Week 15
8/12/2018
Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
Teacher: Lloyd Shadrach
One Fate For All
Ecclesiastes 9:1-10 “For I have taken all this to heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred, anything awaits him.
It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked: for the good, for the clean and for the unclean: for the men who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the Good man is, so is the sinner, as the swearer is so is the one who is afraid to swear.
This is an evil that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.
For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion.
For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, not have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten.
Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun
Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart: for god has already approved your works.
Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking in your head.
Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for their is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.”
NOT HOW DO WE CURE DEATH...How do we live in light of the reality of death.
One Hand v1
GODS IN CONTROL
The hand of God (he protects, provides and keeps us secure) God is sovereign. God is sovereign...Man doesn’t know if he gets Gods favor or wrath
One Fate vs2-6
DEATH IS INEVITABLE
The same for all. Fate-the inevitability of future events...death is inevitable.
We reason “good people get ___, evil people get ___” Solomon tells us we all get the same thing. Solomon says this is evil
vs 4-6 hope (4) not eternal hope...hope in life. Only 3x used.
Lion most noble of animals...in this culture, dog is detestable animal...for us live buzzard better than dead eagle. Beyond the grave (heaven) was not clear for Solomon.
One Life vs7-10
7 carpe diem passage.
Sheol, the place of death...not hell as we understand it. (Progressive revelation) place of nothing, a wasteland.
Enjoy life right now, enjoy the gifts God has given...
In ch 8 he commends you to enjoy life...in 9:7, he commands it!
v7 not justification or salvation ... LIFE IS GIFT NOT GAIN.
1-realize every meal is more than a meal. “Nouwen quote”
2-when it’s time to celebrate don’t hold back.
3-(9) if married, see your spouse anew every day. Familiarity breeds contempt...see them new. See your spouse anew
4-(10) whistle while you work. Work is a gift...not part of the curse
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Ecclesiastes Part 14
8/5/18 Bad Things Happen...To Good People
Ecclesiastes 8:10-18
Teacher: Rob Sweet
Ecclesiastes 8:10-18 CSB "In such circumstances, I saw the wicked buried. They came and went from the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they did those things. This too is futile. Because the sentence against an evil act is not carried out quickly, the heart of people is filled with the desire to commit evil. Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before him. However, it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, for they are not reverent before God. There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that his too is futile. So I commend the enjoyment because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun. When I applied by mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth (even though one's eyes do not close in sleep day or night), I observe all the work of God and conclude that a person is unable to discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though a person labors hard to explore it, he cannot find it; even if a wise person claims to know it, he is unable to discover it. "
Key verse 8:14
Theme: life just isn’t FAIR
Where does our instinct for fairness come from? We are made in the image of God...He is JUST. We were made to extend the glory and righteous rule of God.
In the fall our image became deformed...greed
We have to wrestle with the truth...NO life isn’t fair.
V11 because the sentence against an evil deed (consequence) is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the son of men among them are given fully to do evil.
*if we think we won’t get caught and it’s to our advantage we will...without the hilt spirit.
Solomon is posing ?? “Why doesn’t God shut down the evil in the world by punishing the evil doers?”
Answer: v12-13
You can’t count on justice in the world under the sun. Justice will win out and make things right...but ONLY to if there is something after death. He doesn’t know what’s after life (based on progressive revelation of God)
Solomon can’t see past death...but he thinks something must be on the other side “I know...it will be well, it will not be well”
Reckoning and restoration
Well-Hebrew “Tove” good, pleasant, orderly, right...gen 1 god saw that it was Tove. One day everything will be Tove...like pre-fall...restoration.
The reckoning and restoration of God all come together in the person of Jesus.
Cross was reckoning...resurrection was restoration. More unfair and unjust than anything we think is unfair. I (and all who believe) am the beneficiary of that unfairness
V16 “when I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night).
V17 and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which had been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously he will not discover: and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.
why does god allow all of this? We cannot know!!!
How? How should we live in an environment where things are not how they should be.
Present: v15 at 1st glance...numb the pain. Truth-open your eyes to the gifts God has placed in your hands and enjoy them. Life has bitter and sweet...focus on sweet.Find joy in your gifts. Life is gift, not gain. An undeserved (therefore unfair) gift.
God not only do understands injustice...he bore it on his back and walked in it....for me.
When Christ returns...final reckoning and restoration. Evil one banished...broken creation made new, justice will be all there is.
If life is not fair...how do we live?
THE FEAR OF GOD:
A wholesome dress of displeasing God
A holy awe of God as he is revealed in scripture
A holy awareness that to hear God is to obey God
A Hope-filled faith in Jesus who died and rose, to make all things new.
(We cannot fear God apart from Christ)
Jesus:unfair but beautiful.
