Ecclesiastes5

1. What is a basic difficulty for the righteous while on this earth?

2. What was the main concern of Solomon in this passage?

3. How is our outlook as Christians different from that of Solomon here?

C. Comment :

First the bad news, the news from the purely human standpoint, in fact two bad things. The first of those is that we don't know what is coming in life, even if we are righteous and that can be worrying; the second is that death awaits us and nothing we can do will avoid that. For the non-Christian today these are two very real worries.

Now to the good news, the truth revealed by Jesus. First it is that He is always with us and will never leave us (Matthew 28:20 / Hebrews 13:5) and has promised to care for us (Matthew 6:25,32,33 / Matthew 11:28-30). Secondly it is that He has promised an eternal future for us with Him (John 14:3 / 1 Thessalonians 4:17c / 1 Corinthians 15:51 ,52).

We should note here, therefore, that Scripture is progressive, that the New Testament brings additional revelation to that in the Old and therefore we do not take as truth, statements such as Solomon's who had not had the revelation of Christ and who therefore was only living under partial revelation. The Old IS the inspired word of God but it is limited in as far as the revelation to men was only partial.

D. Application?

1. For the Christian, death is not the end but merely the gateway to

eternity.

2. Christ has secured our eternity for us.

Chapter: Eccles 9

Passage: Eccles 9:7-12

A. Find out :

1. When does God bless what we do? v.7

2. What appearance does he recommend? v.8

3. What does he recommend we do? v.9

4. How are we to live? v.10a

5. Why? v.10b

6. What is uncertain? v.11,12

B. Think :

1. What does Solomon continue to maintain about life?

2. What are his recommendations in respect of how to live it?

3. What is missing from his deliberations?

C. Comment :

Yesterday we considered again Solomon's assertion that everyone has the same destiny and today he enlarges on the consequences of that. At the end of the passage he asserts that life is just chance and therefore you cannot guarantee how things will work out or when they will come to an end.

Before that therefore, he recommends the way to live on the premise that everything is meaningless. First, enjoy your eating and drinking; it is pleasurable so make the most of it. Second, put on a good appearance in life (because that often helps how we feel). Third, enjoy life with your wife, presumably addressing men (because she is to be your lifelong partner). Fourth, whatever work you have before you do it with all your might (for in that comes a sense of achievement).

In all this there is wise counsel but for the Christian there is the added dimension of knowing the Lord and knowing the sense of working out His purposes with Him (see Ephesians 2:10 / Philippians 2:13), which can bring a sense of excitement to each day, so we are not merely waiting for death to come, but are actively involved in working out specific things throughout life at God's leading.

D. Application?

1. Do I have a sense of the purposes of God being worked out in and

through me?

2. Perhaps it's time to seek the Lord.

Chapter: Eccles 9

Passage: Eccles 9:13-18

A. Find out :

1. What had impressed Solomon? v.13

2. What bad situation had occurred? v.14

3. But what had happened? v.15

4. What had concerned Solomon? v.15c,16

5. What are better than what? v.17

6. What is wisdom also better than? v.18

B. Think :

1. How had wisdom seen to be good?

2. Yet how had men viewed it?

3. What is our temptation in a world of many voices in the media?

C. Comment :

Solomon in this book seems to go backwards and forwards between considering the meaninglessness of life and the wonder of wisdom. Here he goes back to considering wisdom again.

He has seen something which has stayed with him: a dangerous situation where the people were saved by the wisdom of a poor and probably inconsequential man. Despite his wisdom having saved the city, after it was all over, the man was forgotten. The warning here is quite clear: we can disdain and easily forget wisdom.

Solomon warns us not to be led astray by the shouts of fools in power. Merely because people say many words and repeat them loudly, and hold public positions, that does not mean that they are wise. The words of the wise are more likely to be quiet and we can easily miss, disdain or forget them.

Solomon also gives the benefits of wisdom and says it is better than strength (v.16) and better than weapons of war (v.18). In other words, the knowledge of what to do in difficult circumstances is far better than being strong or having mighty human resources. James 1:5 tells us who is the source of wisdom and encourages us to go to Him without hesitation.

D. Application?

1. The absence of wisdom means foolish men's hearts prevail.

2. God has promised to give us the wisdom we need for any situation.

Chapter: Eccles 10

Passage: Eccles 10:1-7

A. Find out :

1. How are dead flies and folly similar? v.1

2. Rephrase verse 2 in your own words.

3. How does verse 3 go on from that?

4. How may a ruler's anger be countered? v.4

5. What foolishness of rulers' has Solomon seen? v.6,7

B. Think :

1. What impact can a little folly have?

2. What point is Solomon making about the fool?

3. How is foolishness seen to be no respecter of persons?

C. Comment :

Near the end of chapter 9 Solomon started thinking about wisdom again and chapter 10 is initially a simple continuation of that. The first point he makes is that folly or foolishness can have great effect and completely spoil or annul wisdom. It is true that foolish words or acts can undo all the good that wisdom has done previously.

The second point he makes is that the way of the fool is quite obvious. It is completely different from that of the wise and it is obvious to all. He then infers that foolishness is not limited to the poor, but even rulers can become hasty in anger and show foolishness. He then thinks of occasions when he has witnessed this and seen rulers acting foolishly promoting the foolish to high positions instead of those who deserve promotion.

