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Ecclesiastes

Study Outline

Jeff Blake

Copyright © 2004-2006

by

Jeff Blake

Ox Brook Ministries

http://www.oxbrook.org/

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Most Scriptures are taken from the Modern King James Version of the Holy Bible

Copyright © 1962-1998

By Jay P. Green, Sr.

Used by permission of the copyright holder

Courtesy of Sovereign Grace Publishers and Christian Literature World

Scriptures taken from the New King James Version®

Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

This edition:

October 2006

I am sincerely grateful to Chuck Missler

(Koinonia House -- www.khouse.org)

for lighting a fire under me regarding God's Word.

The Holy Spirit used his uncompromising, scholarly, and in-depth approach to

Bible Study to speak to me in a way that has never happened before.

Within me has now been ingrained a passion to know and understand the Bible,

to deeply respect and honor it for what it is, and to treat it very seriously because

it is indeed the very Words of God.

Table of Contents

Lesson 1: Introduction + Ecclesiastes 1 ....................................................................................................................1

Lesson 2: Ecclesiastes 2-3 ...........................................................................................................................................7

Lesson 3: Ecclesiastes 4-6 .........................................................................................................................................11

Lesson 4: Ecclesiastes 7-8 .........................................................................................................................................17

Lesson 5: Ecclesiastes 9-10 .......................................................................................................................................25

Lesson 6: Ecclesiastes 11-12 .....................................................................................................................................29

These notes were written for use in our Home Bible Study. They were developed to encourage a

regular verse-by-verse study of the Bible: this is the best way to immerse ourselves in God's

Word. It needs to be read and studied "c-2-c", that is, "cover-to-cover." We need to involve

ourselves with the "whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27), not just the popular or favorite passages.

In addition, it is essential to document how the Lord speaks and instructs us as we study His

Word. We are responsible to know His Word, and make it a part of our everyday life.

These notes are being made available to encourage you to engage in a daily, personal, and serious

study of God's Word.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." -- Psalm 119:105

"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." -- Psalm 119:11

"I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and

there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was

broken down." -- Proverbs 24:30-31

"Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks."

-- Ecclesiastes 10:18

© Jeff Blake 1 http://www.oxbrook.org/

Lesson 1: Introduction + Ecclesiastes 1

I. Title

A. English title comes from the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint (abbreviated

LXX) for "preacher" or "assembly" or "congregation"

1. Greek word for "assembly" is "ekklesia"

B. Hebrew title is "Qoheleth" (H6953) = preacher, public speaker, speaker in an assembly; a lecturer; an

assembler; collector of sentences

1. "qoheleth" is translated "preacher" or "leader" in Ecclesiastes 1:1, 2, 12; 7:27; 12:8, 9, 10

2. "And Solomon gathered ('qahal' H6950) the elders of Israel…": 1 Kings 8:1

II. Authorship

A. most certainly Solomon

1. "son of David": Ecclesiastes 1:1

2. "king in Jerusalem": Ecclesiastes 1:1, 12

a. David had reigned in other cities, too

3. he had great wealth and wisdom: Ecclesiastes 2:1-10

a. in response to Solomon's humble prayer God gave him both wisdom and wealth: 1 Kings 3:3-15

(i) he will be the wisest man to ever live: 1 Kings 3:12

b. 1 Kings 4:20-34; 10

c. the concept of wisdom is often mentioned in Ecclesiastes

4. he engaged in extensive building projects: Ecclesiastes 2:4-6

a. 1 Kings 9:1-19

5. he "acquired male and female servants" in great numbers: Ecclesiastes 2:7

a. 1 Kings 9:20-23

6. he developed a great understanding of plants, birds, and natural phenomena: Ecclesiastes 2:4-7

a. 1 Kings 4:33

7. he gathered for himself "silver and gold and the special treasures of kings": Ecclesiastes 2:8

a. 1 Kings 10:11-23

8. he declared, "there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin": Ecclesiastes 7:20

a. 1 Kings 8:46

9. "he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs": Ecclesiastes 12:9

a. "And he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five.": 1 Kings 4:32

B. probably written late in his life as he reflects on life's experiences and painful lessons

1. Proverbs was probably written much earlier in his life when he walked more faithfully with the Lord

2. the same writer of Proverbs 3:5-7 wrote Ecclesiastes

a. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways

acknowledge Him, and He shall direct (or make smooth or straight) your paths. Do not be wise in

your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.": Proverbs 3:5-7

b. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.": Ecclesiastes 1:2 (NIV)

c. these 2 completely different viewpoints demonstrates how Solomon departed from closely

following the Lord and looked to his own wisdom

III. Historical Background Involving King Solomon

A. Solomon started fairly well: 1 Kings 3:5-15

B. Solomon was extremely wealthy: 1 Kings 10:14-29; 2 Chronicles 9:13-28

1. he was the wealthiest, and wisest king on the earth: 1 Kings 10:23; 2 Chronicles 9:22

a. God gave him the wisdom: 1 Kings 10:24; 2 Chronicles 9:23

2. his annual salary was 666 talents of gold: 1 Kings 10:14; 2 Chronicles 9:13

3. had a lot of additional income from outside sources: 1 Kings 10:15, 25; 2 Chronicles 9:14, 24

4. silver was so abundant that it was virtually worthless: 1 Kings 10:21, 27; 2 Chronicles 9:20, 27

5. he amassed horses, wives, gold, and silver

a. kings were forbidden to do this: Deuteronomy 17:16-17


C. Solomon's wives caused his heart to turn from the Lord: 1 Kings 11:1-8

1. "he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines": 1 Kings 11:3

a. most may have been for political purposes

D. because he didn't follow the Lord the kingdom of Israel was going to be split: 1 Kings 11:9-13, 26-40

1. he was previously warned to make sure to follow the Lord: 1 Kings 9:1-9; 2 Chronicles 7:12-22

2. kingdom won't be taken from him, but from his son, Rehoboam: 1 Kings 11:12

3. the kingdom will be given to his servant, Jeroboam: 1 Kings 11:11, 26-40

a. but it will only be 10 out of the 12 tribes: 1 Kings 11:31, 35

b. God will keep the other 2 safe for the sake of the promises He made to David

(i) "…that there may be a lamp to My servant David before Me all the days in Jerusalem the city

that I have chosen to Myself, to put My name there": 1 Kings 11:36

(ii) "the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah, for His servant David's sake, as He had said to

give him a lamp to his sons forever": 2 Kings 8:19

(iii) prophetically speaks of setting up a remnant; God always has a remnant

(iv) He will preserve His righteous people: judgment was coming through their enemy, the

Assyrians

E. after his father's death, Solomon's son, Rehoboam took over: 1 Kings 11:43; 2 Chronicles 9:31

F. Rehoboam took the advice of his young friends instead of the elders: 1 Kings 12:1-15;

2 Chronicles 10:1-15

1. the dangers of inappropriate counsel

2. peer pressure?

G. rebellion and a split resulted: 1 Kings 12:16-24; 2 Chronicles 10:16-11:4

1. Jeroboam had control over the northern 10 tribes

2. Rehoboam had the southern 2, Judah and Benjamin

3. this split was ordained by God and used as a punishment: 1 Kings 11:9-13, 29-37; 12:15, 24;

2 Chronicles 10:15; 11:4

a. division is a result of sin and rebellion

b. God was going to make good come out of it: He was going to use it to preserve His remnant

(i) Joseph said to his brothers, "you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good":

Genesis 45:5-8; 50:20

(ii) "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according

to His purpose": Romans 8:28

(iii) "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him": Ezra 8:22

H. a civil war was about to erupt

1. God said, "don't fight against your brothers": 1 Kings 12:24; 2 Chronicles 11:4

I. Jeroboam deliberately introduced false worship to control the people and convince them to stay with him:

1 Kings 12:25-33; 2 Chronicles 11:14-15

J. as a result the righteous from all the northern tribes migrated to the Southern Kingdom:

2 Chronicles 11:13-17

1. preserves a remnant from all the 12 tribes in the Southern Kingdom

2. the Jewish bloodline was kept safe

3. the Northern Kingdom may now be judged

4. the Assyrians were going to be invading

a. they dispersed their captives within their kingdom

b. they destroyed ethnic groups, genealogies, and bloodlines

c. Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks didn't destroy cultures; Romans were far more destructive

5. did the unrighteous and idolaters in the Southern Kingdom migrate to the Northern Kingdom?!

