Ecclesiastes points us to the gospel.

Ecclesiastes confronts us with the reality of life’s incomprehensible nature. Complete satisfaction in and understanding of life ever eludes man in his fleeting journey under the sun, according to the Preacher. So what does the Preacher offer us as balm? Ecclesiastes 12:10–11,

The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd (Ecclesiastes 12:10–11).

The Preacher offers words of wisdom to guide us through this perplexing life. But these words, Ecclesiastes 12:11 notes, are not originally given by the Preacher. They are the words given by one Shepherd.

When Ecclesiastes points us to this one Shepherd, it points us to the gospel. Let’s see this by asking the simple question: Who is this one Shepherd?

Psalm 23, the LORD, the One Shepherd
Psalm 23 tells us. The LORD is the one Shepherd who provides for all the needs of his people.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The LORD is the one Shepherd who makes his people to rest in peace, who restores their souls, and who leads them in righteousness.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

The LORD is the one Shepherd who guards and comforts his people even in the darkest valleys and in the face of evil.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

The LORD is the one Shepherd who spreads a banquet for his people even in the midst of their enemies, anoints them with oil, and pours their cups to overflowing.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

The LORD is the one Shepherd of his people.

The Promise of Our One Shepherd in Ezekiel 34:22–23
While the LORD is the one Shepherd of his people, we went astray from him. But, he promised to gather us back into his fold. Ezekiel 34:22–23,

I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd (Ezekiel 34:22–23).

The Fulfillment of Our One Shepherd in Jesus
And so in fulfillment of this promise, the LORD, the one Shepherd, not only gave us his wise words to live by, but he stepped into life under the sun as the living Word. Jesus the true David and one Shepherd seeks out and calls his sheep unto himself to give them life now under the sun and eternal life beyond it that cannot be taken away. John 10:27–28,

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand (John 10:27–28).

While we the had sheep strayed into sin, the LORD, our one Shepherd, pursued righteousness. And the one Shepherd laid down his life for his sheep in order to rescue us. John 10:11 and 1 Peter 2:24–25,

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11).

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Peter 2:24–25).

And while the LORD, the one Shepherd, indeed lovingly reigns over his earthbound sheep now in the risen Son Jesus, in eternity the one Shepherd who died as the Passover Lamb for his sheep will reign as God in the midst of his sheep to give us eternal life and comfort. Revelation 7:17,

For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes (Revelation 7:17).

When Ecclesiastes points to the one Shepherd, it points us to the gospel.