Ecclesiastes2

In this passage the word "time" occurs fifteen times, and in that there is a sense of just going on and on. That is probably what Solomon, in the light of all that has he has said previously, is trying to convey, that life just goes on and on monotonously.

If life does just go on and on like that, that should create various feelings in us. First there is the sense of order and stability about life, a certain sureness about it. Secondly, if we look at it from a purely human point of view, there is almost a depressing inevitability about it, we are caught up in a giant wheel of activity where one thing must follow another. Thirdly though, and perhaps this should be the most important thing for us, there is the challenge to be alert to the times and the days in which we live.

If is Autumn, we know Winter will follow, but Spring will follow that. If we are going through difficulties, blessing will eventually come. Do we have the patience and perseverance to wait in the right attitude until the next "season" comes? The men of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12:32 ) were those who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. May we similarly understand when it is right to do the right thing in season, the appropriate thing for the moment.

D. Application?

1. A time to move and a time to stand still?

2. A time to speak out and a time to be silent?

Chapter: Eccles 3

Passage: Eccles 3:9-15

A. Find out :

1. What is man's burden? v.9,10

2. What 2 things has God done? v.11

3. Yet what is man's "frustration"? v.11c

4. So what is man's lot? v.12

5. What is God's gift? v.13

6. Why does God make things as they are? v.14

B. Think :

1. What is the apparent hard aspect to life?

2. How can drudgery be turned to blessing?

3. What provision has God made, according to this passage?

C. Comment :

Within this passage Solomon faces a problem that all mankind faces and then presents the solution. First the problem: that man has to work to stay alive(v.9,10). Genesis 3:19 tells us that because of our separation from God we will have to work hard to achieve provision. For so many that work is just daily drudgery that goes on and on meaninglessly.

Next the solution: God has imparted so much of Himself that work can be transformed to give us real satisfaction. Let's consider.

First, the world in which we live and work is a beautiful place (v.11a), it is only man who spoils it. Our work environment is a blessing.

Second, within us we have a sense of something far more than mere materialism, a sense of eternity(v.11b), a sense of the spiritual world, a sense of the Divine. Our awareness can be a blessing.

Third, the Lord Himself can bless us and transform the ordinary and make it something special (water into wine was the classic illustration in John chapter 2, Moses' rod was another, Exodus 4:2). As we seek to do good (v.12) and to do our work well (implied), we can find satisfaction (v.13).

Yes, work is there as a necessity but the Lord has so provided that the necessity can be a blessing to us. Yet again we see that without God the world can be hard; with Him it can be transformed. He provides a world that is complete (v.14), a world where past and present are often repeats (v.15) and so a world for us to simply enjoy what is with God's help, whether that be work or recreation.

D. Application?

1. Is the Lord in our work? He knows more about it than we do! (see

Luke 5:4-10)

2. Let God turn the ordinary into a blessing.

Chapter: Eccles 3

Passage: Eccles 3:16-22

A. Find out :

1. Where did Solomon maintain wickedness was? v.16

2. To whom will God bring judgement? v.17

3. What does he maintain men are like? v.18

4. In what way? v.19,20

5. Of what was he unsure? v.21

6. So what was his conclusion? v.22

B. Think :

1. Reminder! From what perspective was Solomon looking at life?

2. How are verses 18-21 only partial truth?

3. How is the life of the Christian to be very far from the life seen here?

C. Comment :

At various times in this book, Solomon's low spiritual state produces half truths, and this is one of those times. First of all he considers the place of justice (v.16) and maintains that even there there was evil, in the very place where you would look for truth. But then he thinks, God will eventually deal with this (v.17), and as he thinks this he naturally moves on to think of death, for in death God deals with all men.

Frankly, he says, men are sometimes like animals (v.18) in the way they behave and, indeed, their end is just the same as that of animals (v.19). Humans and animals alike all end up in death returning to dust (v.20).

It is here that we now find the half truth, for in his "under the sun" thinking he sees the material dimension to life only and, yes, all bodies do eventually die and see corruption. However, for the human being at least, (the Bible is silent about animals) death is not the end. The unbeliever is excluded from God's presence for eternity but never the less lives on in isolation, but for the believer it means a glorious eternity in the wonderful presence of their Saviour. This is the clear teaching of the rest of the Bible.

D. Application?

1. The human viewpoint is limited when it doesn't know God and doesn't

receive His revelation.

