Seeking Guidance…Finding Truth Seeking Answers A Study in Ecclesiastes Lesson 22, February 15, 2012 Seeking Guidance…Finding Truth Remember Now Thy Creator

Today’s Scripture Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 1Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. 5As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. 6In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good. 7Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: 8But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. 9Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. 10Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Today’s Scripture Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 8Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

Thought for Today “This is the beginning of a new day. I have been given this day to use as I will. I can waste it or I can use it for good. What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place whatever I have traded for it. I pledge to myself that it shall be: Gain, not Loss; Success, not Failure; Good, not Evil, in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for this day.” --Unknown

Thought for Today What you have on the day of your death will belong to others; what you are will be yours forever. -- Van Dyke

Would You Affirm Would You Deny This Statement? or Would You Deny This Statement? Facts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored. -- Aldous Huxley -- ??????

Seeking Guidance…Finding Truth Proper ...vs... Improper Timely Untimely Careful Careless Controlled Uncontrolled Bridled Unbridled Restrained Unrestrained Prudent Imprudent Wisdom Folly Joyful Joyless Responsible Irresponsible Charitable Uncharitable Certain Uncertain

Seeking Guidance…Finding Truth Uncertainty should prompt action not inaction: …thou knowest not …action enjoined 11:1-2 …what evil shall be upon the earth Give a portion to seven, and also to eight… 11:3-5 …the way of the spirit Don’t delay action because there might be a possibility that the conditions are not perfect and/or because you cannot comprehend God’s purpose … nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child …the works of God who maketh all 11:6-8 …whether shall prosper Diligence in efforts hoping for a yield for those efforts; know that days of darkness will come

Seeking Guidance…Finding Truth God Moral Imperative: Rejoice in your youth, walk in the ways of your heart BUT Don’t lose sight of judgment to come – you will answer to God for your decisions. 11:9-10 Remember God: In the days of your youth Before difficult days come Before years come in which you find no pleasure The sun, moon, and stars are not darkened Clouds do not return after the rain 12:1-2 What you have on the day of your death will belong to others; what you are will be yours forever. -- Henry Jackson Van Dyke This is the beginning of a new day. I have been given this day to use as I will. I can waste it or I can use it for good. What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place whatever I have traded for it. I pledge to myself that it shall be: Gain, not Loss; Success, not Failure; Good, not Evil, in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for this day. Morality Ethics

Seeking Guidance…Finding Truth Solomon describes the aging process (12:3-5a): The keepers of the house tremble … arms weaken The strong men bow down … legs become frail The grinders cease … teeth fall out Those that look thru the window grow dim … eyesight fails Doors are shut in the street … hearing fades Sound of grinding is low … speech becomes unintelligible One rises up at the sound of a bird … sleep is easily interrupted All the daughters of music are brought low … voice is weak Become afraid of height … fear of falling And of terrors in the way … no longer feels invincible The almond tree blossoms … hair turns white The grasshopper is a burden … even the slightest burden is heavy Desire fails … fleshly appetites diminish

Seeking Guidance…Finding Truth Solomon describes death (12:5b-7): Man goes to his eternal home … The silver cord is loosed … the spinal cord? The golden bowl is broken … the skull? The pitcher is shattered at the fountain … the heart? The wheel is broken at the well … the pelvis/bones? The body returns to dust … The spirit returns to God who gave it … John 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Seeking Guidance…Finding Truth "Solomon has put the key to Ecclesiastes right at the front door: 'Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?' (1:2-3). Just in case we missed it, he put the same key at the back door (12:8).“ Thomas Constable, Notes on Ecclesiastes, 2010

Seeking Guidance…Finding Truth Solomon has put bookends on his discourse about life under the sun and prepares his listeners for the conclusion of his search for meaning to life: Life Under the Sun 1:2-3 12:8