your power to predict. However, as your readers has been reading the way your characters are portrayed there is an identification taking place. Their circumstances, their conflicts of fear, doubt, unbelief and faith with falls and failures perseverance and hope link the readers to the grace of Christ Jesus. It may take more than the two days the men of Samaria needed but when your readers encounter Jesus He has great delight in making Himself known.

Those who put their trust in Jesus will not have many ready answers. However, the words of another man in John 9 is all that is needed, “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” In a sense, as writers we can be the Lord’s ‘clay’ He puts on the eyes, mind and heart of a person prior to washing away their blindness.