Ecclesiastes 8:10-18
Teacher: Rob Sweet
Ecclesiastes 8:10-18 CSB "In such circumstances, I saw the wicked buried. They came and went from the holy place, and they were praised in the city where they did those things. This too is futile. Because the sentence against an evil act is not carried out quickly, the heart of people is filled with the desire to commit evil. Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before him. However, it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, for they are not reverent before God. There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that his too is futile. So I commend the enjoyment because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat, drink, and enjoy himself, for this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun. When I applied by mind to know wisdom and to observe the activity that is done on the earth (even though one's eyes do not close in sleep day or night), I observe all the work of God and conclude that a person is unable to discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though a person labors hard to explore it, he cannot find it; even if a wise person claims to know it, he is unable to discover it. "
Key verse 8:14
Theme: life just isn’t FAIR
Where does our instinct for fairness come from? We are made in the image of God...He is JUST. We were made to extend the glory and righteous rule of God.
In the fall our image became deformed...greed
We have to wrestle with the truth...NO life isn’t fair.
V11 because the sentence against an evil deed (consequence) is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the son of men among them are given fully to do evil.
*if we think we won’t get caught and it’s to our advantage we will...without the hilt spirit.
Solomon is posing ?? “Why doesn’t God shut down the evil in the world by punishing the evil doers?”
Answer: v12-13
You can’t count on justice in the world under the sun. Justice will win out and make things right...but ONLY to if there is something after death. He doesn’t know what’s after life (based on progressive revelation of God)
Solomon can’t see past death...but he thinks something must be on the other side “I know...it will be well, it will not be well”
Reckoning and restoration
Well-Hebrew “Tove” good, pleasant, orderly, right...gen 1 god saw that it was Tove. One day everything will be Tove...like pre-fall...restoration.
The reckoning and restoration of God all come together in the person of Jesus.
Cross was reckoning...resurrection was restoration. More unfair and unjust than anything we think is unfair. I (and all who believe) am the beneficiary of that unfairness
V16 “when I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or night).
V17 and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which had been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously he will not discover: and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.
why does god allow all of this? We cannot know!!!
How? How should we live in an environment where things are not how they should be.
Present: v15 at 1st glance...numb the pain. Truth-open your eyes to the gifts God has placed in your hands and enjoy them. Life has bitter and sweet...focus on sweet.Find joy in your gifts. Life is gift, not gain. An undeserved (therefore unfair) gift.
God not only do understands injustice...he bore it on his back and walked in it....for me.
When Christ returns...final reckoning and restoration. Evil one banished...broken creation made new, justice will be all there is.
If life is not fair...how do we live?
THE FEAR OF GOD:
A wholesome dress of displeasing God
A holy awe of God as he is revealed in scripture
A holy awareness that to hear God is to obey God
A Hope-filled faith in Jesus who died and rose, to make all things new.
(We cannot fear God apart from Christ)
Jesus:unfair but beautiful.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Ecclesiastes Part 13
Ecclesiastes 8:1-9
Teacher: Bill Wellons
Ecclesiastes 8:1-9 CSB "Who is like the wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A person's wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed. Keep the king's command because of your oath made before God. Do not be in a hurry; leave his presence, and don't persist in a bad cause, since he will do whatever he wants. For the king's word is authoritative, and who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though a person's troubles are heavy on him. Yet no one knows what will happen because who can tell him what will happen? No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death; no one is discharged during battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape. All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one person has authority over another to his harm."
There are 2 kingdoms. The temporal kingdom and the eternal kingdom. 1. What is true about these kingdoms? 2. How do you live wisely in the kingdom?
TEMPORAL: The king's authority is absolute. In addition to absolute authority and because we live "under the sun" in a fallen world, His character is deeply flawed. This is a perfect example that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
While his authority is absolute, it is important to know that the temporal kingdom's king has an authority that is limited by death. His character is flawed and his rule is harsh.
The King's of Israel were appointed by God, but even with this appointment, the person of Jesus is the only 'man' to lead a perfect life. Because they are appointed by God, even though flawed, Solomon says it is wise to submit to the King's authority.
There is a time and a place for everything, a time to talk and a time to be silent. A wise person listens more than he speaks...submission to the king is not blind passivity.
The wise in the land know something is missing. They realize they live in a fallen world under a sinful, human king. They are dissatisfied, but they know more is to come...So they patiently wait. The wise also know what is coming. They know the current kingdom is temporal and the end is coming.
LIKE SOLOMON'S TIME. We all live under an authority, and it is flawed as well.
WE MUST
ETERNAL: The King's authority is absolute, it is not limited by death and extends to the heavens and beyond. The King's authority knows no bounds or limits.
