In these verses Solomon considers the uncertainty of life and our response to that. First he recommends that we give and that we give bountifully. Some suggest the bread means bread-corn which was cast into the waters when rivers were at flood so that when the waters subsided the corn grew in the alluvial soil. The lesson is give when it doesn't necessarily look the best time for a return for, who knows, perhaps at a later time the blessing will return to you.

Then he considers the inevitability and also the uncertainty of life. Yes clouds will produce rain, but who knows when? The wind may blow but for how long? If you keep on looking at the signs and wondering, you will never do anything. The fact is that life is a mystery and sometimes we get it right and others times we don't! So, says Solomon, keep yourself active in your work for you don't know when it will succeed and when it will fail.

For us as Christians, in addition to these truths, there is the sure knowledge that as we submit to God, He will lead us and work out His purposes in and through us, but still we are frequently without full understanding, so this requires us to walk in faith, receiving His forgiveness as necessary.

D. Application?

1. The future is largely unknown but we may rest in our Lord's love for us

in it.

2. Trust Him for the days to come.

Chapter: Eccles 11

Passage: Eccles 11:7-10

A. Find out :

1. What brings us pleasure? v.7

2. What advice does Solomon give? v.8a

3. Why? v.8b

4. To whom does he speak? v.9

5. What does he counsel? v.9,10

6. But what does he warn? v.9c

B. Think :

1. What indication is there that Solomon is writing in old age?

2. What guide is he suggesting to the young that they should use?

3. What reasons does he use to encourage them in this?

C. Comment :

Solomon continues his consideration of the uncertainty of life, first to all in general, then to the young in particular.

Light is something we take for granted but the sight of the sun brings us joy. Darkness is something we don't enjoy (although Jesus said the wicked use it to cover up their evil deeds!) and Solomon considers that death will only be darkness (not knowing what we now know through the New Testament) and so counsels that we make the most of the days of light that we have.

Then he speaks to the young and says twice they should follow their hearts and be led by what they feel is right and good, not, please observe, by their minds. Herein is partial truth. As Solomon says, rationalising only produces meaningless confusion and therefore it is sometimes better to be led by the heart (to do great deeds?). But much pain is being inflicted today because the mind is not used and the consequences of actions are not thought through.

Solomon warns that whatever we do will be weighed by God, therefore it is essential that we DO use our minds to consider our lives. The truth is that we should be moved by our hearts and checked by our minds.

D. Application?

1. Scripture is progressive. Our revelation is greater than Solomon's. Isn't

that Amazing!

2. Heart AND mind! Do I use them both?

Chapter: Eccles 12

Passage: Eccles 12:1-8

A. Find out :

1. What does Solomon counsel? v.1a

2. What comes with old age? v.1b

3. How is sight affected in old age? v.2,3

4. How is sound affected by old age? v.4

5. How is capability affected generally? v.3,5

6. How is death described? v.5-7

B. Think :

1. What are the frailties of old age?

2. What is Solomon's cry in this passage?

3. Why do you think he is making it?

C. Comment :

In the second half of chapter eleven Solomon was starting to challenge youth, and now he continues with a plea to youth to turn to God and (by implication) enjoy Him and his world before it is too late and old age comes with its accompanying loss of faculties.

This passage, perhaps more than any other in this book indicates that Solomon was writing in old age himself. The plea is by one who knows about these things: that eyesight fails, hearing fails, confidence in daily life fails as it becomes more difficult to deal with it.

Herein may lie some of the frustrations and source of the cry of "meaningless" that has come so often in this book from Solomon, the frustration of the limitations of old age that can make a person question and say, what was the point of it all? In old age we need to hold onto three things: first the good memories, second the realisation that although we may not be physically able we can remain spiritually able (in prayer especially, but also in wisdom), and third that death is not to be feared but seen as the doorway to the wonderful transformation, to the place where we no longer will be burdened by the limitations of a failing body. Easy to say but not, perhaps so easy to do. But........

D. Application?

1. The grace of God is available for all, even in old age, especially in

weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)

2. Experiencing God's love doesn't depend on age.

Chapter: Eccles 12

Passage: Eccles 12:9-14

A. Find out :

1. What had the teacher done? v.9,10

2. What effect do the words of the wise have? v.11

3. What does he warn about? v.12

4. What is the whole duty of man? v.13

5. Why? v.14

B. Think :

1. What indication does Solomon give that wisdom and knowledge and

understanding do not come easily?

2. What does he hope his words will do?

3. Yet what conclusion does he reach about everything he has written?

C. Comment :

In this closing passage, Solomon first of all summarises his own activity, what he has done in his life and in his writing. He has become learned and he has imparted the knowledge he has gained to others. He has truly been a teacher.

He has set down much of the wisdom he has learnt in the form of proverbs so they can be easily digested. He has given them to act as a provocation to whoever reads, and he feels there is a certain completeness to them so that anything added to them should be queried. It has been a tiring job and he warns his son against the weariness of much study.