6. when good people leave a church, it could be judgment from God

IV. Message

A. is it relevant for today?

1. injustice

a. to the poor: Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

b. guilty people allowed to commit more crime: Ecclesiastes 8:11

2. crooked politics: Ecclesiastes 5:8

3. materialism: Ecclesiastes 5:10


4. a desire for "the good old days": Ecclesiastes 7:10

5. incompetent leaders: Ecclesiastes 10:6-7

B. "under the sun" vs. "under heaven"

1. from a human point of view vs. God's point of view

2. "under the sun" is used 29 times in Ecclesiastes

3. "under heaven" is used only 3 times

4. Solomon includes only that which he can determine by his own reason and limited by data that is only

available "under the sun"

a. therefore some of his statements and conclusions are incorrect because it comes only from his own

reasoning and not from God's perspective

b. he does not make the claim that what he is writing are direct words from God

(i) phrases such as "the Lord spoke…" is used many times in Leviticus and Numbers

5. God does get involved in nature and does intervene in the lives of people and the world

a. God did not create the world and then abandon it to watch it from afar and to see what happens

b. our universe is not a "closed system"

V. Outline (adapted from "Be Satisfied" by Warren W. Wiersbe)

A. The Problem Declared: life is not worth living! -- Ecclesiastes 1-2

1. the monotony of life (1:4-11)

2. the vanity of wisdom (1:12-18)

3. the futility of wealth (2:1-11)

4. the certainty of death (2:12-23)

5. conclusion: enjoy life (2:24)

B. The Problem Discussed: he considers each of the above arguments -- Ecclesiastes 3-10

1. the monotony of life (3:1-5:9)

a. look up (3:1-8)

b. look within (3:9-14)

c. look ahead (3:15-22)

d. look around (4:1-5:9)

e. conclusion: enjoy life (3:12-15, 22)

2. the futility of wealth (5:10-6:12)

a. employing wealth (5:10-17)

b. enjoying wealth (5:18-6:12)

c. conclusion: enjoy life (5:18-20)

3. the vanity of wisdom (7:1-8:17)

a. we make life better (7:1-10)

b. we see life clearer (7:11-18)

c. we face life stronger (7:19-8:17)

d. conclusion: enjoy life (8:15)

4. the certainty of death (9:1-10:20)

a. death is unavoidable (9:1-10)

b. life is unpredictable (9:11-18)

c. beware of folly (10:1-20)

d. conclusion: enjoy life (9:7-10)

C. The Problem Decided -- Ecclesiastes 11-12

1. live by faith (11:1-6)

2. enjoy life now (11:7-12:8)

3. prepare for judgment (12:9-14)

4. conclusion: enjoy life (11:9-10)


VI. Life Is Not Worth Living: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3

A. "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity": Ecclesiastes 1:2

1. "vanity" = emptiness, unsatisfactory; vapor, breath, transitory; meaningless (NIV)

a. used more than 30 times in Ecclesiastes

b. its double usage is a Hebrew superlative

2. not his final conclusion, nor his only message

3. is life worth living?!

a. life isn't worth living if you leave God out of the equation

b. human life and goals are futile and meaningless when they're apart from God

c. vanity vs. victory

d. "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.": John 10:10

e. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the

Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.": 1 Corinthians 15:58

B. "profit" = gain, advantage

1. what do we get out of all the labor through our lives?!

2. this idea is repeated in Ecclesiastes 2:22; 3:9; 5:16

3. "Do not labor to be rich; cease from your own understanding. Will your eyes fly on it? And it is gone!

For surely it makes wings for itself; it flies into the heavens like an eagle.": Proverbs 23:4-5

4. "Why do you weigh silver for what is not bread? and your labor for what never satisfies? Listen

carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.": Isaiah 55:2

5. we can't take it with us!

a. so we have to send it on ahead!

VII. Nothing Changes: Ecclesiastes 1:4-7

A. the "Circle of Life" is seen a lot in literature

B. man comes and goes but the world just keeps on going

C. he says that things go on independent of man

1. but he ignores the fact that they are not independent of God

D. "the earth abides forever" (1:4) is not true!

1. the laws of entropy dictate that it's all winding down and heading for extinction

2. there will be a "new heaven and a new earth": Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21:1

3. Solomon may only be using it as a metaphor, that the earth abides relatively forever compared to man's

very short life span

E. the sun "pants": Ecclesiastes 1:5

1. is he implying that even the sun is getting tired of the monotony?!

F. the circuits of winds: Ecclesiastes 1:6

1. this is a relatively recent discovery of contemporary meteorology!

G. the water cycle: Ecclesiastes 1:7

1. "For He draws up drops of water, which distill as rain from the mist, which the clouds drop down and

pour abundantly on man": Job 36:27-28

VIII. Nothing Is New: Ecclesiastes 1:8-11

A. by his reasoning, if nothing changes then nothing can ever be new

B. but today we can easily look around and see rapid changes in technology, etc.

C. "full of labor" (1:8a) is better translated "tiresome" or "wearisome"

1. he's looking for an escape from that weariness

2. all things in life are monotonous and futile

3. all through nature we find the same tiresome, ceaseless round of activity

4. it's all futile; it never brings real satisfaction

D. we're never satisfied: Ecclesiastes 1:8b

1. the entertainment industry is very happy with this

E. Solomon will later explain why men and women are not satisfied with life: it's because God has put

"eternity in their heart" (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

1. nobody can find peace and satisfaction apart from Him

2. "Come unto me… and I will give you rest": Matthew 11:28


F. only God can create something new

1. Solomon probably doesn't intend to deny human accomplishments but to deny the complete newness

of their accomplishments

2. we are part of the creation; we're not creators; we're not "gods"

3. God loves to create and make new things

a. He makes sinners "new creatures" when they trust Jesus Christ to save them: 2 Corinthians 5:17

b. we walk "in newness of life": Romans 6:4

c. we sing a "new song": Psalm 40:3

d. we enter into God's presence by a "new and living way": Hebrews 10:20

e. we will enjoy "a new heaven and a new earth": Revelation 21:1

f. God says, "Behold, I make all things new": Revelation 21:5

4. we think something is new because we don't remember the past: Ecclesiastes 1:11

IX. Not Everything Is Understood: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

A. trying to figure it all out is a "burdensome task": Ecclesiastes 1:13

1. this task from God is to give us "exercise"

a. "exercise" = to be occupied, be busied with; to afflict, oppress, humble; be afflicted, be bowed

down

2. life is tough, but it is the gift of God

B. "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.": Psalm 90:12

C. "grasping for the wind": Ecclesiastes 1:14

1. describes how useless human labor is

D. everything can't be fixed: Ecclesiastes 1:15

1. this may be one of Solomon's proverbs

2. Solomon will say something similar in Ecclesiastes 7:13

a. sometimes it's God that made them crooked

3. speaking of man's wisdom, efforts, and ability

a. "with God nothing shall be impossible": Luke 1:37

4. only God can straighten what is twisted and supply all needs

a. Jesus often healed and fed people

5. "God grant be the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can;

and the wisdom to know the difference!" -- Reinhold Niebuhr

6. we cannot change the past, therefore we must learn from it and let it guide us

7. there is no use excessively thinking about what might have been

a. "For of all the sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'it might have been!'" -- John

Greenleaf Wittier

E. human wisdom will not solve every problem or answer all of life's questions: Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

1. if there was any person in history that would have been able to use their wisdom to answer all the

questions it would have been Solomon

2. it was useless to try and figure out all the answers: Ecclesiastes 1:17

a. "to know wisdom"

(i) was he trying to understand its source, looking for a physical explanation instead of divine

revelation?

3. the more one knows, the more they know that they don't have all the answers: Ecclesiastes 1:18

a. the more we seek after wisdom and knowledge, the more we know how ignorant we really are

b. "ignorance is bliss"

4. this side of heaven, there are no explanations for some things that happen, and God is not obligated to

explain them (and even if He did, we might not understand them!)

5. God has ordained that His people live by promises and not by explanations; by faith and not by sight

a. "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed": John 20:29


Lesson 2: Ecclesiastes 2-3

I. The Futility Of Wealth: Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

A. Solomon tested life through enjoyment: Ecclesiastes 2:1-3

1. "mirth" = joy, gladness, gaiety, pleasure; blithesomeness, glee

a. Solomon uses this word 8 times in Ecclesiastes

2. "I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure": Ecclesiastes 2:10

3. this experiment in gratification of the flesh was done with wisdom: Ecclesiastes 2:3

4. "He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.":

Proverbs 21:17

5. "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are

pleasures forevermore.": Psalm 16:11

6. he ate choice food

a. "Solomon's food for one day was thirty measures of fine flour and sixty measures of meal, ten fat

oxen and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, besides harts and roebucks, and

fallow deer, and fattened fowl.": 1 Kings 4:22-23

7. after the party was over he still felt empty

a. shallow entertainment vs. true enjoyment

b. "Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that joy is heaviness.": Proverbs 14:13

B. Solomon tested life through employment: Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

1. he was involved in a lot of projects and accomplished many great things: Ecclesiastes 2:4-6

a. the Temple: 1 Kings 5-6

b. houses: 1 Kings 7:1-12

c. cities: 1 Kings 9:15-22; 2 Chronicles 8:2-6

2. he had a lot of workers: Ecclesiastes 2:7

a. he bought some and some were born to him

b. he even drafted his own people: 1 Kings 5:13-18

(i) the people resented the oppression that Solomon put them under: 1 Kings 12:1-11

3. he had a lot of wealth: Ecclesiastes 2:8a

a. 1 Kings 10:14-29

4. he had all the entertainment he wanted: Ecclesiastes 2:8b

5. he was able to live out all his fantasies: Ecclesiastes 2:10

a. what we today would call "hedonism"

6. he enjoyed all his labor and projects: Ecclesiastes 2:10

a. he had no constraint of resources

b. he enjoyed doing them

7. "I looked": Ecclesiastes 2:11

a. he "turned" to consider; he "turned" to face it all; he stopped to think about it

b. he determined that it was all meaningless

c. "grasping for the wind": Ecclesiastes 2:11

(i) this phrase is used 9 times in the book of Ecclesiastes

d. "there was no profit under the sun"

(i) there was the initial pleasure and satisfaction, but no real, permanent gain or edification

e. he was focusing only on material things

f. the richest and wisest man in the world was unhappy

g. it's fun to enjoy tasks and projects, but if that's the purpose of life there will only be emptiness

when the project is done

(i) many people die early in their retirement due to its emptiness

h. Solomon is not condemning work

(i) work is a blessing from God: Ecclesiastes 2:24-25; 3:13, 22

(ii) Adam had work to do in the Garden of Eden: Genesis 2:15

(iii) "whatever you do, do all to the glory of God": 1 Corinthians 10:31


II. The Certainty Of Death: Ecclesiastes 2:12-23

A. wisdom is better than folly: Ecclesiastes 2:13-14a

1. just as light is better than darkness

a. wisdom is important for direction, guidance, making good informed choices

b. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.": Psalm 119:105

c. "The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.": Psalm 119:130

d. "But the path of the just is like the shining light, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.":

