Chapters
9-12 are the conclusions of Solomon. Before going into the questions, 1) Review
all the things that are “meaningless” and 2) Review the key themes that Solomon expressed (Ch. 3, 5, 7, 8).
1)
Wisdom, Toil, Folly,
Advancement, Friendlessness, Oppression, Riches
2)
A Time for
Everything, Stand in Awe of God, The Value of Wisdom, Obey the King
Bread Upon the Waters
(11:1-6) What
are the following verses suggesting that we should do, and what are the reasons
given?
|
Verses |
Hint |
Action |
Reason |
|
vv.1-3 |
“waters”
= “multitudes” |
Give to the poor |
Do not know when you will become
poor |
|
vv.3-4 |
For the
reason, focus on what ultimately happens to the tree |
Rather than horde wealth (as a
cloud full of water), give it out |
We will all eventually die and
not have opportunity to give |
|
v.6 |
"whether
both will do equally well" = “imitate your action” |
Continually do good |
You never know who will imitate
you in doing good |
Because of
the statement in verse 5 (and the context of this passage), what then, are we
to do, and what should our attitude be (Gal. 6:9,
We do not always know what God is
doing or what He will do. Thus, our task is to use the opportunity and the
resources that He has given us to do good (Gal. 6:9) and to do it to the best
of our ability (
Remember Your Creator While Young
(11:7-11:10)
What is Solomon saying about the things in life - a fact that we often
ignore when discussing
our spiritual issues? How does realizing this help guard against what we are
trying to avoid (Notice the warnings given in v.9 and Jas. 1:13-15)?
We often ignore the fact that life
is enjoyable. We dismiss worldly things and possessions as things that we
should not try to seek after, but in reality that is what we are essentially
doing – because they are enjoyable!
(12:1-8)
These verses have symbolic elements representing the physical changes humans
undergo with time. Try to figure out what some of these symbols represent
(Hint: grinders = teeth, almond tree = white hair). What attitudes accompany
mankind with these physical changes, especially toward those things which
Solomon found “meaningless?” What things do these kinds of people long for? How
does/should this change the attitude of how you live your life now (Phil.
3:4-14)?
Sun=face, moon=cheek, stars=eyes,
keepers of house = hands and arms, strong men = thighs and legs,
grinders=teeth, windows=eyes, doors=mouth, rise at the sound of birds= less
sleep, songs grow faint = unable to produce music, afraid of heights = stumble
and fall, almond tree = white hair, grasshoppers = cannot endure burden, silver
cord = spinal cord, golden bowl = brain, well=heart, pitcher=veins
Old age makes mankind find no
pleasure in what the youth find pleasure in. Basically all the things that
Solomon found “meaningless” are things that youthful people tend to long for.
However, in old age people are apt to desire their home in heaven more than the
things of this earth, since their bodies are in no shape to enjoy the things of
this earth.
One attitude change that we ought
to have from this is that we ought to be heaven-seeking people. After all, that
is where we will end up spending eternity! Not only should we do good deeds to
“store up treasures in heaven,” but we ought to actively remind ourselves of
how glorious it will be to be in heaven, in the presence of God. This is the
same mindset that Paul had after experiencing Christ first-hand on the road to
The Conclusion of the Matter
(12:9-12:12)
What is the author affirming here? (Parallel to Rev. 22:18-19; Also translated:
“The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies,
which are given from one shepherd;” Goad = “An agent or means of prodding or
urging; a stimulus.”) Why is this affirmation so important?
Some secular scholars claim that
Ecclesiastes and Proverbs are merely the work of one man – “The Teacher,” or
Solomon – rather than an inspired work of God. But Solomon clearly states that
these words were pierced deeply into his mind and “fastened” by the “one
shepherd,” which affirms that God Himself set these words in place (and in
stone).
(12:13-14)
Most of us understand what it means to keep God’s commandments (Jas. 2:10).
What then, does it mean to fear God? (Recall the themes from Ch. 5 and 8)
Notice that Solomon ends the book with a warning. How does this apply to us?
“Fearing God is the inward worship,
reverence, love, trust, and devotedness of heart to serve and please him.”
All Christians are “judged” here on
earth by way of chastisement, and in the future at the Judgment Seat of Christ,
where we will be awarded based on how faithfully we followed Christ.
Final Remarks
From “Is Life Really
Worth Living” by Chuck Missler
http://www.khouse.org/articles/biblestudy/20030101-447.html
Solomon saw injustice to
the poor, crooked politics, incompetent leaders, guilty people allowed to
commit more crimes, materialism, and a desire for "the good old
days." It sounds relevant for us,
too, doesn't it? Solomon has put the key to Ecclesiastes right at the front
door:
Vanity of vanities, saith
the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all
his labor which he taketh under the sun? -Ecclesiastes 1:2-3
(Just in case we missed it,
he also put the same key at the back door.) But don't assume he is cynical or
pessimistic: that would miss his real point! Whether he considers his wealth,
his works, his wisdom, or his world, Solomon comes to a sad appraisal: all is
"vanity and vexation of spirit."However, this is not his final
conclusion, nor is it the only message that he has for his readers. We will
discover much more as we delve into the depth of the book.
In spite of his painful
encounters with the world and its problems, Solomon does not recommend either
pessimism or cynicism. Rather, he admonishes us to be realistic about life,
accept God's gifts and enjoy them. After all, God gives to us "richly all
things to enjoy." [Words related to joy (enjoy, rejoice, etc.) are used at
least17 times in Ecclesiastes.]
Solomon does not say,
"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you die!" Instead, he advises
us to trust God and enjoy what we do have rather than complain about what we
don't have. Life is short and life is difficult, so make the most of it while
you can.
Solomon initially opens
with three bleak observations: nothing is really changed, nothing is really
new, and nothing is understood. After experimenting and investigating
"life under the sun," he initially concluded, "No, life is not
worth living!" And he gave four arguments to support his conclusion: the
monotony of life, the vanity of wisdom, the futility of wealth, and the
certainty of death.
But being a wise man,
Solomon, in Chapters 3 to 10, reviewed his arguments and this time brought God
into the picture. What a difference it made! By reexamining each of these impressions
more carefully he realized that life was not monotonous but filled with
challenging situations from God, each in its own time and each for its own
purpose.
He also learned that wealth
could be enjoyed and employed to the glory of God. Though man's wisdom couldn't
explain everything, Solomon concluded that it was better to follow God's wisdom
than to practice man's folly.
And as for the certainty of
death, there is no way to escape it; it ought to motivate us to enjoy life now
and make the most of the opportunities God gives us.
So he asks his listeners to
look up, look within, look ahead, and look around, and to take into
consideration time, eternity, death, and suffering: these four factors God uses
to keep our lives from becoming monotonous and meaningless.
In his final conclusion and
personal application, Solomon then presents four pictures of life and attaches
to each picture a practical admonition for his readers to heed:
These four pictures
parallel the four arguments that Solomon had wrestled with throughout the book:
Life is not monotonous; rather, it is an adventure of faith that is anything
but predictable or tedious. Yes, death is certain, but life is a gift from God
and He wants us to enjoy it. Are there questions we can't answer and problems
we can't solve? Don't despair. God teaches us His truth as we advance in
"the school of life," and He will give us wisdom enough to make
sensible decisions. Finally, as far as wealth is concerned, all of life is a
stewardship from God; and one day He will call us to give an account.
Therefore, "fear God, and keep His commandments."