All Articles For Ecclesiastes

Of this one who is great in the annals of the history of Israel we must say just a word more. It is demanded by the text in question, for it says of this Moses that he so very clearly saw the underlying issue in his decision to refuse to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. It was the “pleasures of sin for a season” or it was “suffer the reproach of Christ.” 

“The ministers of the Word of God and likewise the professors of theology (which also behooves the other professors and school teachers) shall subscribe to the Three Formulas of Unity, namely, the Belgic Confession of Faith, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dordrecht, 1618-19, and the ministers of the Word who refuse to do so shall de facto be suspended from their office by the consistory or classis until they shall have given a full statement, and if they obstinately persist in refusing, they shall be deposed from their office.” —Article 53, D.K.O.

That the title above is a partial quotation is evident at once.  That it is a partial quotation of Ecclesiastes 12:13 is not self evident. But to all who know this text, it will be known. The full text is, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” 

Reprinted from When Thou Sittest In Thine House, by Abraham Kuyper, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1929. Used by permission of Eerdmans Publishing Co.   Autumn   In some parts of England autumn is still called “fall.” The common word used overseas for the waning part of the year is the familiar word “autumn,” an expression derived from the French. But however widely this French word gained the field, the original word is by no means passed away, and in ordinary conversation one still uses the descriptive, significant word of “fall,” precisely the same word that is...

For some time in the past the undersigned has been more or less occupied with a study of and reflection upon the meaning of the question of marriages, abstinence from the marriage tie, the unbelieving party in the marriage tie in the church which had been called out of heathendom and idol worship, and the relative betterment of one’s lot and position in the world, but not entering into the marriage state.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night sheweth knowledge.” Psalm 19:1, 2. Indeed they do! Speech about God; His infinite beauties! Knowledge about God; His divine praises and glory! How well David understood that all creation is a continuous speech, declaring to us the eternal and wonderful thoughts of God. 

We have just recently celebrated Christmas day. In it we commemorated the birth of births. It was the birth of the Son of God from the virgin Mary. Of him we confess, believing the testimony of God concerning His Son, “this is the true God and eternal life,” I John 5:20b. He is Emmanuel, God-with-us! And nothing really has any meaning for us in the Scriptures that does not directly or indirectly preach this Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 

We saw in our former installment on these verses that the man of godly contentment is rich in God. And it alone is true riches, affording satisfaction for the entire man, body, soul and spirit, and that, too, for time and for eternity. When this is applied to our present existence here on earth it can be summed up as is done by the apostle in verse 8 “But having food and raiment, with these things let us be content.” It should be observed that the apostle employs the present active participle “having.” This underscores that this is a having...

In one of the better known magazines that can be found on today’s newsstand is an article with the title,What Not to Tell a Child About God. This definitely is the negative approach. And it seems as though modern child-psychology finds it quite difficult to avoid negative statements and negative instruction. It is not our purpose to criticize this magazine article, even though we certainly do want to teach our children some of the things presented in that article as damaging to the spiritual life of the child. We certainly intend to teach our children that God sees all that...

It was a very different time when Solomon lived from the time in which youth lives today. But the words of Solomon still are appropriate and words of true wisdom: “Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” If in Solomon’s day there were many earthly things to occupy the time and mind of youth, what shall we say of today? In fact from Adam’s day until today there has been a steady increase in the number of earthly things upon which to set one’s affections and an increasingly greater number of ways to seek the flesh. In Paradise...