Proverbs 4:18-19

B. both the wise and the fool die: Ecclesiastes 2:14b-16

1. they're both eventually forgotten: Ecclesiastes 2:15

C. Solomon hated life because it was so distressing: Ecclesiastes 2:17

1. he hated it because his viewpoint was "under the sun"

2. the Christian should love life

a. if it's lived for the Lord and the glory of God, then it's not meaningless: 1 Corinthians 15:58

b. we should live by promises not explanations; by faith and not by sight

(i) "we walk by faith, not by sight": 2 Corinthians 5:7

c. John 10:10

d. Psalm 34:12-16

e. 1 Peter 3:10-12

D. wealth is left behind: Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

1. Solomon will have to leave all his wealth behind: Ecclesiastes 2:18-19

a. working all your life and having to leave it behind is one thing, but leaving it to someone who may

not honor it, be faithful with it, or to someone who might even waste it is even worse

b. he may have been thinking of his son, Rehoboam

c. because of his wisdom Solomon may have known that Rehoboam would cause trouble

(i) 1 Kings 11:41-12:24

2. Solomon's joy turned to bitterness: Ecclesiastes 2:20

a. "turned" = changed direction, reverse

(i) different word than used in Ecclesiastes 2:11, 12

b. he previously enjoyed his labor: Ecclesiastes 2:10

c. thinking of leaving it behind to someone who isn't as wise turned his joy into despair

3. it's frustrating to leave it to someone who hasn't worked for it: Ecclesiastes 2:21

a. he calls this an "evil"

b. he may be referring to himself and his son Rehoboam

c. "2nd

generation money" is often wasted

4. things done "under the sun" have no lasting value: Ecclesiastes 2:22

5. concentrating on material things and worrying about money can rob the joy of it and keep you awake

at night: Ecclesiastes 2:23

III. Conclusion: Enjoy Life: Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

A. this is the first of six conclusions that he is going to make

B. we're to enjoy life while we can

C. similar statements made in Ecclesiastes 3:12, 13, 19, 22; 5:18-19; 8:15; 9:7-9

D. life and the ability to enjoy it is "from the hand of God": Ecclesiastes 2:24

1. the wise farmer prayed, "Thanks for the food and good digestion."

E. this is not "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die" (Isaiah 22:13)

1. this is fatalistic, not faith

F. we should thank God for what we have and enjoy it to the glory of God

G. no one could enjoy life better than Solomon: Ecclesiastes 2:25

1. he had no restrictions, no constraint of resources

2. alternate (better?) translation is, "who can have enjoyment without Him?" (LXX, NIV, NASB)

H. those who "miss the mark" gives his money to the wise: Ecclesiastes 2:26

1. "the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous": Proverbs 13:22

2. the Israelites received great wealth from the Egyptians, and great possessions when they received their

inheritance in the Promised Land


IV. The Monotony Of Life Reexamined (Part 1): Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

A. Solomon isn't looking strictly "under the sun"

1. he brings God into the picture and it brings in a whole new perspective

B. look up -- God orders time: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1. God is in control of the cycles of time and the circles of life: Ecclesiastes 3:1

a. there is an appointed time for everything "under heaven"

b. "…the course of nature": James 3:6

c. God is at work in our individual lives, seeking to accomplish His will

(i) if we cooperate with God's timing life will not be meaningless

(ii) "He has made everything beautiful in its time.": Ecclesiastes 3:11

2. Solomon will make 14 statements, 14 sets of opposites that happen in their own time

a. each of the 7 pairs are related

b. factor of 7 seem to indicate completeness

3. "a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pull up what is planted":

Ecclesiastes 3:2

a. "it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment": Hebrews 9:27

4. "a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up": Ecclesiastes 3:3

a. God permits some to die but others to be healed

5. "a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance": Ecclesiastes 3:4

a. "…God of all comfort… comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those…

with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God": 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

6. "a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from

embracing": Ecclesiastes 3:5

a. stones can either be in the way (such as in a farmer's field), or they can be used as building

material

b. cultures around the world regard hugging differently

(i) this could refer to saying "hello" and "good-bye"

7. "a time to seek, and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away":

Ecclesiastes 3:6

a. "to give up as lost" is a better translation than "to lose"

8. "a time to tear, and a time to sew together; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak":

Ecclesiastes 3:7

a. tearing may refer to the Jewish custom of tearing of their clothes during times of grief

9. "a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace": Ecclesiastes 3:8

a. Christians should hate certain things

(i) Psalm 97:10

(ii) Proverbs 6:16-19

(iii) Revelation 2:6, 15

b. God often uses war to accomplish His purposes

C. look within -- eternity is in our hearts: Ecclesiastes 3:9-14

1. the question, "what profit does he has who works…?" (Ecclesiastes 3:9) will be answered in the

following verses

2. answer #1: it's "God-given": Ecclesiastes 3:10-11a

a. life is a gift of God

b. we're to be occupied with it, and humbled by it

(i) "exercise" = to be occupied, be busied with; to afflict, oppress, humble; be afflicted, be bowed

down

(ii) same word as used in Ecclesiastes 1:13

c. He makes everything beautiful in its time

d. our outlook helps to determine the outcome

3. answer #2: man's life is linked to eternity: Ecclesiastes 3:11b

a. but we're not experiencing eternity yet

b. KJV mistranslation: "the world" instead of "eternity"


c. man was made in the image of God: Genesis 1:26

(i) therefore man is different from the rest of creation

(ii) man has dominion over creation

(iii) man is much more than just an animal

d. because we're connected to heaven, we know that there is something more than just this world

(i) therefore we cannot be fully satisfied or fulfilled with material things

4. answer #3: enjoy life now: Ecclesiastes 3:12-14

a. enjoyment of life is the gift of God: Ecclesiastes 3:13

b. if we're part of His plan then life cannot be monotonous or meaningless

c. "I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken

from it.": Ecclesiastes 3:14

(i) God keeps His promises

(ii) God says what He means and means what He says

(iii) God doesn't change

d. "God does it, that men should fear before Him.": Ecclesiastes 3:14

(i) fear = submission of an obedient child to a loving parent

(ii) Ecclesiastes 5:7; 7:18; 8:12-13; 12:13

D. look ahead -- death is coming to all: Ecclesiastes 3:15-22

1. accountability: Ecclesiastes 3:15

a. we're all going to be held accountable to learn from the past

(i) it keeps on happening over and over again, so we should be learning from it!

b. "But what experience and history teach is this--that peoples and governments have never learned

anything from history, or acted on principles deduced from it." -- Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

(1770–1831)

2. injustice: Ecclesiastes 3:16-17

a. there will be injustice "under the sun": Ecclesiastes 3:16

b. but God has ordained His time for true judgment and justice: Ecclesiastes 3:17

(i) "Justice and judgment are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth shall go before

Your face.": Psalm 89:14

(ii) "For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the

peoples in uprightness.": Psalm 98:9

(iii) "To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.": Proverbs 21:3

(iv) "For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son": John 5:22

(v) "For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has given to the Son to have life within Himself,

and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.":

John 5:27

(vi) "…at the revealing of the Lord Jesus from Heaven… in flaming fire taking vengeance on

those who do not know God…": 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10

c. Solomon brings up injustice again in Ecclesiastes 5:8; 8:6, 11

d. Solomon brings up judgment in Ecclesiastes 11:9; 12:14

3. mortality: Ecclesiastes 3:18-21

a. Solomon is not saying that we're just like animals

b. God is testing man, proving and demonstrating their limitations and mortality: Ecclesiastes 3:18

c. man has no advantage over animals regarding death

(i) both die: Ecclesiastes 3:19

(ii) both of their bodies return to the dust: Ecclesiastes 3:20

d. man has a different spirit than animals: Ecclesiastes 3:21

(i) "then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave

it": Ecclesiastes 12:7

4. enjoy life: Ecclesiastes 3:22

a. it is the gift of God

b. be satisfied with what God has given us

(i) the Apostle Paul said, "I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.": Philippians 4:11

c. there can be no better satisfaction than to be willing to be in the will of God

d. we can't see the future, therefore learn from the past and live for today for the glory of God



I. The Monotony Of Life Reexamined (Part 2): Ecclesiastes 4:1-5:9

A. look around -- life is complex, difficult, and hard to explain, but we need to fear God: Ecclesiastes 4:1-5:9

1. the oppressed: Ecclesiastes 4:1-3

a. speaks of oppression through tyranny or extortion

(i) "Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; they cry out for help because of the

arm of the mighty.": Job 35:9

b. Solomon spoke of injustice before in Ecclesiastes 3:16-17

c. he will again speak of the perversion of justice in Ecclesiastes 5:8; 8:6, 11

d. Solomon was wise and just: 1 Kings 3:16-28

(i) "all Israel… saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment": 1 Kings 3:28

(ii) but he couldn't control everything in all the other courts

- this must have frustrated Solomon

e. "'For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise,'" says the Lord; 'I

will set him in the safety for which he yearns.'": Psalm 12:5

f. "He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; for righteousness, but behold, a cry.": Isaiah 5:7

(i) "oppression" = bloodshed

(ii) "cry" = cry of distress

g. speaking of the workers who were treated unfairly, "…the cries… have entered into the ears of the