Finally though, he sums up everything in a final declaration: whatever else, fear God and obey Him. There have been fleeting references to the Lord throughout but this one comes as the capstone to the whole building of this book. Why fear God? Because He will hold everyone accountable for everything they do and therefore everything we do should be with that in mind.

For us as Christians our life is more a response to God's love shown to us, but never the less there should still be that sense in the background of the awesome God who is our Lord and Saviour.

D. Application?

1. Learning and wisdom doesn't come easily; it takes time and effort!

2. What is most important is not what we do but WHO we do it for.

RECAP - "A Right Perspective" - Ecclesiastes 11 & 12

SUMMARY :

In these final 4 studies we have seen Solomon:

  - recommending a generous outlook on life.

  - observing the inevitability and uncertainty of life.

  - advocating living in the light of eternity.

  - challenging youth to make the most of the years.

  - demanding that youth live in the awareness of God.

  - passionately warning of death that will come to all.

  - declaring it is all meaningless without God.

  - testifying to his years of searching.

  - declaring at the end of it all, that having a right attitude

   towards God is the most important thing.

COMMENT :

The words of a man declared to have been one of the wisest men on earth are worth listening to. At the end of his life, his experience and accumulated wisdom are worth examining and his awareness of the frailty of life is worth remembering. Yet over it all he was conscious that he was answerable to God, and from that he could not escape, even if his relationship with the Lord had diminished until it was almost gone.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS :

Wherever we are in life it is worth pondering these things. If we are young, Solomon calls us to choose wise priorities in life that are made in the awareness of God our Lord and saviour. If we are old, Solomon calls us to gratefully give thanks for the good memories and to wisely make full use of the diminishing years that are left to us.

Determine to make time, on a regular basis, to be quiet before the Lord to reassess your life, to redetermine your priorities and clarify your values. Will life rule us or will we, with God's help, rule it?

PRAY :

Thank the Lord for the wisdom of Solomon, as restricted as it was with limited revelation. Thank the Lord for the life He has given with its ups AND downs. He is with us.

SUMMARY

Although it is difficult to summarise this book accurately, the following is a general outline:

1:1-11 A meaningless world that just keeps on

1:12-18 Searching for wisdom is chasing the wind

2:1-11 Chasing after pleasure is chasing the wind

2:12-16 The wise and the fool both eventually die

2:17-26 The results of work cannot go through death

3:1-8 Everything has a right time

3:9-17 The works of God

3:18-22 The fate of all creatures

4:1-3 Oppressed and oppressor

4:4-6 Achievement through work is meaningless

4:7-12 Loneliness

4:13-16 Folly in leaders

5:1-7 Careless words before God

5:8-20 Meaningless striving after wealth

6:1-9 Prosperity without enjoyment is folly

6:10-12 The fixed nature of life

7:1-6 Death helps a right perspective

7:7-14 Live in wisdom

7:15-18 Avoid extremes

7:19-29 The folly of mankind

8:1-6 Wise actions before rulers

8:7-17 The wise and the wicked

9:1-6 A common destiny for all

9:7-10 Living in the light of this

9:11-12 The uncertainty of life

9:13-18 The words of the wise

10:1-7 Position does not mean wisdom

10:8-11 Wisdom helps work

10:12-14 The words of the fool

10:15-20 The role of the ruler

11:1-6 Giving, work & activity

11:7-10 Let youth live in the light of eternity

12:1-8 Remember God before death comes

12:9-14 Keep a right attitude towards God

CONCLUSION

Viewpoint:

Solomon writes about "everything under the sun", taking a view from the earth and not from heaven. It is therefore a purely materialistic viewpoint and as such conveys a negative picture of life.

Subjects Covered:

The search for meaning is uppermost in Solomon's thinking which involved researching, studying, thinking, reasoning and wisdom. It also included involvement in many activities and the consideration of work, pleasure, life and death. Furthermore it included comparisons between the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked.

Conclusions Reached:

Solomon reached three conclusions: first that there was no meaning in a world that seemed to go on and on and on, with the same things happening over and over, again and again, with no real reason why they should happen, with injustice clearly apparent in it all. Second, he concluded that the best man could hope for would be to find simple enjoyment in his work and in the routine of daily life. Third, he concluded that man should maintain an awareness of the presence of God and keep a right attitude towards Him.

Lessons Learnt:

For us, as we have worked our way laboriously through these writings, the Lord may have said various things, but the following perhaps should stand out:

1. Life with out God is indeed meaningless.

2. Without the Lord, life is indeed confusing even to the wisest of      men.

3. With the Lord comes understanding of overall history and a

     new sense of meaning and purpose in everyday events.

Our Response?

Sorrow for the godless, confused unbeliever? Thanks to the Lord who has given us His world to enjoy with Him? And more...?