For as long as I can remember, Ecclesiastes has been a book to which I return again and again. It is probably my favorite of the 66 books of Scripture. There is so much wisdom in Ecclesiastes, I am eager to teach it. (My view is that you don’t really know a subject until you can teach it clearly and accurately.)

Solomon states the theme in his conclusion: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Eccl 12:13-14, ESV).

So, we cannot say that Solomon was unclear. He tells us plainly what the “end of the matter” is–to fear the Lord and to keep his laws. Why? Because God is light and he brings all backroom, closeted, nefarious, and hidden things to light. God exposes. God is the God of transparency. There is no hiding from God. Why? Because God knows all and will reveal all. God delights in openness and transparency.

Questions: But do schemers like the light? Do they want the light of holiness to shine upon their ways? Do they welcome transparency? Or do they instead thrive upon whispers and off-the-grid meetings? The questions answer themselves, do they not?

Encouragement: Ecclesiastes is integral to the Wisdom Literature of Scripture. Its focus is wisdom. And wisdom is inseparable from God and God’s ways. God exposes things to the light. That is why Christians are called to be people of light who expose the darkness.

May God be gracious to raise up and sustain a people of wisdom, courage, and light so that the deeds of darkness might be exposed in the light of his holiness.