Ecclesiastes 12:11
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
What are these words of the wise? They are no light words. They cannot be the maxims of human wisdom, because — unlike these multifarious tossings — they are given from One Source. This Source is He, ‘on whom all of us ought to depend and stay — the Everlasting Son of God — the Church’s Chief and Supreme Shepherd.’(Serran and Diodati.) They must therefore be his words — ‘Hereby then is marked the Divine Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures delivered by Inspiration unto the penmen thereof for the use of the Church — the Spirit of God being in those that wrote them.’ (Bp. Reynolds.) They are his words, and they come from him. They are not therefore only partly Inspired — and therefore only partly the word of God. But it is the Shepherd breathing his own mind into the mind of his several penmen; thus preserving the Revelation contained therein from all possibility of error; — and bringing out for our repose an unfaltering testimony and an infallible appeal.
Though the Masters, through whom the word is given, are many, the authority is the One Shepherd. The Prophets — Apostles — Preachers — Ministers of all ages — of all degrees — are separated as the Masters of assemblies directing the service, and stirring up the affections of the assemblies, and upholding the visible glory of the Great Head and King in his Church. And how striking is the sight — each of these Masters receiving his Authority from the One Shepherd — all acting by his Authority — all, serving in dependence upon his promised grace and blessing.*
Solomon illustrates the power of the words of the wise by goads — so needful to urge on the sluggish oxen in their forward pace — turning neither to the right hand nor to the left. And who of us does not need the goad? Slumbering as we are in cold formality — hearing the word, as if we heard it not — what a mercy is it to feel the piercing point of the goad,** experimentally to know the “Scripture as profitable for reproof” (2 Tim. 3:16) — awakening — alarming — stirring up the cry of anxious distress, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37) Is it not fearful to be under the power of the word, and yet to continue so insensible? as if the goad just touched the skin, and did not penetrate the heart?
The nails also form the Shepherd’s furniture to fasten his tent to the ground, and to make the sheepfold thoroughly secure, not less are thy needed by us. If the smart of the goad is felt; yet how slight and transient! We want the fastening impression — the nails driven home to the conscience — a steady Divine influence fixing our hearts in the ways and service of God. We want such truth as is commonly found in affliction — or in the exercise of deep mental conflict — such as maintains an enduring impression to the very end of life. This is truth fixed — not as a sound of words, but as an instrument of life. Christian! Do not you realize the immense moment and value of this fixing work? Every atom of truth is worth a mountain of gold. If from want of care it slips away, (see the same idea under a different figure, Heb. 2:1, water running out.) how eagerly does the ever-watchful enemy fill up the vacuum with his seven-fold deadly poison! (Matt. 12:44-45) Truth slightingly valued is easily lost, and unspeakably fearful is the loss! When we cease to value truth, we are already in the atmosphere of error. O my God! bind upon my heart these words of the wise. Let me bow to their authority with the reverence of undisputing faith, and with the grateful acknowledgment of ready and unreserved obedience. Let the Bible satisfy me in all my disputations.
— Charles Bridges (1794-1869)
* There is some difficulty in the translation of the words — Masters of assemblies. Our own version has warranted authority. But we may advert to Holden’s translation — The Masters of Collections (an Hebraism for collectors), those who collected and set in order the words of the wise — the sayings of men Divinely inspired, given from One Source. See Prov. 25:1. This gives some idea of the mode, in which the sacred canon was gradually formed. Whitaker gives a curious discussion with the Jesuit — who produced the text in proof of the Pope’s authority in matters of faith, as ‘the Priest of the New Testament.’ — Disputations on Scripture, pp. 422, 423. See also Lorin, in loco.
** ‘This’ — as an annotator on Bp. Lowth remarks — ‘is one of the geminate proverbs (or those that contain a double image), and requires a different mode of interpretation for the two images, as having nothing coalescent in their nature. It is the property of a proverb to prick sharply, and hold firmly. The first idea is included in the image of a goad, the latter in the nail — deeply, and therefore firmly, ‘driven.’ — Lect. on Hebrew Poetry, xxiv. note S. H. (Henley).