2. Death is not the end!

Chapter: Eccles 4

Passage: Eccles 4:1-6

A. Find out :

1. What did he see? v.1a

2. What was the problem? v.1b

3. What did he conclude? v.2,3

4. From what did all work spring? v.4

5. What does the fool do? v.5

6. So what did he conclude? v.6

B. Think :

1. What did Solomon find distressing in the world?

2. What wrong assessment of work did he make?

3. What did he say was most important?

C. Comment :

It is strange that this man with such wisdom arrives at such limited conclusions, but that simply reinforces the thought that every person's thinking is corrupted and foolish in some way.

First he says that wherever he looks he sees oppression (v.1) and for the oppressed it would be better to be dead (v.2) or even it would have been better if they had never been born (v.3). But to say this means that it would be better if every person had not been born, for that is God's only alternative, to remove free will and remove mankind as it is.

But then he looks at work and says that all work and achievement springs from envy (v.4). Such a statement is clearly untrue for many people in the world are working to stay alive, not to compete, and of course there are many other reasons why people have to work. He looks at the lazy fool and says avoid his ruinous end (v.5), and concludes that a life of peace without stress is far better than much striving (v.6). In that at least he is correct, and comes with a message for our times.

The lessons that must come to us from Solomon's words today must be: a) don't accept people's viewpoints uncritically and b) look for good in the midst of the evil of the world, for it is there!

D. Application?

1. Satan seeks to depress us with the woes of this world but we must keep

a right perspective.

2. God is at work even in the midst of darkest circumstances.

Chapter: Eccles 4

Passage: Eccles 4:7-16

A. Find out :

1. What was the woe of the childless? v.8

2. What is the first advantage of two? v.9

3. What is the second advantage? v.10

4. What is the third advantage? v.11

5. What is the fourth advantage? v.12

6. Why is kingship not always a blessing? v.16

B. Think :

1. What is Solomon assuming in v.8?

2. How would you summarise v.9-12

3. How would you summarise v.13-13

C. Comment :

As Solomon continues listing the things he sees in life as being meaningless he comes to the apparent plight of the childless man who simply has to work with no one to leave it to (v.8). In this he assumes that the only purpose of working and achieving things is to leave it to others, but that is a very limited viewpoint. The childless man can bless his wife and his friends and the needy with what he makes through his work, and all of that brings much joy and fulfilment.

But then he moves to the benefits of being with another, a friend, possibly a wife. Yes, it is good to have company but even that company can turn from blessing and become a bane unless Jesus Christ is in the relationship and makes it a "threefold cord" (v.12). Two can achieve more together than two apart (v.9), two can support each other (v.10), two can warm each other (v.11), and two can defend each other (v.12).

But what of the single person? Well in this context there is nothing to stop them having close friends and receiving these advantages. The apostle Paul commented on the benefits of being single in 1 Corinthians 7:32-35 and the threefold cord can include friendship.

Finally Solomon, with echoes of v.8 in mind, considers how pointless it can be being a king whose successor may be just a youth (v.13,14) who the people may gladly follow to the sorrow of the elderly king (v.15). Yes, even pride and position can spell sorrow (v.16).

D. Application?

1. God has made us not to be alone.

2. Security in a relationship only comes by the Lord.

RECAP - "A Fixed World" - Ecclesiastes 3 & 4

SUMMARY :

In these 5 studies we have seen Solomon:

  - observing that everything has a time or season.

  - considering our need to work but God's provision of a good

   working environment.

  - viewing everything with the understanding that the same fate

    awaits all: death.

  - considering negative aspects of life: oppression, negative

     views of work, loneliness & the future.

COMMENT :

In Solomon's writings comes the sense of the inevitability of life and indeed bad aspects of life. The truth is of course, that God has made a good world for our enjoyment but man's sin corrupts and destroys. Yet this is not the end of life for death is not the end of all that is. Remember Solomon doesn't bring the full picture.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS:

Let the negativeness of Solomon's writing provoke you to determine not to let life just pass you by.

Rejoice in the wonder of seasons, the beauty of God's changing world. Keep a diary of beautiful changes. Look afresh at your work and ask God's blessing on it or ask Him to change it for you, to ensure joy and meaning in it. Let today be the day of great things, not continually wondering about the future.

Rejoice in relationships and the good things that come from them. If you are part of a family, determine to do things that build good memories in life.

PRAY :

Ask the Lord to help you rest in the awareness of His daily presence and provision. Thank Him for the wonder of His world.

PART 3 : " God, Riches & Values "

In this next Part see Solomon being aware of the Lord and also the meaninglessness of all the riches he had accumulated. He considers the pointlessness of simply striving to achieve more and more. There are some very real things to be considered here. Look for them.