The Ends

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Believe it or not, this is the final message in our sprawling series on Ecclesiastes. We’ve covered a lot of ground over the past 15 messages, and here’s where it all ends.

This message is titled, “The Ends” because there are two endings. First the sage of Ecclesiastes gives his conclusion (a long poem on the pains of death—feel edified yet?). Then, the narrator of the book that introduced the sage in chapter 1 enters to offer a conclusion. With these words, we end:

Fear God,
and keep his commandments;
for that is the whole duty of everyone.
(12:13, NRSV)