Lord of hosts": James 5:4

h. "…better… is he who has never existed, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the

sun": Ecclesiastes 4:3

(i) the oppression of others so affected Solomon that he felt it would be better if they had never

even been born

- he's saying that the evil happening to them is far worse than all the good experienced in

their lives

- he felt that it is better never to have been born than to experience and witness injustice

and oppression

- may be poetic license; he may be speaking metaphorically

(ii) similar to Job 3:1-19

(iii) do we agree with what Job and Solomon are saying?!

i. injustice is condemned

(i) Deuteronomy 16:19; 24:17

(ii) Psalm 82:2

(iii) Proverbs 24:23; 31:3-5

j. partiality is forbidden

(i) Leviticus 19:15

(ii) Deuteronomy 1:17; 16:19

(iii) Proverbs 18:5; 24:23-26

(iv) Malachi 2:9

(v) 1 Timothy 5:21

(vi) James 2:1-13

(vii) "Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone; nor let me flatter any man": Job 32:21

(viii) "there is no partiality with God": Romans 2:11

2. the workers: Ecclesiastes 4:4-8

a. the industrious man: Ecclesiastes 4:4

(i) a lifestyle of envy and competition

(ii) the "rat-race" lifestyle is eating him up

b. the idle man: Ecclesiastes 4:5

(i) Proverbs 6:10-11; 18:9; 19:15; 24:30-34

(ii) 2 Thessalonians 3:10


c. the balanced man: Ecclesiastes 4:6

(i) he's neither a workaholic nor lazy

(ii) "A little to the righteous is better than the riches of many wicked.": Psalm 37:16

(iii) "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble. Better is a dinner

of vegetables where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.": Proverbs 15:16-17

(iv) "Better is a dry piece of bread, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices with

fighting.": Proverbs 17:1

d. the independent, solitary, or lonely man: Ecclesiastes 4:7-8

(i) he's amassing wealth for no reason: he has no family to give it to

3. team players: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

a. "one": Ecclesiastes 4:8

b. "two": Ecclesiastes 4:9

(i) a lot better than one

c. "three": Ecclesiastes 4:12

(i) speaks of the Trinity?

(ii) speaks of God being with the husband and wife?

d. there is value in doing things together

e. flying in "V-formation"

f. we can't make it by ourselves; we can't go it alone

g. "Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.": Proverbs 27:10

h. "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.": Proverbs 27:17

4. leaders: Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

a. a parable of three people who become king

b. things change from one generation to the next, from one administration to the next

c. popularity frequently changes

(i) popularity is only temporary

(ii) we're not to build our lives around it

- it's "grasping for the wind"

(iii) "A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than

a brother.": Proverbs 18:24

(iv) we're to be ourselves; we're to be strong within (character)

d. riches don't make anyone any wiser

e. wealth and position are no guarantees of success

f. poverty and humble position are not barriers to achievement

g. wisdom is the key

5. worshipers: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

a. Solomon's observation: don't rob God

(i) through improper sacrifices, insincere praying, and broken promises

b. Solomon observed the improper offering of sacrifices: Ecclesiastes 5:1

(i) worship is not to be taken lightly

(ii) sacrifice is not a substitute for obedience

- Hebrews 10:8

(iii) "walk prudently" is what we would say, "watch your step"

(iv) the "sacrifice of fools" is an attempt at worship without a clean heart

- only a fool would think that he can fool God

(v) we need to learn to listen to the Lord

(vi) we need to learn how to patiently sit quietly with Him

(vii) we need to learn to let the Lord point out our sins

(viii) "Generally, you ain't learnin' nothin' when your mouth is a-jawin'." -- Texas Bix Bender,

humorist

c. Solomon observed careless praying: Ecclesiastes 5:2-3

(i) "rash" = be hurried, act hastily

(ii) "Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.":

Proverbs 29:20

(iii) compare our praying with how we would address our boss at work, executive of a major

corporation, or the president of the US


(iv) God knows all, we can't fool Him

(v) we can come boldly to the "throne of grace": Hebrews 4:16

- no appointments necessary

- He always knows and wants the best for us

- but we must respect who is on the throne

(vi) it's not how much we say but what we say and how sincere we are with it

(vii) we should try to ask in accordance to His will

(viii) notice the connection with the mouth and the heart

- what comes out of our mouth is what our hearts are overflowing with, "For out of the

abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.": Matthew 12:34 = Luke 6:45

(ix) "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they

will be heard for their many words.": Matthew 6:7

(x) "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.":

Proverbs 10:19

d. Solomon observed making improper vows to the Lord: Ecclesiastes 5:4-7

(i) God does not require us to make vows for us to be accepted by Him

(ii) it is not a religious duty

(iii) Deuteronomy 23:21-23

(iv) Judges 11:35

(v) Psalm 22:25; 66:13-14; 76:11; 116:18

(vi) Proverbs 20:25

(vii) "dreams" (Ecclesiastes 5:7) may refer to "wishful thinking" or thinking about it instead of

doing it

- compare to what David did in Psalm 66:13-14

(viii) the bottom line is to "fear God": Ecclesiastes 5:7

6. injustice and oppression: Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

a. Solomon's observation: don't rob others

b. he brought up injustice before (Ecclesiastes 3:16-17; 4:1-3) and he will bring it up again

(Ecclesiastes 8:6, 11)

c. it's ironic that the king is saying, "don't be surprised"!

d. "the profit of the land is for all": Ecclesiastes 5:9

(i) difficult verse to translate

(ii) may indicate that a corrupt but organized government for the protection of its citizens is better

than anarchy

(iii) may speak to the politicians that they should be aware and take to heart that they're supposed

to be servants

- they live off the land just like the rest of us

- they're no better than the rest of us

- they're subject to mortality just like the rest of us

- the same natural processes feed them just like us

- they shouldn't be in it for private advantage

- they need the people under them, and maybe more than we need them

B. Summary

1. Solomon looked up to see that God is in control

2. Solomon looked within to see that man was made for eternity

a. He will make everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

3. Solomon looked ahead to see the mortality of man

a. so we should enjoy life while we're able to

4. Solomon looked around to see that life is complex, difficult, and not easy to explain

a. we see trials, problems, and evil, but we also see people who need help and encouragement

b. we're to make the most of life with God's help and in accordance to His will

5. how much of the permanent are we giving up to get the temporary?!

a. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?":

Matthew 16:26 = Mark 8:36

6. he does not teach us to be hermits


II. The Futility Of Wealth, Don't Rob Yourself: Ecclesiastes 5:10-6:12

A. Solomon introduced the argument of the futility of wealth in Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

B. employing wealth: Ecclesiastes 5:10-17

1. myth: wealth brings satisfaction: Ecclesiastes 5:10-11

a. Jesus said, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the

abundance of the things he possesses.": Luke 12:15

b. whenever we get a raise we just spend it on something: Ecclesiastes 5:11

(i) bills increase as our income increases

(ii) we only see it on paper

2. myth: wealth brings peace of mind: Ecclesiastes 5:12

a. laborers slept better than the rich

b. being kept awake at night was mentioned before in Ecclesiastes 2:23

c. the rich always have more to worry about

(i) they also ate too much?

d. the example of John D. Rockerfeller

(i) at the age of 53 he was the world's only billionaire, earning about a million dollars a week

(ii) very sick, living on crackers and milk, and could not sleep because of worry

(iii) when he started giving his money away his health changed radically

(iv) he lived to be 98

3. myth: wealth provides security: Ecclesiastes 5:13-17

a. we enter the world with nothing and we shall leave the world with nothing

(i) Job 1:21

(ii) Psalm 49:17

(iii) 1 Timothy 6:7

b. the Parable of the Rich Fool: Luke 12:13-21

c. bad business can ruin everything he worked for

d. he can also be ruined by sacrificing the permanent to gain the temporary

(i) loosing family relationships because of work and greed

(ii) loosing enjoyment of life because of work

(iii) loosing their own identity to their career

e. it's good to have the things that money can buy, provided we don't lose the things that money can't

buy

f. in perspective, striving for excessive wealth is striving for the wind

4. "Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die): remove falsehood and lies far from me;

give me neither poverty nor riches--feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You,

and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.":

Proverbs 30:7-9

C. enjoying wealth: Ecclesiastes 5:18-6:12

1. it's best to accept our station in life: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

a. this is another one of his conclusions, that we're to enjoy life

b. "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is

certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.":

1 Timothy 6:6-8

c. the important thing is that we love the Lord, accept the lot He assigns us, and enjoy the blessings

He graciously bestows on us

d. if we focus more on the gifts than on the Giver, we are guilty of idolatry

e. if we accept His gifts, but complain about them, we are guilty of ingratitude

f. if we hoard His gifts and will not share them with others, we are guilty of selfishness and

indulgence

g. but if we yield to His will and use what He gives us for His glory, then we can enjoy life and be

satisfied

h. it's good to labor faithfully

(i) to enjoy the good things in life

(ii) to accept it as from the Lord

i. the ability to enjoy life is a gift from God


2. riches without enjoyment: Ecclesiastes 6:1-6

a. it's an "evil disease" having the resources but not being able to enjoy them: Ecclesiastes 6:1-2

(i) he had no heir, but a stranger got everything

(ii) for example, he was not able to enjoy retirement due to sickness or disability

(iii) Solomon is telling us to enjoy the blessings of God now and thank Him for all of them

(iv) don't just plan to live: start living now!