The kingdom of God is already, and not yet. It already rules (or should) in our hearts, but it is not fully consummated on this earth, and won't be until Christ's return.
The character of God is perfect. Jesus was tempted in every way, yet lived without sin. In the temporal world, the ruler is flawed, in our eternal world God's character is perfect in every possible way. He is a loving and just God, therefore he is a loving and just ruler.
The wise trust God's perfect character, nothing is missing and there is complete satisfaction. The wise know what is coming, not death...but eternal life. We will be raised with Christ. Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God. The wise in the kingdom pursue a person named wisdom...Jesus Christ.
We must reflect on what aspects of our life need to be submitted to the eternal kingdom, and move them out of the temporal kingdom. What is there to worry less about today, and simply long more for His kingdom that is coming?
Teacher: Bill Wellons
Ecclesiastes 8:1-9 CSB "Who is like the wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A person's wisdom brightens his face, and the sternness of his face is changed. Keep the king's command because of your oath made before God. Do not be in a hurry; leave his presence, and don't persist in a bad cause, since he will do whatever he wants. For the king's word is authoritative, and who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' The one who keeps a command will not experience anything harmful, and a wise heart knows the right time and procedure. For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though a person's troubles are heavy on him. Yet no one knows what will happen because who can tell him what will happen? No one has authority over the wind to restrain it, and there is no authority over the day of death; no one is discharged during battle, and wickedness will not allow those who practice it to escape. All this I have seen, applying my mind to all the work that is done under the sun, at a time when one person has authority over another to his harm."
There are 2 kingdoms. The temporal kingdom and the eternal kingdom. 1. What is true about these kingdoms? 2. How do you live wisely in the kingdom?
TEMPORAL: The king's authority is absolute. In addition to absolute authority and because we live "under the sun" in a fallen world, His character is deeply flawed. This is a perfect example that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
While his authority is absolute, it is important to know that the temporal kingdom's king has an authority that is limited by death. His character is flawed and his rule is harsh.
The King's of Israel were appointed by God, but even with this appointment, the person of Jesus is the only 'man' to lead a perfect life. Because they are appointed by God, even though flawed, Solomon says it is wise to submit to the King's authority.
There is a time and a place for everything, a time to talk and a time to be silent. A wise person listens more than he speaks...submission to the king is not blind passivity.
The wise in the land know something is missing. They realize they live in a fallen world under a sinful, human king. They are dissatisfied, but they know more is to come...So they patiently wait. The wise also know what is coming. They know the current kingdom is temporal and the end is coming.
LIKE SOLOMON'S TIME. We all live under an authority, and it is flawed as well.
WE MUST
- Submit to authority (Pray for our leaders)
- Remain patient
- Know what's coming. The current leadership group will end, the world will end, a new kingdom is coming.
ETERNAL: The King's authority is absolute, it is not limited by death and extends to the heavens and beyond. The King's authority knows no bounds or limits.
The kingdom of God is already, and not yet. It already rules (or should) in our hearts, but it is not fully consummated on this earth, and won't be until Christ's return.
The character of God is perfect. Jesus was tempted in every way, yet lived without sin. In the temporal world, the ruler is flawed, in our eternal world God's character is perfect in every possible way. He is a loving and just God, therefore he is a loving and just ruler.
The wise trust God's perfect character, nothing is missing and there is complete satisfaction. The wise know what is coming, not death...but eternal life. We will be raised with Christ. Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God. The wise in the kingdom pursue a person named wisdom...Jesus Christ.
We must reflect on what aspects of our life need to be submitted to the eternal kingdom, and move them out of the temporal kingdom. What is there to worry less about today, and simply long more for His kingdom that is coming?
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Ecclesiastes Part 12
Ecclesiastes 7:15-29
Limitations of Life
Teacher: Lloyd Shadrach
Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 CSB "In my futile life I have seen everything: someone righteous perishes in spite of his righteousness, and someone wicked lives long in spite of his evil. Don't be excessively righteous, and don't be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Don't be excessively wicked, and don't be foolish. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you grasp the one nad do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them. Wisdom makes the wise person stronger than ten rulers of a city. There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins. Don't pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you, for in your heart you know that many times you yourself have cursed others. I have tested all this wisdom. I resolved, 'I will be wise,' but it was beyond me. What exists is beyond reach and very deep. Who can discover it? I turned my thoughts to know, explore, and examine wisdom and an explanation for things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity and folly is madness. And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a trap: her heart a net and her hands chains. The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be captured by her. 'Look,' says the teacher, 'I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find out the explanation, which my soul continually searches for but does not find: I found one person in a thousand, but none of those was a woman. Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.'"
v. 15 asserts that the righteous die young, and the wicked live long lives. This is not a declaration of a complete truth. Rather it is a generalization Solomon is noticing. We can probably all thing of 'good' people who have died young. Many come to my mind, even children, whose lives seemed to be good and kind, perished at a young age...However we can all think of men and women who do not deserve life, as though any of us really deserve life, yet live it freely and healthily. None of us our rewarded or punished based on our works.
