1. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes …

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

3. 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

4. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Solomon wanted to uncover “the evil of folly” and “the foolishness of madness” v. 25  Re: people in general… v. 26  They either use others for their own benefit, they are used by others due to weakness, or they escape because they please God The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

5. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Finding upright people = difficult vv. 28-29  Only 1 in 1,000 men…none among women  “1,000”…literal or figurative?  Could it be the 1,000 women of 1 Kings 11:3?  Had Solomon become “soured” on women?  Condemning all women? cp. 9:9 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

6. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Finding upright people = difficult vv. 28-29  Lest one form the wrong conclusion re: the absence of upright people, Solomon reminds why they exist  God made man upright, but man has sought out sinful ways to live The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

7. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Identifying the “woman” v. 26  Although women, in general, had been the source of much misery & problems, was this the “woman” he references? 1 Kings 11:1-8  Some say it is Eve and her deception when sin came into the world Gen 3 1 Tim 2:14 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

8. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Identifying the “woman” v. 26  Some say it is the “immoral woman” found in Prov 2:16-19 & 7:5-27  Some say it is the “Woman of folly”…the opposite of wisdom Prov 1:20 – 2:9 3:13-18 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

9. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of Civil Obedience 8:1-9  One who is “wise” has a contentment about him because he has been somewhat successful interpreting certain things in life…something the “fool” cannot do v. 1a  Even his demeanor & countenance reflect his attempts to live wisely v. 1b The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

10. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of Civil Obedience 8:1-9  Ignorance and living foolishly usually are displayed in one’s appearance  Solomon next urges civil obedience to the king because he is in control vv. 2-5  Disobeying the king only brings trouble…he can do whatever he pleases vv. 3b-5 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

11. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of Civil Obedience 8:1-9  The best reason for civil obedience = God puts civil leaders in control Rom 13:1-6  We also recognize the exception to this rule Acts 4:19-20 5:29 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

12. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of Civil Obedience 8:1-9  If civil rule becomes oppressive… (“when a man’s troubles are heavy upon him”)  “There is a proper time & procedure…” v. 6a  In such times, it is not wise to openly rebel or revolt against the king v. 3b The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

13. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of Civil Obedience 8:1-9  One cannot take civil matters into his own hands just because things might not be going as well as he would like them  Political circumstances change only at the discretion of God Dan 4  Who can forecast the political future? v. 7 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

14. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of Civil Obedience 8:1-9  God will be the One who decides it is time for a change in civil rule  As long as the law does not direct us in ways that violate His word, we must submit  Live happily & peacefully in good times  Pray & trust God in bad times The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

15. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of Civil Obedience 8:1-9  One can’t “restrain the wind with wind” v. 8a  Proverbial…one shouldn’t “fight fire with fire” when an evil man is ruling  Those oppressed must remember the unjust ruler will not go unpunished  “No one has authority over the day of death” The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

16. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of Civil Obedience 8:1-9  One can’t “restrain the wind with wind” v. 8a  “There is no discharge in time of war”  Proverbs declaring man’s inability to escape God-appointed certainties  One who resorts to evil to deliver himself has chosen a failed strategy v. 8b The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

17. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Righteousness Exceeds Wickedness 8:10-14  Wicked men will not escape…like all men, they will be “buried” v. 10a  They will be removed from the land, and eventually forgotten v. 10b 1:11 2:16  Yet, a lack of deterrents does embolden them to continue their evil deeds v. 11 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

18. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Righteousness Exceeds Wickedness 8:10-14  Despite a lack of deterrents, it still is true that it will go well for those who fear God, and it will not go well for those who are evil vv. 12-13  Those who deny God view 8:11 as “evidence” of an uncaring, indifferent God who does not control His moral universe The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

19. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Righteousness Exceeds Wickedness 8:10-14  A more proper view of 8:11 would be the patience and longsuffering of God Acts 17:30  Sometimes, life does not work out like we think it ought to v. 14 cp. 7:15  Righteous get what the wicked should get  Wicked get what the righteous should get The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

20. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Righteousness Exceeds Wickedness 8:10-14  It would be easy to become “sour” in this perplexity and “injustice” Psa 73:2-14  It takes faith in a sovereign God to accept what providence brings about, and to not abandon righteous principles in favor of “seemingly successful” wicked practices The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

21. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Solomon’s Conclusion 8:15  Koheleth’s 3rd time to reach “above the sun” 2:24-26 5:18-20  The only wisdom to employ that will properly answer the perplexities just discussed  Life’s blessings are still to be thankfully and faithfully enjoyed The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

22. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Solomon’s Conclusion 8:15  If one allows life’s “discrepancies” to dominate his thinking…even to the point of obsession, he will not be able to enjoy what God has given  His idea of “justice” will be turned on its head  More than likely, he will abandon Divine principles to live by in favor of wicked ones The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

23. 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

24. Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes …