From this point until the end of his thesis, the Teacher is spoken of in the third person, so the rest of Ecclesiastes reflects the sentiment of his editor and/or a second contributor. I don’t mean to imply wrongdoing or that the rest of chapter 12 isn’t inspired or the word of God. Rather, just as other men edited and/or contributed to some of Paul’s letters (1Thessalonians 1:1; 2Thessalonians 1:1), so, too it was done here. Therefore, we know that at least one other man has contributed to the Teacher’s thesis, and this is found in Ecclesiastes 12:9-14.[1]
It is said that the Teacher/Solomon was wise and taught the people knowledge, implying folks gathered together to listen to him speak (1Kings 4:34; 10:1-7). Solomon would weigh his words, in an effort to cause them to reveal to his listeners exactly what he intended to communicate, which was the same manner in which he wrote many proverbs (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10).
His words were inspired by God and were as goads, which are sharp tools of iron used to guide cattle in the way the master intends (Ecclesiastes 12:11; cp. 1Samuel 13:21; Acts 26:14). They are also described as nails that were fastened (H5193), which is the same word as planted in Ecclesiastes 3:2.[2] In other words, the word of God is put to memory and is sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Such words cause a man to think about and consider his life and the manner in which he lives, and they stick to one’s mind and resurface later, causing one to rethink and reconsider the word of God on other occasion, as the words of truth apply to his life (cp. John 14:26).
The editor also mentions the masters of assemblies, and these point to under-shepherds. Peter calls them elders in the church who had been called to guide the flock, until the chief Shepherd returns (1Peter 5:2-4). Therefore, by whatever means the word of the Lord comes to us, give the word of the Lord the chief place in our hearts and trust him to guide you. There is no end to the books one could read, but at the end of the day one is only wearied by all that learning (Ecclesiastes 12:12). Not that an education isn’t worthwhile, but all those books don’t answer the big questions of life in the same manner that the word of God does, and his words are living, sticking to one’s memory, and they keep returning to guide one in his way.
Therefore, the conclusion of the whole matter is to fear God and keep his covenant that you made with him in your youth (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13). It is the whole duty of man, because all that the Lord requires of mankind is to love him and serve him with all of one’s heart, soul (Deuteronomy 10:12; cp. Matthew 22:36-40). Thus, everyone will one day stand before him and give an account of what he has done with the life he was given (Ecclesiastes 12:14), and he will be rewarded accordingly (Ecclesiastes 11:9; cp. John 5:29; Acts 17:30-31).
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[1] Another example of editing and contributing could be seen in Numbers 12:3 where it is said that Moses was the meekest man on earth. This could hardly be true, if Moses, who authored the book of Numbers, also wrote that about himself. It was added by an editor, perhaps Joshua or Samuel.
[2] E.W. Bullinger testifies that Eastern walls were either too hard or too soft to have nails hammered into them. Instead, the nails were built into the wall as it was erected.
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