- with a joyful and victorious Christian life

b. "has no burial" (Ecclesiastes 6:3) refers to a family that didn't love and respect him

(Jeremiah 22:18-19)

c. there was no fond remembrance: Ecclesiastes 6:4

d. Solomon's conclusion was that it were better for this man had he never been born, or that he had

been stillborn

e. death is the final destination of everyone

3. labor without satisfaction: Ecclesiastes 6:7-9

a. life should be more than just working and eating

(i) otherwise we've put ourselves on the same level as the animals

b. because we've been created in the image of God there is something greater for us

(i) we must keep our heavenly perspective!

c. Solomon is saying that it's better to have little and really enjoy it than to dream about much and

never attain it: Ecclesiastes 6:9

(i) enjoying reality is better than being caught up into a dream world

4. questions without answers: Ecclesiastes 6:10-12

a. God already knows the end from the beginning but that shouldn't cause us to sit back and expect it

to all happen around us: Ecclesiastes 6:10a

(i) Isaiah 46:9-10

b. we can't contend with God: Ecclesiastes 6:10b

c. the more we know, the more unanswered questions we'll have: Ecclesiastes 6:11

d. we can't know the future and how we've affected it: Ecclesiastes 6:12



I. The Vanity Of Wisdom, Introduction

A. Solomon first looked at wisdom in Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

1. human wisdom does not make life worth living

B. human wisdom can't answer all of life's questions but it can make three positive contributions to our lives

1. wisdom is important to those who want to get the most out of life

II. Wisdom Can Make Life Better: Ecclesiastes 7:1-10

A. "…better… the day of death than the day of one's birth": Ecclesiastes 7:1

1. very misunderstood verse

a. must not separate the two phrases

2. Solomon is not contrasting birth and death

3. he is not saying that it's better to die than to be born

4. he's contrasting what a person leaves behind when they die: will it be a "precious ointment" or a foul

stench?

5. a person's reputation is sealed when they die

6. will society have benefited from their life?

a. or benefited from their death?!

7. "The memory of the just is blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot.": Proverbs 10:7

8. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches; and loving favor rather than silver or gold.":

Proverbs 22:1

B. look death in the face: Ecclesiastes 7:2

1. we're not to be preoccupied with it, but we're to learn from it and its inevitability

2. we should be aware of our mortality and let it be a sobering reminder to us

a. it should prompt us as to the life we should live

C. sorrow is better than laughter: Ecclesiastes 7:3-4

1. sorrow can do more good for the heart than laughter can

2. Solomon was not a morose man; he enjoyed fun and laughter and parties

a. he even said that there is a "time to laugh": Ecclesiastes 3:4

3. Solomon is asking for balance

4. laughter can be like medicine to heal a broken heart, but sorrow can be like nourishing food that

strengthens the inner person

a. "A merry heart does good like a medicine…": Proverbs 17:22

b. "My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of trials, knowing that the trying of

your faith works patience. But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and

entire, lacking nothing.": James 1:2-4

c. "And not only this, but we glory in afflictions also, knowing that afflictions work out patience, and

patience works out experience, and experience works out hope.": Romans 5:3-4

d. there is growth through life's trials

5. "laughter" = laughter; can also refer to a mocking or scornful laughter; derision of something

a. "…laughter of a fool": Ecclesiastes 7:6

b. "Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that joy is heaviness.": Proverbs 14:13

c. healthy laughter is good, but not scornful laughter such as found in the "house of mirth"

(Ecclesiastes 7:4)

(i) Solomon talked about "mirth" earlier in Ecclesiastes 2:1-3

D. rebuke is better than praise: Ecclesiastes 7:5-6

1. a wise person's rebuke will accomplish more than the flattery of fools

a. "Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness; and let him correct me…": Psalm 141:5

b. "As a ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon a hearing ear.":

Proverbs 25:12

c. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.": Proverbs 27:6

d. Proverbs 10:17; 12:1; 15:5; 17:10; 27:5, 17; 29:1, 15

e. rebuke is more honest


2. "song… thorns… pot"

a. play on words

b. "song" = shir

c. "thorns" = sir

d. "pot" = sirah

E. the long haul is better than a shortcut: Ecclesiastes 7:7-9

1. when the job is over there is something useful to show for it

2. easy routes may turn into expensive detours

3. bribery is no way to get things done: Ecclesiastes 7:7

a. it encourages corruption of the heart

b. turns a wise man into a fool

c. "a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous": Deuteronomy 16:19

d. "A wicked man takes a bribe out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.": Proverbs 17:23

4. better to be patient on the Lord than to get angry and do it our own way: Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

a. "He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exalts folly.":

Proverbs 14:29

b. Proverbs 14:17; 16:32

c. James 1:19

F. today is better than yesterday: Ecclesiastes 7:10

1. "the good old days" = a bad memory + a good imagination

2. when the foundation of the new temple was being laid the old men cried and the young men sang:

Ezra 3:10-13

a. the old men were remembering the old temple and that this new one wasn't as good

b. the young men were happy because it was all happening

3. "While you are dreaming of the future or regretting the past, the present, which is all you have, slips

from you and is gone." -- the Victorian essayist Hilaire Belloc

4. make the most of today, "Carpe diem!" ("Seize the day!") -- Roman poet Horace

III. Wisdom Helps Us See Life Clearly: Ecclesiastes 7:11-18

A. wisdom is necessary so that an inheritance isn't wasted: Ecclesiastes 7:11

1. 2nd

generation money often isn't appreciated, wasted, and even stolen

B. wisdom and money are defenses: Ecclesiastes 7:12

1. money and wisdom are useful, but wisdom is better because it can protect the money

2. the word for defense is literally "shadow" as in a "protective shadow"

a. "in the shadow of His wings": Psalms 17:7-8; 36:7; 57:1; 63:7

b. "shadow of the Almighty": Psalm 91:1

c. Genesis 19:8

d. Judges 9:15

C. God is sovereign: Ecclesiastes 7:13

1. Solomon has said this before in Ecclesiastes 1:15

D. be grateful for when things go well: Ecclesiastes 7:14

1. but understand that God will allow trials into our lives

2. "consider it all joy when you fall into different kinds of trials…": James 1:2

3. Job said, "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?… The Lord gave,

and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.": Job 1:21; 2:10

4. James 5:13

5. prosperity often does greater damage than adversity

6. the Apostle Paul didn't complain about his circumstances: Philippians 4:10-13

7. God can turn burdens into blessings

a. Joseph said, "you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good…": Genesis 50:20

(i) Joseph had the heavenly perspective!

b. God can rip situations up by the roots and turn it completely around

E. why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper?: Ecclesiastes 7:15

1. they only appear to when viewed from this temporary, narrow, earthly perspective

2. Psalm 73 (a psalm of Asaph)

3. Romans 8:18-19


4. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

5. "they have their reward": Matthew 6:2, 5, 16

6. "For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?": Mark 8:36 =

Matthew 16:26

F. self-righteousness and self-proclaimed wisdom: Ecclesiastes 7:16

1. very misunderstood verse

2. Solomon is not promoting moderation in all things

3. "destroy yourself" is a clue to its meaning

a. moderation in all things will not destroy us!

4. it's speaking of self-righteousness and human wisdom

a. head knowledge instead of heart knowledge

b. "For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own

righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.": Romans 10:3

c. "Professing to be wise, they became fools": Romans 1:22

d. "not minding high things, but yielding to the lowly. Do not be wise within yourselves.":

Romans 12:16

5. Hebrew grammar indicates, "don't claim to be righteous, don't claim to be wise"

6. "do not boast too much of your own justice and wisdom" -- footnote from the Geneva Bible (c. 1599)

7. "destroy yourself"

a. because of excessive religious acts, asceticism, human zealousness and wisdom

b. Matthew 6:1-7; 23:23-24

G. sin leads to death: Ecclesiastes 7:17

1. "The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.": Proverbs 10:27

2. "For the wages of sin is death…": Romans 6:23

H. fear God: Ecclesiastes 7:18

1. Solomon's perspective changes from the worldly to the heavenly

2. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.":

Proverbs 1:7

3. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is

understanding.": Proverbs 9:10

4. "He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. The

Lord keeps all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.": Psalm 145:19-20

5. "His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.": Luke 1:50

IV. Wisdom Helps Us Face Life Stronger: Ecclesiastes 7:19-29

A. wisdom is strength: Ecclesiastes 7:19

1. Solomon will repeat this concept in Ecclesiastes 9:15-18

2. "A wise man is strong; yes, a man of knowledge increases strength.": Proverbs 24:5

B. problem #1: sin: Ecclesiastes 7:20

1. "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God": Romans 3:23

C. problem #2: being too concerned about what people say about us: Ecclesiastes 7:21-22

1. sometimes we listen to people too much

2. and sometimes we talk about people too much

D. problem #3: our inability to grasp the meaning of all that God is doing in this world: Ecclesiastes 7:23-25

1. even Solomon, the wisest man alive couldn't figure it all out

2. this concept is also seen in Ecclesiastes 3:11; 8:17

E. problem #4: dealing with the sinfulness of humanity in general: Ecclesiastes 7:26-29

1. he is not degrading women: in that culture women did not have the same opportunities for education

as men did

2. is he the 1 man in a 1000? (Ecclesiastes 7:28)

3. Solomon was snared by women: 1 Kings 11:3-8

a. he knows first-hand

b. he had 1000 women: 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines

4. "God has made man upright": Ecclesiastes 7:29

a. man was created in the image and likeness of God: Genesis 1:26-27; 5:1


5. "they have sought out many inventions": Ecclesiastes 7:29

a. "inventions" = devices, engines, contrivances

b. "tradition of men": Mark 7:8-9

c. Romans 1:21-32; 3:10-19

(i) "…inventors of evil…": Romans 1:30

V. The Problem Of Evil: Ecclesiastes 8

A. authority: Ecclesiastes 8:1-9

1. we're told to obey authorities

a. Romans 13:1-7

b. Titus 3:1

c. 1 Peter 2:13-17

2. Solomon appears to be addressing what should be done about an evil ruler

a. option 1: disobey: Ecclesiastes 8:2

(i) is civil disobedience Scriptural?

b. option 2: dissention: Ecclesiastes 8:3a

(i) "do not take your stand for an evil thing" = mutiny? plot to overthrow the ruler?

c. option 3: defiance: Ecclesiastes 8:3b-5a

(i) and risk punishment

d. option 4: discernment: Ecclesiastes 8:5b-6

(i) don't be impulsive; don't overreact

(ii) use wisdom regarding the right time and place

3. we do not know what the ruler's reaction will be: Ecclesiastes 8:7

a. but we must act with wisdom

4. but if it doesn't work out as it should, wickedness will eventually be judged: Ecclesiastes 8:8

a. even the earthly rulers with absolute control won't be able to escape it

b. "Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.": Galatians 6:7

c. "Be sure your sin will find you out.": Numbers 32:23

5. some shouldn't be in the place of authority: Ecclesiastes 8:9

a. it would be best for all if they weren't

B. inequity: Ecclesiastes 8:10-14

1. ungodly people are often praised: Ecclesiastes 8:10

a. LXX uses the word, "praised" instead of "forgotten"

2. evil progresses because it's not punished in a timely fashion: Ecclesiastes 8:11

a. this evil person had gotten away with crime

b. Romans 2:4-5

c. 2 Peter 3:1-12

3. wicked often seem to prosper: Ecclesiastes 8:12-14

a. but they will be punished and the righteous will be rewarded

b. similar to Ecclesiastes 7:15

c. "Evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous good shall be repaid.": Proverbs 13:21

d. "a shadow" (Ecclesiastes 8:13) could be referring to the eternal darkness that is coming onto the

wicked

(i) "…for whom blackness of darkness has been kept forever.": Jude 1:13

e. injustice is brought up again: Ecclesiastes 8:14

(i) until Jesus Christ sets up His righteous kingdom, there will always be injustices in the world

- it is one of the "vanities" of life, and we must accept it without becoming pessimistic or

cynical

(ii) "Laws, like the spider's web, catch the fly and let the hawks go free."--Spanish proverb

(iii) "In America, an acquittal doesn't mean you're innocent; it means you beat the rap."--F. Lee

Bailey

(iv) a jury is "twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer."--Robert Frost


C. mystery: Ecclesiastes 8:15-17

1. his conclusion: enjoy life: Ecclesiastes 8:15

a. the 4th

time Solomon has said this

2. even with all the wisdom in the world, we still can't understand and explain everything:

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17

a. there will be pain and suffering; there will be injustices

b. "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the

heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than

your thoughts.'": Isaiah 55:8-9

c. "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us

and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.": Deuteronomy 29:29


Addendum:

(Adapted from the Supplemental Notes to the Book of Ecclesiastes by Chuck Missler)

An Exceedingly Painful Sin

What sin is exceedingly painful? A well-qualified candidate is Gossip! It is, in its most formal form, a violation of

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). However, even in its more subtle forms,

gossip is probably accountable for more personal pain and suffering than most of us have any appreciation of.

Gossip is a form of betrayal! Common and casual, yet it is hurtful beyond our reckoning. Quietly, behind the flurry

of daily priorities, its venom does its silent work, undermining confidences, betraying relationships, spreading

unseen injustices, invisibly promoting misunderstandings and distrust.

The Scripture has much to say about gossip:

"Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy

neighbor: I am the Lord.": Leviticus 19:16

"A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.": Proverbs 11:13

"The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.": Proverbs 18:8;

26:22

"He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.":

Proverbs 20:19

"Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.": Proverbs 26:20

"As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.": Proverbs 26:21

Our Lord's Example, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone…": John 8:7

Personal

Our own personal troubles at the beginning of this decade included bankruptcy, earthquakes, and relocating from

our family roots. But the most pain--which still endures from the traumas of those difficult years--came from the

libel and slander that was promoted (or tolerated) by a few of our "Christian" friends.

Most of us can probably relate to similar experiences. It's disturbing to note how many of us have been injured--

deeply--by gossip and by those who accepted, without checking, negative or derogatory innuendos whispered

behind our backs.

In contrast, we have also received the indescribable encouragement, on a number of occasions, from the reaction of

several radio talk show hosts (and also on Internet traffic over various controversies) by those who rebutted

aspersions about us--without even needing to "check." Praise God for such examples!

An Apocryphal Anecdote

Three pastors were meeting privately to share their innermost confidences and to pray for one another with respect

to their major weaknesses and personal stumbling blocks. The first frankly confessed to his two conferrers that he

had a serious problem with lust. He shared with them a number of ways that he found himself in compromising

situations and told how he was frequently stumbling in this area. He asked them for special prayer in dealing with

this weakness.


The second, encouraged by this display of candor, admitted that he, too, had a problem, but with money. He found

that he just couldn't resist skimming occasionally, and was guilty of a number of indiscretions regarding this

weakness. He confessed his need for better stewardship and asked for prayer.

The third pastor then reluctantly responded, "I must confess I appreciate the remarkable candor of both of you. My

weakness is gossip, and I can hardly wait to get out of here!"

A "Christian" Subterfuge

You have probably also witnessed the following hallway murmur: "I don’t want to gossip. However, in order that

you might pray more specifically for ____, let me share with you the latest…" Isn't this just a rather transparent

cloak for gossip? As you know, a secret is something you tell one person at a time. And a rumor is a favorite

weapon of the assassins of character.

True Friendship

What is true friendship? A relationship that doesn't require explanations. One that gives us the assurance of

receiving the benefit of the doubt. A friend is one who is loyal and shuns any form of betrayal. We know, of

course, that none of you are guilty of these abuses; these suggestions have been offered to help you counsel your

needy friends. (Right?)

A Poem:

"I Hear It Said"

Last night my friend--he says he is my friend--came in and questioned me.

"I hear it said you have done this and that. I come to ask are these things true?"

A glint was in his eye of small distrust. His words were crisp and hot.

He measured me with anger, and flung down a little heap of facts had come to him.

"I hear it said you have done this and that." Suppose I have? And are you not my friend?

And are you not my friend enough to say, "If it were true, there would be reason in it.

And if I cannot know the how and why, still I can trust you, waiting for a word.

Or for no word, if no word ever come!"

Is friendship just a thing of afternoons, of pleasuring one's friend and one's dear self--

Greed for sedate approval of his pace, suspicion if he take one little turn

Upon the rod, one flight into the air, and has not sought you for your Yea or Nay!

No. Friendship is not so. I am my own.

And howsoever near my friend may draw unto my soul, there is a legend hung

Above a certain straight and narrow way says, "Dear my friend, ye may not enter here!"

I would the time has come--as it has not--when men shall rise and say, "He is my friend.

He has done this? And what is that to me!

Think you I have a check upon his head, or cast a guiding rein across his neck?

I am his friend. And for that cause I walk not overclose beside him, leaving still

Space for his silences, and space for mine."

--Barbara Young



I. Death is Unavoidable: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10

A. Solomon spoke of this earlier in Ecclesiastes 2:12-23

B. "it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment": Hebrews 9:27

C. "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are

evil.": Ephesians 5:15-16

D. our viewpoint of the future determines our perspective of life

E. death comes to all: Ecclesiastes 9:1-2

1. we can't control its inevitability

a. we can make it premature but we can't put it off indefinitely

2. "people know neither love nor hatred…": Ecclesiastes 9:1

a. we can't be certain what this phrase exactly means

b. might mean that we can't know ahead of time if we'll have an easy or tough life, prosperity or

adversity, blessing or sorrow

(i) only God knows the future

(ii) God is in control looking out for His people

- Deuteronomy 33:3

- Psalm 31:15

3. doesn't matter if people are righteous or not

a. and religious acts can't cancel the inevitable

b. "why do the wicked prosper?" is an ancient question

(i) Jeremiah 12:1

(ii) Habakkuk 1:13

(iii) Job 24:1

4. we all face an earthly death, but we all don't face the same destiny after death

F. escape--response #1 to the reality of death: Ecclesiastes 9:3

1. fatalism

a. "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!": Isaiah 22:13

b. from the Parable of the Rich Fool, "And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up

for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.'": Luke 12:19

2. the fact and fear of death brings out the best and worst in people

3. when they're faced with it, it reveals the hearts of people

G. endurance--response #2 to the reality of death: Ecclesiastes 9:4-6

1. where there is life there is hope: Ecclesiastes 9:4

2. a dog was a despised animal

a. used metaphorically of something vile

(i) 1 Samuel 17:43

(ii) 2 Samuel 9:8; 16:9

b. it's better to be alive than dead, even if it's a lowly position

3. the dead apparently do not know what is happening on the earth: Ecclesiastes 9:5

4. they also cannot affect their rewards (if any)

a. death is the end of the opportunities we had while we were alive

5. they cannot affect their situation

a. there is no second chance

b. from the story of the rich man and Lazarus, "And besides all this, there is a great chasm fixed

between you and us; so that they desiring to pass from here to you cannot, nor can they pass over

to us from there.": Luke 16:26

6. they cannot affect anything on the earth: Ecclesiastes 9:6

H. enjoyment--response #3 to the reality of death: Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

1. Solomon's conclusion of this section: "enjoy life"

a. the same conclusion as in all the other sections


2. enjoy your meals: Ecclesiastes 9:7

a. eat leisurely meals, not just fast food and a full schedule

b. "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble. Better is a dinner of

vegetables where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.": Proverbs 15:16-17

c. "Better is a dry piece of bread, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices with fighting.":

Proverbs 17:1

3. enjoy every occasion: Ecclesiastes 9:8

a. not the addictive pursuit of everything new

b. white garments and ointments or oil were symbols of joy and purity

(i) white garments were worn only on joyful occasions

c. Solomon's message is that we should not wait for special occasions to enjoy life

(i) don't wait just for special occasions to get dressed up and do something special

d. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!": Philippians 4:4

4. enjoy marriage: Ecclesiastes 9:9

a. enjoy a faithful, loving marriage, not living together in a non-committal relationship

b. "live joyfully" is literally "see life" or "look on life"

c. "rejoice with the wife of your youth… be ravished always with her love.": Proverbs 5:18-19

d. "the wife of your youth… she is your companion and your covenant wife": Malachi 2:14-15

5. enjoy your work: Ecclesiastes 9:10

a. not "get rich quick schemes" or shortcuts to avoid work

b. we should do it all with our very best, while we still have the strength, and while we still have the

opportunities

c. "And everything, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving

thanks to God and the Father by Him.": Colossians 3:17

d. "whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men": Colossians 3:23

e. we should view work as a stewardship from God

II. Life is Unpredictable: Ecclesiastes 9:11-18

A. our abilities are no guarantees of success: Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

1. it's the general rule, but everyone is still affected by "chance" and unpredictable moments:

Ecclesiastes 9:11

2. we don't know when unfortunate things will happen to us: Ecclesiastes 9:12

a. when we least expect it we're affected by things beyond our control

b. James 4:13-17

3. there is no such thing as "pure chance"

a. "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.": Proverbs 16:33

4. we don't trust "luck," "fate," or "chance," but in the providence of a loving Savior

B. opportunities are no guarantees of success: Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

1. we may not be absolutely certain what happened here in Solomon's story

2. in Solomon's example, a ruler with a loud mouth got all the attention instead of a wise man

a. this led to defeat

b. the wise man was probably asked for his opinion and advice, but it was not listened to

3. strength is useless without the wisdom to use it: Ecclesiastes 9:16

4. sin can ruin everything: Ecclesiastes 9:18

a. one man's sin, Achan, caused the defeat of the Israelite's army at Ai: Joshua 7

b. it's always better to have wisdom regarding a situation

c. Rehoboam didn't follow wise counsel: 1 Kings 12:1-24

d. a good bridge verse to introduce the following chapter

III. The Danger of Folly: Ecclesiastes 10

A. Solomon addressed this idea earlier, that wisdom is better than folly, in Ecclesiastes 2:13-14a

B. one mistake can ruin a good reputation: Ecclesiastes 10:1

C. keep your heart sharp and alert: Ecclesiastes 10:2

1. the right hand represents power and honor; the left hand represents weakness and rejection

a. Matthew 25:23, 41

2. "Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.": Proverbs 4:23


D. a person's walk proves that they're a fool: Ecclesiastes 10:3

1. if a person keeps on walking incorrectly it proves that they're a fool

2. a fool will always gravitate to do wrong

3. "…the fool walks in darkness": Ecclesiastes 2:14

4. "the path of the just is like the shining light, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. The way of

the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.": Proverbs 4:18-19

E. four examples of fools: Ecclesiastes 10:4-20

1. foolish rulers: Ecclesiastes 10:4-7

a. Solomon knew the wisdom was important for a ruler, so that's what he asked God for:

1 Kings 3:3-28

b. Rehoboam didn't follow wise counsel, but listened to his young friends instead: 1 Kings 12:1-24

c. fools are exalted: Ecclesiastes 10:6-7

(i) weak rulers will surround themselves with weak people to make them look better

(ii) strong rulers will surround themselves with strong people to challenge, support, and advise

them

(iii) a ruler must put the best people on horses without having to make any excuses or apologies

2. foolish workers: Ecclesiastes 10:8-10

a. not speaking of occupational hazards

b. not saying that hard work is foolish because you might get hurt

c. Solomon's theme is folly, so this is about people trying to do work but not having the wisdom to

do it right and safely

d. "work smarter, not harder": Ecclesiastes 10:10

(i) literally, "wisdom is a successful advantage"

3. foolish talkers: Ecclesiastes 10:11-15

a. "charm" your tongue: Ecclesiastes 10:11

(i) snake charmers were common entertainment

- their secret is disciplined action

(ii) "babbler" is literally "master of the tongue"

(iii) we need to keep the tongue under control

(iv) we need to take time to consider what we want to say before we say it

(v) we need to be disciplined about what we say

(vi) James 3:1-12

b. destructive words: Ecclesiastes 10:12

(i) a wise person will speak gracious words that is appropriate for the listeners and occasion

- "The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable…": Proverbs 10:32

- "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold

and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.": Proverbs 25:11-12

(ii) a fool's words will get him into trouble

- "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have

destruction.": Proverbs 13:3

- "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.": Proverbs 21:23

(iii) likened to weapons of war: Proverbs 25:18

(iv) likened to a fire: James 3:5-6

(v) likened to a poisonous beast: James 3:7-8

c. unreasonable words: Ecclesiastes 10:13

(i) the fool starts talking nonsense, and then it gets worse

(ii) "a fool's voice is known by his many words": Ecclesiastes 5:3

(iii) "there are many… idle talkers… whose mouths must be stopped": Titus 1:10-11

- "idle talkers" = senseless or mischievous talker, a wrangler; one who utters empty

senseless things

d. uncontrolled words: Ecclesiastes 10:14a

(i) just keeps talking and talking; they may not be aware that they're saying nothing

(ii) "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.":

Proverbs 10:19


e. boastful words: Ecclesiastes 10:14b-15

(i) they think they know the future

(ii) they're confident and arrogant about the future

(iii) they're boasting about future plans

(iv) Solomon has emphasized man's ignorance of the future: Ecclesiastes 3:22; 6:12; 8:7; 9:12

(v) "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.":

Proverbs 27:1

(vi) Parable of the Rich Fool: Luke 12:15-21

(vii) James 4:13-17

4. foolish officers: Ecclesiastes 10:16-20

a. immaturity and indulgence: Ecclesiastes 10:16-17

(i) the word for "child" can also mean "young"

- the same word is used to describe Rehoboam when he was on the throne

(2 Chronicles 13:7), but he was 41 years old! (1 Kings 14:21; 2 Chronicles 12:13)

- age does not guarantee maturity

(ii) sometimes it's the judgment of God to give a people immature leaders

- Isaiah 3:1-5

- could happen to a nation or a church

(iii) "eat in the morning" refers to intemperance, indulgence; partying at the wrong time

- they had their priorities in the wrong place

- Isaiah 5:11-12

b. incompetence: Ecclesiastes 10:18

(i) "He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.": Proverbs 18:9

(ii) "I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;

and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall

was broken down.": Proverbs 24:30-31

(iii) "use" an office vs. "hold" an office

- "let them serve": 1 Timothy 3:10

(iv) someone said about the Clinton administration, "Where does incompetence end and treason

begin?!"

c. indifference: Ecclesiastes 10:19

(i) indifferent to the responsibilities of the office, and to the needs of the people

(ii) the officials think money (raising taxes?) can fix all the problems they face

(iii) Amos spoke against the wicked rulers of his day: Amos 2:7; 4:1; 5:11-12

d. indiscretion: Ecclesiastes 10:20

(i) "curse" = make light of; show contempt for; treat with dishonor

(ii) "thought" = thinking, conscience

(iii) may be where the saying, "a little bird told me" came from

(iv) "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.": Exodus 22:28

(v) even if we can't respect the person in the office, we must respect the office

- Romans 13:1-7

- 1 Peter 2:13-17



I. Life Is An Adventure--Live By Faith: Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

A. "Cast your bread upon the waters": Ecclesiastes 11:1-2

1. better translated, "upon the face of the waters"

2. speaks of sea vessels

3. Solomon was involved in a lot of trading, some of it by sea: 1 Kings 10:15, 22

4. sea voyages were very dangerous

a. wouldn't know if any were successful until they returned months later

5. it is better to spread out the risk by using many ships: Ecclesiastes 11:2

a. better chance for some returning

6. Solomon is encouraging risk management and the diversity of investments

7. "you do not know…": Ecclesiastes 11:2, 5, 6

a. not knowing the future is a common theme in Ecclesiastes

b. although we don't know the future, we must not be afraid to enter it by faith

B. farmers are at risk, too: Ecclesiastes 11:3-6

1. they don't know the future, either

2. "clouds… tree": Ecclesiastes 11:3

a. clouds may speak of the ever-changing present

(i) benefits and prosperity come and go

b. the tree may speak of the permanent, unchangeable past

(i) some things can't be changed or fixed

- Ecclesiastes 1:15

3. can't always wait for the perfect opportunities or the absolute ideal timing: Ecclesiastes 11:4

a. otherwise nothing would get done

b. everything involves a certain amount of risk

c. seize every opportunity

4. use every day wisely: Ecclesiastes 11:5-6

a. farmers don't know what the future brings regarding the harvest

(i) just as they don't know how an unborn baby grows

- Psalm 139:14-16

(ii) Jesus said something similar to the "way of the wind" in John 3:8

(iii) farmers are at the mercy of nature; there is no such thing as a guaranteed harvest

(iv) they just do the best they can

(v) "I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun":

Ecclesiastes 8:17

(vi) "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. 'For as

the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My

thoughts than your thoughts.'": Isaiah 55:8-9

(vii) "The secret things belong to the Lord our God…": Deuteronomy 29:29

b. we sow many things each day, and trust God for a harvest or return on our investment

(i) and hopefully we don't pray for a crop failure

(ii) "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time

to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.": Hosea 10:12

(iii) "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For

he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will

of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due

season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.": Galatians 6:7-9

(iv) Psalm 126:5-6

c. "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the

days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.":