Going back to verse 14: Ecclesiastes 7:14 "In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that no one can discover anything that will come after him." Solomon wants us to face reality, God is behind all things...ALL includes good people dying, evil people living....and even what is on my heart right now, a sweet friend, on of the most Godly women I know, who just delivered a son with a congenital heart defect. He awaits surgery and she stays beside Him, praising the Lord all the while. God does not give us life, ease, etc. based on our works. Solomon's statement is also a warning that self righteousness is no guarantee of blessings in this life.
Everything we do in this life is about our motive. Wisdom is good, but should not be sought for profit. Everything we do must be compatible with the fear of God.
In V 19-22 Solomon asserts that wisdom is powerful, and sin is universal. This is paralleled in the New Testament when it says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3
We all sin. The more award of our sin we become, the least likely we are to seek revenge when we have been wronged.
In V26 Solomon personifies wisdom and foolishness as a woman. Not too much can be read from this passage as you can see that Wisdom is a woman in Proverbs 1:20 and Foolishness is a woman in Proverbs 2:18-19 and 7:13
V27-29 Only a small fraction of people live in wisdom Solomon only found a miniscule amount of people living well. V29 tells us that God created humanity upright and righteous BUT...man and woman sought out many devices, the first being the tree in the Garden.
Solomon says he can't figure out the ways of God with man. We can't always answer "Why did God____?" Sometimes we can just know He did.
We must trust God in our misunderstanding.
We CAN and should trust the actions of God because we know the character of God.
Limitations of Life
Teacher: Lloyd Shadrach
Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 CSB "In my futile life I have seen everything: someone righteous perishes in spite of his righteousness, and someone wicked lives long in spite of his evil. Don't be excessively righteous, and don't be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? Don't be excessively wicked, and don't be foolish. Why should you die before your time? It is good that you grasp the one nad do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them. Wisdom makes the wise person stronger than ten rulers of a city. There is certainly no one righteous on the earth who does good and never sins. Don't pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you, for in your heart you know that many times you yourself have cursed others. I have tested all this wisdom. I resolved, 'I will be wise,' but it was beyond me. What exists is beyond reach and very deep. Who can discover it? I turned my thoughts to know, explore, and examine wisdom and an explanation for things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity and folly is madness. And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a trap: her heart a net and her hands chains. The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be captured by her. 'Look,' says the teacher, 'I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find out the explanation, which my soul continually searches for but does not find: I found one person in a thousand, but none of those was a woman. Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.'"
v. 15 asserts that the righteous die young, and the wicked live long lives. This is not a declaration of a complete truth. Rather it is a generalization Solomon is noticing. We can probably all thing of 'good' people who have died young. Many come to my mind, even children, whose lives seemed to be good and kind, perished at a young age...However we can all think of men and women who do not deserve life, as though any of us really deserve life, yet live it freely and healthily. None of us our rewarded or punished based on our works.
Going back to verse 14: Ecclesiastes 7:14 "In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity, consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that no one can discover anything that will come after him." Solomon wants us to face reality, God is behind all things...ALL includes good people dying, evil people living....and even what is on my heart right now, a sweet friend, on of the most Godly women I know, who just delivered a son with a congenital heart defect. He awaits surgery and she stays beside Him, praising the Lord all the while. God does not give us life, ease, etc. based on our works. Solomon's statement is also a warning that self righteousness is no guarantee of blessings in this life.
Everything we do in this life is about our motive. Wisdom is good, but should not be sought for profit. Everything we do must be compatible with the fear of God.
In V 19-22 Solomon asserts that wisdom is powerful, and sin is universal. This is paralleled in the New Testament when it says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3
We all sin. The more award of our sin we become, the least likely we are to seek revenge when we have been wronged.
In V26 Solomon personifies wisdom and foolishness as a woman. Not too much can be read from this passage as you can see that Wisdom is a woman in Proverbs 1:20 and Foolishness is a woman in Proverbs 2:18-19 and 7:13
V27-29 Only a small fraction of people live in wisdom Solomon only found a miniscule amount of people living well. V29 tells us that God created humanity upright and righteous BUT...man and woman sought out many devices, the first being the tree in the Garden.
Solomon says he can't figure out the ways of God with man. We can't always answer "Why did God____?" Sometimes we can just know He did.
We must trust God in our misunderstanding.
We CAN and should trust the actions of God because we know the character of God.
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