Ecclesiastes 12:11 Words of the Wise As Goads

Ecclesiastes 12:11 (KJV)  The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. 

A goad is an iron tip of a pole, that the shepherd uses to prick and direct the cattle to move in the desired direction. These goads as the wise words that are carefully chosen by Solomon to point men to the living and true God.

He showed the vain life, an empty life without God in the preceding chapters and coming to a conclusion, he sought to jolt his readers to understand the true meaning of life.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. 

Such wisdom took Solomon a whole lifetime to grasp. Here he summarizes it so clearly to direct our paths to the blessings of God. Amen.