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 THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Adversity Is Not Always Bad 7:1-8  In vv. 1b-8, Solomon presents 5 contrasts that emphasize adverse (bad) things aren’t always to be disdained The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Adversity Is Not Always Bad 7:1-8 Ê Death is better than birth v. 1b Ë A house of mourning is better than a house of feasting v. 2 Ì Sorrow is better than laughter vv. 3-4 Í Rebuke is better than a song vv. 5-7 Î The end is better than the beginning v. 8 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some General Admonitions 7:9-14 Ê Be careful about being angry v. 9  Adversity can easily lead one to anger  Only a “fool” yields to this temptation  We are generally warned about this disposition in the Scripture Eph 4:26-27 Jas 1:19b-20 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some General Admonitions 7:9-14 Ë Do not yearn for “the good old days” v. 10  Adversity can cause some to hearken back to “yester-year”  Such a desire is “…not from wisdom”  It prevents us from appreciating the present (people, God’s gifts, etc.) The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some General Admonitions 7:9-14 Ë Do not yearn for “the good old days” v. 10  Such a disposition would make complying with 5:18-19 difficult  Is the past always so “golden?” Num 11:5  An adverse present must be put into proper perspective Rom 8:18 2 Cor 4:17 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some General Admonitions 7:9-14 Ì Appreciate the value of wisdom vv  Wisdom allows us to make better use of things “under the sun”  Money (inheritance) is good, but wisdom to use it properly is better v. 11 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some General Admonitions 7:9-14 Ì Appreciate the value of wisdom vv  Both wisdom & money are “protection” v. 12a  However, only wisdom “preserves the life of money’s possessors” v. 12b  Can one “spend his way” out of vice, trouble?  Wisdom “above the sun” delivers Prov 9:10 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some General Admonitions 7:9-14 Í Revere God’s omniscience v. 13  True wisdom accepts the workings of God  Especially in adversity, it knows all His plans cannot be totally comprehended cp. 1:15  Only through patient trust & faith do we learn to accept what we cannot come to know The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some General Admonitions 7:9-14 Î Accept both adversity & prosperity v. 14  Through His omniscience & providence, God brings either one to us  If days are prosperous – be happy, thankful… but these blessings cannot be our focus 2:1-11 Lk 12:15 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some General Admonitions 7:9-14 Î Accept both adversity & prosperity v. 14  If days are adverse – accept them, but not in bitterness  Realize they come from God…they can keep us humble, dependent upon Him The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some General Admonitions 7:9-14 Î Accept both adversity & prosperity v. 14  Adverse days have value & worth…they can make us stronger, better  The determining factor is one’s attitude…it must be right Job 1:8-22 2:3-10 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Moderation” 7:15-18  “Moderation” = not going to extremes  Certainly not advocating a little sin Rom 6:1-2  Solomon observes situations don’t always work out like we think they should v. 15  The righteous perishes too soon  The wicked live too long The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Moderation” 7:15-18  This “injustice” has long troubled servants of God Psa 73:2-14  To “harmonize this injustice,” Solomon advocates a view of “moderation” vv  Does not discourage righteousness  Does not encourage wickedness The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Moderation” 7:15-18  “Be not overly righteous/wise” v. 16  Condemning self-righteousness  Leads to arrogance, pride, contempt for others Mt 6:1-18 Lk 18:9-12 Rom 10:1-3  It is how one “ruins himself” The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8 Wisdom “under the sun”

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Moderation” 7:15-18  “Be not overly wicked” v. 17  Condemns any wicked, unlawful conduct God would not approve  This makes one a “fool” Psa 14:1 Lk 12:20 [13 references in Ecclesiastes ]  It can even lead to premature death The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes …