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 enjoy life’s blessings 8:16 – 9:9  Laborious searching won’t produce discovery… claims of “I know” will not be true 8:17b  This “uncertain world” has within it factors or forces that limit man 1:15 7:13  The answer? Only in the “hand of God” 9:1a The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still enjoy life’s blessings 8:16 – 9:9  God’s “love” or “hatred” 9:1b-3  Man cannot observe life situations and deduce (extrapolate) meanings v. 1b cp. 7:15 8:14  Such “observations” will not indicate God’s approval or disapproval Mal 1:2-3 Jn 9:1-3 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still enjoy life’s blessings 8:16 – 9:9  Despite life’s “uncertainties” that discourage, we are to be happy, enjoy our blessings 9:7-9  Our physical prosperity vv. 7-8  Our relationships v. 9  Similar to earlier exhortations 2: : :15 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still work honorably 9:10-12  Despite “uncertainties,” we are still exhorted to be the right kind of worker v. 10a  “Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might” cp. Col 3:23-24  We need such a work ethic now…time comes when we can’t work v. 10b Jn 9:4 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still work honorably 9:10-12  Life takes on a certain “joy” when we are the right kind of worker  We can have the satisfaction of a job well done, knowing we are pleasing to God  However, this still won’t bring “certainty” to an “uncertain world” vv The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still work honorably 9:10-12  The “uncertain world” re: our labor vv  The fastest doesn’t always win the race  The strongest doesn’t always win the battle  The wisest doesn’t always eat bread  Factors beyond their control “overtake them” at unforeseen moments The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still work honorably 9:10-12  The “uncertain world” re: our labor vv  Man doesn’t know…cannot even predict what awaits him cp. 3:22 6:12 8:7  He can be “caught” or “trapped”  Solomon seems to be speaking not just of death, but of tragic accidents, “misfortune” The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still work honorably 9:10-12  The “uncertain world” re: our labor vv  This is another reason why man should always put his trust in God and not in human ability (whether his own or someone else’s) Psa 118:8 1 Cor 2:4-5  True physically as well as spiritually The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still appreciate wisdom 9:13-18  Once again, Koheleth praises the value of wisdom “under the sun” vv a  A city faces certain defeat at the hands of a superior army under a great king & his siege  Despite this “certainty,” a poor wise man is found who delivers the city The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still appreciate wisdom 9:13-18  Despite wisdom’s contribution, the “poor wise man” is not remembered, honored vv. 15b-16  He returns back to his “insignificance” because of his inferior status among men  One of the uncertain world’s “rules”… The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8 What have you done for me lately?

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still appreciate wisdom 9:13-18  Wise words offered in quiet far outweigh foolish words shouted aloud v. 17  A fool thinks if he “out-shouts” others, he can persuade them  Wisdom is also better then brute force v. 18a The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes TRUSTING IN UNCERTAINTY 8:16 – 12:8  We can still appreciate wisdom 9:13-18  Yet, a warning re: wisdom v. 18b  All the good counsel of wisdom can be quickly undone by 1 sinner  A lot of good that took much to accomplish can be offset by 1 occurrence of sin (e.g. building a lifetime of character) 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  “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 …