Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes …

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes Bible Studies From Ecclesiastes

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8  THE SEARCH : Trying To Find The Meaningful Life 1:12 – 2:26  THE PROBLEM : Understanding God’s Providential Rule Over Life 3:1 – 5:20  THE APPLICATION : Explaining & Applying God’s Plan 6:1 – 8:15  Trusting God & Living Joyfully In An Uncertain World 8:16 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Solomon begins with a “proverb” v. 1  “As dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so is a little foolishness weightier than wisdom and honor”  Even a little folly can ruin a valuable thing  A re-statement of the principle in 9:18b The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Solomon begins with a “proverb” v. 1  Some things take great care to build, create (perfume oil; reputation based on honor)  However, they can be ruined with the slightest, smallest wrong The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  The ways of the wise & the fool vv. 2-3  A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right  The fool’s heart leads him to the left  All who see the fool doing anything observe him to be lacking in sense…his character is exposed by his senseless actions The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  The value of “wise composure” v. 4  If one is confronted with a ruler’s temper (perhaps “authoritative foolishness”), he could respond either foolishly or wisely  “Do not abandon your position” cp. 8:3-5  Calmness “allays great offenses” The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  The value of “wise composure” v. 4  An example of the truth Solomon speaks re: rulers who act “foolishly” (tyrannical)… consider the apostles before the Jewish rulers Mt 10:17-20 Acts 4:13-16 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Illustrating folly’s “evil” actions vv. 5-7  Sometimes folly is set forth in exalted places while wisdom is forced into humble places  A fool may be brought to power…it goes to his head…he may even then make ill-advised appointments The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Illustrating folly’s “evil” actions vv. 5-7  Sometimes the wrong person is “riding the horse” (a place of honor) while the right person is walking (a place of dishonor)  Biblical example Ù Esth 6:1-12 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  We should still be cautious & prudent vv. 8-9  Even during everyday activities  Success or failure might be determined by how careful (observant) one is in those activities  Fools do not pay attention…they act without regard to dangers of their surroundings The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Wisdom or foolishness is shown by how one performs chosen activities vv Splitting wood with a dull axe  Wisdom stops splitting, sharpens the axe  Foolishness requires more effort, energy  “Work smarter, not harder” The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Wisdom or foolishness is shown by how one performs chosen activities vv Charming the snake  Timing re: when to act is critical to success  Possessing this skill is a waste if one attempts to handle the snake before it is charmed The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  The point… …an uncertain world can “neutralize” a great skill if one is not wise re: knowing when to employ that skill The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Wisdom or foolishness will be evidenced by one’s speech vv  The wise speak gracious words v. 12 Lk 4:16-22 Col 4:6  The fool is “consumed” (destroyed, swallowed up) by his lips Mt 6:7 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Wisdom or foolishness will be evidenced by one’s speech vv  The fool’s speech is worthless from beginning to end  The fool thinks the more he says, the better  Too often, man speak before thinking The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Wisdom or foolishness will be evidenced by one’s speech vv  Fools forget 1 important thing re: their speech  No one knows what will happen…it is foolish to speak about things one knows nothing about nor under his control v. 14b The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Foolishness also displayed in actions v. 15  The fool doesn’t even know how to go to a city  Referring to a failure to do even the most obvious of activities  Modern-day equivalent Ù “He doesn’t even know when to come out of the rain” The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Wisdom or foolishness affects a land vv  “Woe to the land whose king is a lad…”  His youth & inexperience will be a hindrance  “…and whose princes feast in the morning”  Rulers who indulge themselves at the expense and detriment of those they lead, serve The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Wisdom or foolishness affects a land vv  “Woe to the land whose king is a lad…”  Many commentators think Solomon is referencing his son Rehoboam and his foolish actions when his reign began 1 Kings 12:1-14 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Wisdom or foolishness affects a land vv  “Blessed is the land whose king is noble…”  He is experienced, has served honorably  “…and whose princes feast appropriately”  Rulers who eat for strength (necessity) and not for drunkenness (selfishness) The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Wisdom or foolishness affects a land vv  Care for the “national house” vv  Any “house” needs constant attention  Lack of such attention results in disaster  Point could be made re: literal houses…context indicates it is a “political house” The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still shun foolishness 10:1-20  Wisdom or foolishness affects a land vv  Care for the “national house” vv  Infrastructure will collapse through laziness, failure to identify & fix problem areas correctly  Many times, “solutions” chosen do not really address the problem (i.e. money) The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes …