S – When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: fear God and keep his commands, because this is for all humanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 CSB

O – Commentary:

the final conclusion The book reaches its conclusion. The definiteness of this advice contrasts with the unending, wearisome, and ultimately futile search for wisdom of the previous verse.

Fear God and obey his commandments In light of humanity’s limitation and God’s supremacy as seen throughout the book, the only proper attitude in life is one of trust and obedience to God. See note on Eccles 3:14.

the whole duty of man Fearing God and keeping His commandments are the duties of all people.

Faithlife Study Bible

A – The end of the book brings the ultimate conclusion – Fear and Reverence God.  Recognize His unlimited power in awe and faith of who He is.  He is the one, true God – the only God.  While he can do anything, he desires a relationship with you.  Reciprocating His love toward us is seen in our obedience, faith and relationship with him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  You have no peer or equal – you alone are God.  We desire a strong relationship with you.  Help us to be obedient to your leading and faithful to your promises.  We love you today!

S – Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. 

¹⁸ For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips. 

¹⁹ I have instructed you today—even you—so that your confidence may be in the Lord

Proverbs 22:17–19 CSB

O – Commentary:

The exhortations in verse 17 to pay attention (cf. 4:1, 20; 5:1; 7:24), listen (cf. 1:8; 4:1, 10, 20; 5:1, 7; 7:24; 8:32–33), and apply your heart (cf. “applying your heart,” 2:2) are calls to pursue and obey what is presented in the 30 sayings. Reasons for the exhortation are given in verses 18–19: it is pleasing to memorize the sayings (keep them in your heart) and to be able to quote and talk about them (have … them … on your lips) because they encourage people to trust … in the Lord.

“Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – We need to apply the exhortations of the scripture today to God’s Word today.  If we want to grow our trust and faith in him, we need to know his character and love.  The Bible is one of our greatest resources and tools.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are Lord of all and none is greater.  Give us a love for your word.  Help us to pay attention, listen and apply all that is held in scripture as we grow closer to you.  Thank you for giving us your word as a way to know you more.

S – And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. 

Ecclesiastes 4:12 CSB

O – Commentary:

Continuing to show the benefits of companionship (vv. 9–11), the author highlights the protection enjoyed by numbers. While one person might be overcome, two people can withstand an attack, and a group of three is stronger still

Faithlife Study Bible 

A – We were not created to do life alone.  Finding a group of people you can do life with regularly is necessary for relationships, support and accountability.  God created us to be relational beings.  These interactions and bonds are vital for our well-being.

R – Heavenly Father, we exalt your name above all names.  Thank you for the relationships you give us in our lives.  They can be messy and challenging.  Yet, they also give us so much more and help us to grow.  Help us communicate, listen and stay united as we live together.

S – There is nothing better for a person than to eat, drink, and enjoy^, his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, ²⁵ because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from him?

Ecclesiastes 2:24–25 CSB

O – Commentary:

In view of the impermanence of the fruits of a man’s toil, Solomon recommended that a man enjoy its fruits (eating and drinking are only metaphorical for partaking of all its fruits) and find satisfaction in his work (cf. 3:13; 5:18; 8:15) as he himself had done (2:10). However, he warned that this was possible only if God enabled one to do so: without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment? Moreover, he warned that God only enables those who please Him to do so

“Ecclesiastes,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Solomon’s journey reveals the presence of God in all that we do.  It reminds us to be grateful for all God gives us because it all comes from Him. 

R – Heavenly Father, you are my God and my Lord.  Thank you for all that you provide for me and my family today.  Without you, my life has no meaning and purpose. With you, I am empowered to be who you created me to be and gifted to accomplish your will.

S – Then Job replied to the Lord: I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted.

Job 42:1–2 CSB

O – Commentary:

In Job’s first response (40:3–5) he admitted his finiteness in the face of God’s display of numerous wonders of nature above, on, and under the earth. But he did not admit to God’s sovereignty or to his own sin of pride. Job now confessed those two things in his second reply. Overwhelmed by the strength and fierceness of the behemoth and the leviathan, Job sensed his own inadequacy to conquer and control evil, which they represented. He therefore saw anew the greatness of God’s power and sovereignty. Job’s words I know that You can do all things point up the folly of his questioning God’s ability to govern the universe. Job’s efforts to thwart (lit., “cut off”) God’s plan were now seen as futile.

“Job,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The understanding of God’s sovereignty and unlimited power in contrast to our finiteness and pride is a constant battle.  Who will stand before the one who created us and knows us best?  Yet, this tension is constant.   We enjoy that enjoy the benefits of God but want our independence too.  Job models the right answer – surrender and humility to God.

R – Heavenly Father, we surrender and worship you as our one, true God.  Forgive us for our attitudes and actions that show our desire for independence.  We cannot do this without your love for us.  In humility, we recognize that you can do all things and we submit to you.

S – Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans 

with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

Job 38:1–3 CSB

O – Commentary:

Then God told Job to get ready for His questions. (Brace yourself like a man; cf. 40:7, is lit., “gird up your loins like a man,” geḇer, “strong man,” that is, tuck your outer robe-like garment into your sash-belt as a man does before taking on a strenuous task such as running or fighting in a battle, Ex. 12:11; 1 Kings 18:46.) Job was to be alert so he could answer God intelligently. This is a striking reversal of Job’s words to God, “Let the Almighty answer me” (31:35). Job the plaintiff had now become the defendant!

  “Job,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – We all have times of challenge with God.  He doesn’t meet our expectations,  answer our prayer or his presence is unfelt. Job has been through a tremendously difficult journey.  God’s questions require Job to “man up” and defend his challenges.  We must do the same with our own lives and attitudes towards God.  There will be a day of “accounting.”  

R – Heavenly Father, you are Jehovah – the one true God.  Our lives are surrendered to you.  Whether victory or challenge, we recognize that you hold all of it in your hands.  We trust that you are leading us to a deeper, stronger relationship with you.  Thank you for your grace and mercy as we purpose to do your will today.

S – The one who loves a pure heart and gracious lips—the king is his friend.

Proverbs 22:11 CSB

O – Commentary:

Purity of motives and thought (a pure heart) and gracious words are appreciated by a king (cf. 14:35; 16:13). Naturally he wants to have people like that around him. So purity and graciousness are advantageous; they help give a person a friendship with leaders in high positions

 “Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – When we keep our hearts pure, it is a game changer.  It moves us closer in proximity and relationship to “the King.”  It is easy to see the outside of people, but only God knows the true heart.  Pure motives and expectations help us stay close to him.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the God of all.  Please help us to stay close to you.  Reveal to us any impurities in our hearts so we can remove any distance in our relationship.  Allow us to see ourselves as you see us.

S – Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

2 Corinthians 3:17 CSB

O – Commentary: 

The Holy Spirit is the personal “Agent” of Christ; He is the Spirit of the Lord (cf. Rom. 8:9). The Two are One in purpose (John 15:26; 16:6–15) and in result (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 5:1). Paul’s words the Lord is the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17; cf. v. 18) do not confuse these two Persons of the Godhead. Instead, they affirm the Holy Spirit’s deity.

A major result of the New Covenant is freedom. Elsewhere Paul compared those under the Old Covenant to children of slavery and those under the New to children of freedom (Gal. 4:24–31). This freedom is possible because Christ has redeemed from the penalty of the Law those who believe so that they become children of God (Gal. 4:5–7). This freedom as children is confirmed by the Spirit, who enables Christians to call God Father (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6).

  “2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A – The Holy Spirit works with us daily and empowers us to walk in freedom.  We need to invite the Holy Spirit into each day and be aware of his leading and prompting.  In doing so, we will enjoy the benefits of the freedom the Lord provides.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you today.  We invite your Holy Spirit to work on our behalf and lead us through our day.  We want freedom from anything distracting us from accomplishing your will and purpose. 

S – He said to mankind, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.

 Job 28:28 CSB

O – Commentary:

God told man (’āḏām, “mankind”) that the essence of wisdom is to fear (“venerate and submit to”) the Lord, even when man cannot understand His ways, and to reject evil, living in accord with God’s standards of holiness. Honoring God (the positive) involves hating sin (the negative; Prov. 8:13). Job’s accusers had insisted that he was not fearing God or eschewing sin and that therefore he was not wise. In Job 28 he argued the opposite: he was fearing God and hating evil (as God Himself had already said of Job, 1:1, 8; 2:3), but they were not! Therefore wisdom and understanding were his, not theirs.

“Job,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – If we fear God, we will love what he loves and hate what he hates.  This is a fear of awe, respect and honor to God.  It draws us closer to Him.  Like Job, we do not move away from God in difficulties or challenges.  Instead, we push toward him even when we don’t see his presence.  That is where wisdom and understanding grows.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one true, God.  In our desire for more of your presence, wisdom and understanding, give us the courage to move towards you.  Life’s challenges want us to run from you.  We choose today to run to you.  Meet us where we are at and help us to grow wiser, with greater understanding.

S – Humility, the fear of the Lord, results in wealth, honor, and life.

Proverbs 22:4 CSB

O – Commentary:

Humility and the fear of the Lord go together (cf. 15:33). A person cannot fear God (worshiping, trusting, obeying, and serving Him) and be filled with selfish pride at the same time. Wealth … honor, and life result from fearing God, and as in 21:21 (see comments there) they also come from righteous living. So the fear of the Lord and righteousness are closely related

“Proverbs,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Walking in humility and reverence of God, it allows our worship, trust and obedience to be authentic.  No wonder the battle of humility and pride is always present in our lives.  We must be aware of it and intentionally fight for humility.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you today.  Give us the strength and courage to walk in humility and faith.  We desire to know you more today.  We honor and fear you and it draws us closer.