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…. United Kingdom – Part 2. Lesson 21 Ecclesiastes. Outline. Fulfillment comes from God (1:1-2:26). Man cannot find it himself or in this earth. Enjoyment of life is a gift from God. Man must trust God to realize his purpose (3:1-5:20). God has a plan for all things.
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United Kingdom – Part 2 Lesson 21 Ecclesiastes
Outline • Fulfillment comes from God (1:1-2:26). • Man cannot find it himself or in this earth. • Enjoyment of life is a gift from God. • Man must trust God to realize his purpose (3:1-5:20). • God has a plan for all things. • Difficulties can be confronted, but not all can be answered or understood. • Man must trust God and enjoy what God has given him here.
Outline • Answers to inequalities of life (6:1-8:15). • Explanation of various difficulties related to trust in God for enjoyment and meaning. • Application to avoid and deal with various inequalities of life. • Explanation of further discouragements and conclusion (8:16-12:14). • Importance and limitations of wisdom. • The need for diligence and optimism. • Follow God early and wholly.
Theme of Ecclesiastes • Under the Sun All Is Vanity • Beyond the Sun Fear God and Keep His Commandments
Trust God • Do we get to “say” what time it is? • Both positive and negative are right in their time and place • What can we control?
Trust God • What Profit has the worker? • Put Eternity In Their Heart except no man can know … (3:11) • Nothing is better than to rejoice and do good. Eat, drink and enjoy the good of his labor (3:12-13) • These things happen so that we may fear God (3:14)
Trust God • Injustice and Wickedness • God allows injustice to test • Under the Sun • Man and Beast dies alike • Beyond the Sun • Man -> Judgement
Trust God Oppression of Men (4:1-3) • Under the Sun • Great oppression and no comfort • Power to the oppressor • Better to be among the dead • Better yet to be never born
Trust God Vanity of Craft/Skill (4:4-6) It is better to enjoy a little with quietness that much that comes from the consumption of ourselves
Trust God – Not Oneself (Selfish) • Two is better than one (4:9-12) • Popularity is Vanity (King) (4:13-16) • Listen when you go to Worship and keep your tongue from evil (5:1-6)
Trust God – Not Riches Vanity of Riches (5:8-20) • He who loves silver will not be satisfied • Enjoy it and remember what will happen to it when your gone. • A Sad Situation (6:1-12)
Inequalities of Life Which sounds better? (7:1-14) • Good name is better than luxury • Death is better than birth • Funeral is better than a feast • Rebuke of the wise is better than song .. • Present is better than the past • Wisdom is better than wealth Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 NKJV 13 Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.
Inequalities of Life Seek Balance (7:15-22) Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?
Inequalities of Life Vanity of Government (8:1-9) • Keep his commands (for God’s sake) • With power and wealth, expect evil • Don’t fight and you will not be harmed • What will happen to these kingdoms?
Inequalities of Life Judgement appears slow and evil appears successful “under the sun” (8:10-14) • What about beyond the sun? • Therefore, enjoy what you have been blessed with “under the sun”.
Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Death will come to all (9:1-10) • The same happens to the good and the bad? (injustice?) • If we were to ask Job now, did the suffering last long? Was it worth it? • What would his answer be? • Time and chance happens to all (9:11) • The good guy don’t always win “under the sun”.
Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Enjoy your blessings! (9:9-10) • Live with the wife of your youth! • Enjoy the pleasures God has granted you “under the sun”. • Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might. • It all ends at the grave!
Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Folly Destroys! (10:1-20) • What can a small mistake do to a person of great reputation? • What might happen to the one who digs a pit for another? • What does the many words of the fool typically cost? • What will happen to the land ruled by the young, brash king? (sound familiar) • What happens to the one who curses kings or the rich? (little birdy may tell)
Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Be Benevolent! (11:1-2) • Cast your bread on the water … Be Diligent! (11:3-8) • Don’t wait to act while worrying over things you can’t control • Simply sow, you don’t know what will grow or fail
Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Rejoice in the days of your youth! (11:9-10) Remember in the days of your youth! (12:1-8) • Don’t wait till your olderbecause you may not have the health
Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.