The passage is almost in the form of proverbs which expound the foolishness of the fool. These verses challenge us to consider our own actions and ponder on whether what we think, say or do is always wise. Wisdom doesn't have high currency in our society and thus little thought is given to it, which perhaps explains much of the confusion and foolish thinking that is tolerated. May we ponder these things.

D. Application?

1. The fool is clearly observed by his words and deeds. Do we appear as

fools or the wise?

2. True wisdom comes from the Lord alone. May we receive it from Him

for today.

Chapter: Eccles 10

Passage: Eccles 10:8-15

A. Find out :

1. What 4 dangers are noted? v.8,9

2. How is work increased? v.10

3. Of what did a charmer have to take care? v.11

4. What are the dangers of a fool? v.12,13

5. What has he a tendency to do? v.14

6. What is he left feeling? v.15

B. Think :

1. How would you summarise in your own words v.8 & 9?

2. How do verses 10 & 11 imply danger can be increased or decreased?

3. How are verses 12 to 15 a continuation of the ideas in the first part?

C. Comment :

Above we considered Solomon's warning that folly is not limited to the poor and this results in foolishness occurring in leaders. Today's verses move on into the area of dangers in general in life and show how they are no more dangerous than the fool.

First of all he lists a number of activities that are naturally dangerous, but then he implies that we can take care and reduce the danger or the effort required. If the woodcutter keeps his axe sharpened then he requires less effort. If the snake charmer or the snake remover properly deals with the snake before trying to handle it, he will avoid being bitten.

Then he moves on again to consider the fool which at first sight may appear a change in ideas, but when we think on we see that the fool is as equally dangerous as working at hazardous jobs. The words of the fool make him feel good, they can lead others astray and his words just seem to increase without achieving anything of lasting value. In fact he speaks of things he doesn't know about and simply leaves a feeling of weariness. Yes, the fool is as equally dangerous as the most dangerous of jobs!

D. Application?

1. Beware the words of a fool for they lead astray and cause harm.

2. The fool is the one who says there is no God (Psalm 14:1). Beware,

therefore, the words of the ungodly.

Chapter: Eccles 10

Passage: Eccles 10:16-20

A. Find out :

1. What sort of rule does Solomon bemoan? v.16

2. What alternative does he look for? v.17

3. What is the fruit of laziness? v.18

4. What is he warning against in verse 19?

5. What does he warn against doing? v.20a

6. Why? v.20b

B. Think :

1. What signs of irresponsibility are spoken about in these verses?

2. How does lack of forethought bring problems?

3. Why is it wiser not to voice your negative feelings about leadership?

C. Comment :

Above we considered the danger of listening to a fool, but now Solomon goes on to consider other aspects of unwise behaviour and the consequences. First he warns against immature leadership that is unwise and foolish in its behaviour. He yearns for leadership that is born for the task, that is wise in carrying it out. In the kingdom of God the same applies: leaders should be those called (born of God for it) and equipped.

The person who is not alert to the needs of life and simply lets things fall down around them, who is concerned just about enjoying the present without thought for the means to sustain it, such a person is to be avoided. The lessons for us are clear.

But then the way we respond to unwise leadership is also important. Solomon warns against speaking against it, if for no other reason than there is a tendency for words to find their way back. David had been a classic example of one who handled wrong authority with a right attitude (see 1 Samuel 24:6 & 26:9-11). May we be the same, trusting the Lord to deal with it.

D. Application?

1. Immaturity and laziness lead to actions or lack of actions that are

unwise.

2. The reality of a relationship with God is tested when leadership is not

good.

RECAP - "Destiny, Wisdom & Foolishness" - Ecclesiastes 9 & 10

SUMMARY :

In these 6 studies we have seen Solomon:

  - reflecting that the good and the bad end in death.

  - suggest the best you can do is enjoy living.

  - warning in respect of foolishness that:

  - it quickly forgets wisdom

  - foolish words destroy the good done by wisdom

  - it is as dangerous as a hazardous job

  - is seen in immature leadership & idleness.

COMMENT :

For the Christian death is not the end but the doorway to eternity. In the mean time God has given a beautiful world for us to enjoy with His blessing. The way we live, think, speak and act IS important, for we need to take care to resist the ways of the fool which lead to harm and danger. In a passage that is not easy because of its variations, we perhaps need to go back and take in again the truths that are here.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS :

The temptation will be to rush through life, get caught up in over busy-ness and be lead astray into thoughtless and careless activity.

Sit down in a quiet place (yes, MAKE the time!) and list the things you are doing in life. Lay them out one by one before the scrutiny of the Lord and ask for His wisdom to be revealed in respect of each thing. Look with fresh eyes at all you are doing and ask the Lord to revalue it for you.

PRAY :

Ask the Lord to help you be wise in all you do, appreciating the goodness of life and avoiding evil.

PART 6 : " A Right Perspective? "

In this last Part Solomon's speaks as a sage at the end of his life. Watch as he counsels patience, generosity, industry and fruitfulness. Watch for the counsel he gives as he looks back over the years and his final advice in the light of it all.