Of all that’s been written in Ecclesiastes, Solomon may have been the Teacher (Eccl. 12:10 CSB, NIV, NLT) or, if you like, the Preacher (ESV, NASB, and NKJV), but he wasn’t the originator.

In addition to the Teacher being a wise man, he constantly taught the people knowledge; he weighed, explored, and arranged many proverbs. The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and write words of truth accurately. The sayings of the wise are like cattle prods, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.

(Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 CSB)

The sayings are by one Shepherd. That’s what caught my eye, this morning. In particular, the capitalization of the Shepherd who is the one.

Don’t think I ever noticed it before. Though the footnote in my bible says that it could be translated with a lowercase “s”, thus referring to Solomon, the CSB intentionally uses an uppercase “S” — as do all the other major translations I looked at. Thus, to the degree that biblical translators are also biblical teachers, this morning I’m reminded again by these teachers that the word of God is sourced by the God of the word. That “all Scripture is inspired (literally, breathed out) by God” (2Tim. 3:16 CSB).

And it’s the reference to God as one Shepherd that’s given me something to chew on this morning. Honestly, I read Shepherd and immediately I think Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (Jn. 10:11). He is also the Good Shepherd who, like all good shepherds, feeds the sheep. And so, Jesus is the source of Solomon’s wisdom. For the sayings are given by one Shepherd.

But as I chew on it a bit more, I think to myself, “Wait a minute self, while our God is one God, our God is also known in Three Persons.” So, the Father must also be the one Shepherd who gives us these sayings.

For the LORD gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

(Proverbs 2:6 CSB)

And if the Father is one Shepherd, and the Son is one Shepherd, then so too must the Spirit be the one Shepherd who gives us His word.

Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.

(1Corinthians 2:12-13 CSB)

Ecclesiastes may be Solomon’s compilation, but it is one Shepherd’s communication. Sent of the Father, embodied in the Son, delivered by the Holy Spirit.

The Father knowing fully the frustration of life lived only in the flesh, life under the sun. The Son having experienced practically the frailty of life dependent on the flesh, life under the sun. The Spirit conveying accurately the futility of life lived only for the flesh, life under the sun. So says the one Shepherd through all Three Persons, “Remember your Creator” (Eccl. 12:1a).

So, I remember my Creator. Even as I sit in awe over this physical book and pause to consider for a moment that I’m also interacting with a mind-blowing, spiritual dynamic — the Triune God. For these sayings, and all others I have read this morning, are given by one Shepherd. And that’s one Shepherd with a capital “S”.

Oh, what grace! To God be the glory!