Ephesians 5:15-17

C. "The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.": Proverbs 27:12


II. Life Is A Gift--Enjoy It: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:8

A. rejoice: Ecclesiastes 11:7-9

1. this is the 6th

time Solomon makes this conclusion and encourages us to enjoy life

2. take advantage of your youth

a. he often addressed young people: Proverbs 1:8; 2:1; 3:1

3. live life while we have it

4. enjoy life while we still can before the problems of old age set in

5. "let him remember the days of darkness": Ecclesiastes 11:8

a. let us learn from the difficult times

b. "may the lessons not be wasted"

c. "In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: surely God has appointed

the one as well as the other, so that man can find out nothing that will come after him.":

Ecclesiastes 7:14

6. our hearts and eyes can get us into trouble: Ecclesiastes 11:9

a. Solomon is not speaking of doing everything that our hearts desire

(i) he does not have sinful pleasures in mind

(ii) Jeremiah 17:9

(iii) Mark 7:20-23

b. God gives us all things to enjoy: 1 Timothy 6:17

(i) but it's wrong to enjoy the pleasures of sin

(ii) we will be held accountable

c. Numbers 15:39

d. Proverbs 4:23

e. Matthew 5:27-30

f. 1 John 2:16

B. remove: Ecclesiastes 11:10

1. "sorrow" = vexation, anxiety

2. "youth" = dawning; blackness, as of hair (compared to gray hair)

3. young people need to put anxiety out of their hearts and evil from their flesh

a. Matthew 6:24-34

b. 2 Corinthians 7:1

c. Philippians 4:6-9

4. youth bring special pleasures and privileges, but that also requires responsibility and accountability

5. "youth is vanity"

a. probably means that it's only temporary

(i) you must grow up and leave youth behind

b. "Behold, You have made my days as a handbreadth, and my age is as nothing before You. Surely

every man standing is altogether vanity. Selah.": Psalm 39:5

C. remember: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8

1. build a good foundation in the earlier years to prepare for the latter years: Ecclesiastes 12:1-2

a. youth is the time to build a foundation for the rest of their lives

b. difficult times will come

c. days are bright when we're young and carefree (Ecclesiastes 11:7)

d. days can be dark and difficult when we're older (Ecclesiastes 11:8; 12:1)

e. someone prayed at a funeral, "May the lessons not be wasted."

(i) let us learn the lessons the first time so we don't have to go through the learning process again

2. the aging house: Ecclesiastes 12:3-5

a. a house or tent is often a metaphor of the body

(i) taking it down is a picture of death

(ii) Job 4:19

(iii) 2 Corinthians 5:1-7

(iv) 2 Peter 1:13

b. "keepers of the house" = that's us

c. "tremble" = our arms and hands tremble?

d. "strong men" = our legs, knees, and shoulders weaken and we walk bent over?

e. "grinders" = we start to lose our teeth?


f. "windows" = our vision begins to deteriorate?

g. "doors" = our hearing starts to fail? we close our mouth because we've lost our teeth?

h. "grinding" = we can't chew our food? our ears can't pick up the sounds outdoors?

i. "rise up" = we wake up with the birds early each morning, and wish you could sleep longer?

j. "music" = our voice starts to quaver and weaken?

k. "afraid" = we're afraid of heights and afraid of falling while you walk down the street?

l. "almond tree" = if we have any hair left, it turns white, like almond blossoms?

m. "grasshopper" = we drag ourselves along, like a grasshopper at the close of the summer season?

n. "desire" = we lose our appetite, or perhaps our sexual desire?

o. "eternal home" = we go to our eternal home and people mourn our death

3. "silver cord breaks… golden bowl is broken": Ecclesiastes 11:6a

a. wealthy people had a golden lamp suspended by a silver cord

b. Solomon may again be saying that death is no respecter of wealth

c. when the fragile cord of life snaps, the light of life goes out

4. "pitcher shattered at the spring… wheel broken at the well": Ecclesiastes 11:6b

a. two pictures here of gathering water

b. the fountain of water was an ancient image for life

(i) Psalm 36:8-9

(ii) Revelation 21:6

c. water often associated with everlasting life

(i) "the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting

life": John 4:14

(ii) John 7:37-39

(iii) "For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living

waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water.":

Jeremiah 2:13

d. when the machinery of life stops working, the water of life stops flowing

5. "the dust shall return to the earth": Ecclesiastes 11:7a

a. Solomon said this before in Ecclesiastes 3:20

6. "the spirit shall return to God who gave it": Ecclesiastes 12:7b

a. Solomon said this before in Ecclesiastes 3:21

b. reiterating that we're more than mere animals

c. the spirit, which is what we really are, our true selves, continues on after our bodies die

d. the spirit leaves the body: Luke 23:46; Acts 7:59

e. the spirit brings life to the body: James 2:26

7. "all is vanity": Ecclesiastes 12:8

a. it is all meaningless without God, "under the sun"

b. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the

Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.": 1 Corinthians 15:58

III. Life Is A School--Learn Your Lessons: Ecclesiastes 12:9-12

A. "because the Preacher was wise…": Ecclesiastes 12:9

1. "taught" = goaded

2. "pondered" = listen, heeded; to hear, give ear; to be obedient, harken

3. "sought out" = to penetrate; examine intimately; to examine thoroughly

4. "set in order" = to equalize, make straight, become straight; arrange in order, set in order

5. "he spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were a thousand and five": 1 Kings 4:32

B. "acceptable words… upright… words of truth": Ecclesiastes 12:10

1. "acceptable" = pleasing, valuable; same word translated "purpose" in Ecclesiastes 3:1, 17; 8:6

2. always used the appropriate words, words with a purpose

3. Solomon never diluted the message; never flattered the congregation

4. Proverbs 8:6-11

C. "goads… nails": Ecclesiastes 12:11

1. goads to prompt us to pay attention and pursue truth

2. nails with which to hang onto what we've learned

a. the nail or peg is an idiom of the Word of God Himself in Isaiah 22:23-25


3. all given by the "one Shepherd"

a. Solomon realized that his words were given by God

b. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

c. 2 Peter 1:20-21

D. "be admonished by these": Ecclesiastes 12:12

1. referring to the "well-driven nails given by the one Shepherd" of Ecclesiastes 12:11

2. "admonished" = be enlightened; to gleam; be warned

3. don't go beyond what God has written

4. don't permit the worldly books to rob us from the wisdom of God

5. don't test God's Word by worldly understanding

a. test worldly understanding by God's Word!

6. we can read and try to study too much

a. let the Holy Spirit simply teach us

b. but we have to take the time and let Him!

IV. Life Is A Stewardship--Fear God: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

A. this is the "conclusion of the whole matter"

1. Solomon's last words on the subject

2. the conclusion from the wisest man alive

B. our lives are a manifestation of what we think about God

C. we don't own our lives, because life is the gift of God (Acts 17:24-28)

D. we are stewards of our lives

1. one day we must give an account to God of what we have done with His gift

2. some people are only spending their lives; others are wasting their lives; a few are investing their lives

E. fear God: Ecclesiastes 12:13

1. Solomon has said this before: Ecclesiastes 3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12-13

2. "fear of the Lord" is an attitude of reverence and awe that His people show to Him because they love

Him and respect His power and His greatness

3. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.":

Proverbs 1:7

4. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is

understanding.": Proverbs 9:10

5. "The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited

with evil.": Proverbs 19:23

6. "The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.":

Isaiah 8:13

F. keep His commandments: Ecclesiastes 12:13

1. "If you love Me, keep My commandments.": John 14:15

2. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me.": John 14:21

3. "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the

word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself,

goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.": James 1:22-24

4. Exodus 20:6

5. Deuteronomy 5:10; 7:9; 11:1, 13, 22; 19:9; 30:16

6. Joshua 22:5

7. Nehemiah 1:5

8. Daniel 9:4

9. "this is man's all"

a. "this applies to all men"

b. "this is man's purpose"

c. "this is man's duty"

G. prepare for judgment: Ecclesiastes 12:14

1. he's mentioned this concept before

a. "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked": Ecclesiastes 3:17

b. "God will bring you into judgment": Ecclesiastes 11:9


2. fire will reveal whether our works are gold, silver, or precious stones, or wood, hay, or stubble:

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of

God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in

God.": Colossians 3:1-3

Reincarnation

"What does Reincarnation mean?"

A cowpoke asked his friend.

His pal replied, "It happens when

Yer life has reached its end.

They comb yer hair, and warsh yer neck,

And clean yer fingernails,

And lay you in a padded box

Away from life's travails."

"The box and you goes in a hole,

That's been dug into the ground.

Reincarnation starts in when

Yore planted 'neath a mound.

Them clods melt down, just like yer box,

And you who is inside.

And then yore just beginnin' on

Yer transformation ride."

"In a while, the grass'll grow

Upon yer rendered mound.

Till some day on yer moldered grave

A lonely flower is found.

And say a hoss should wander by

And graze upon this flower

That once wuz you, but now's become

Yer vegetative bower."

"The posy that the hoss done ate

Up, with his other feed,

Makes bone, and fat, and muscle

Essential to the steed,

But some is left that he can't use

And so it passes through,

And finally lays upon the ground

This thing, that once wuz you."

"Then say, by chance, I wanders by

And sees this upon the ground,

And I ponders, and I wonders at,

This object that I found.

I thinks of reincarnation,

Of life and death, and such,

And come away concludin': 'Slim,

You ain't changed, all that much.'"

© Wallace McRae, reprinted without permission from Cowboy Curmudgeon (1992), Gibbs Smith, Publisher

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