The scripture for today, December 13, is Ecclesiastes 12:13 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
When the King James Version was published in the early 1600s, they italicized all words that were not in the original language of the Bible. The word “duty” above was not in the original.Translators inserted it to help us understand the original. But perhaps in this case it did not help. Fearing God is the whole of man ~ not our duty, but our essence.
Fearing the Lord is a gift. Isaiah 11:2 predicted regarding Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him ~
“…the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,”
“…the Spirit of counsel and of power,”
“…the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.”
Solomon had tried everything to find happiness, as he explained in his book of Ecclesiastes ~ Pleasure (ch. 2), hard work (ch. 3), advancement (ch. 4), riches (ch. 5). None brought him true happiness. Eventually, he concluded that only one thing can bring that happiness deep down inside where no one and no situation in life can touch it ~ God. God is the whole of man ~ if we let Him be.
Why? Ecclesiastes 3:11 explains it richly: “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” Another way to view this is “There is a God-shaped emptiness in the heart of man.” Fill your mind with the Word of God. Then God will fill your heart and being, and make you feel full.