Lesson 22                                 

Ecclesiastes

The Things That Don't Work!

Review:

 

 

 

 

Next Solomon gives some strong examples in vs:3-6

6:3  If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things (of life that he has) and he does not even have a proper burial, (as is appropriate for his status in life)  then I say, "Better the miscarriage than he, (be still born – 4:3)

  

6:4  for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity.

 

6:5  "It never sees the sun and it never knows anything; it is better off than he.

 

6:6  "Even if the other man lives a thousand years twice and does not enjoy good things-- do not all go to one place?"

 

 

OBSERVATIONS

1. Many children and long life were considered by the Hebrews to be a blessing.

 

2. His point here is this: It is better never to have experienced life at all - be still-born - than to have experienced long life, 2000 years, have many children and NOT discovered the life giver who is the only source for true happiness.

 

3. Not being born is to be better off, free from all the suffering, toil, anxiety of the joyless rich. (vs:5)

- especially so is it better for the one to die at birth - be still born than to live ones life - reject Jesus Christ and die as an UB and spend eternity in the lake of fire - eternal judgment.  Mt 26:24

 

Maybe the answer is hard work!

6:7  All a man's labor is for his mouth and yet the appetite is not satisfied.

 

 **  The unregenerate does not know and many neg bel's have forgotten a most important Biblical Prin.:   "Man shall not live by bread alone, but  by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Dt 8:3; Mat 4:4;

 

The real you, man's soul, is only completely satisfied with heavenly bread -- the eternal word of God.  Anything else only provides a satisfaction that is temporary and relative.

 

6:8  For what advantage does the wise man have over the fool? What advantage does the poor man have, knowing how to walk before the living?

 

 

- operating under human viewpoint, the natural systems of perception  doesn't cut it so the one with great human wisdom has no advantage over the fool

 

  ** No one, whether he be wise, poor, or rich is able to satisfy on his own what his soul is lacking - with his under the sun living.

 

6:9  What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind.

 

- orienting to the situation in our niche at that point of time is better than living in fantasy land - a dream world.

 

What's he saying??

1. We must get a grip on reality.

 

2. Dreams won't fill a stomach any more than one’s fantasies will fulfill the needs of their soul.

 

3. Present reality is better than the unknown future.

 

4. We need hope not fantasy land.

 

5. The things that we desire always seem better in the expectation phase than they do when we acquire them.

 

6:10  Whatever exists has already been named,  (God indeed has a plan!)

    It is He that is Sovereign - in rulership.

- has been named  - qara   ar'q'  lit. called out > ref. to eternity past where the parameters for man were prooridzw - marked out - not only His desires for man, but finite man's strengths and weaknesses which will impact the sphere in which mankind is able to live and function in time.

 

The question that must be dealt with is: Is God ultimately in charge or isn't He?

 

:10b  and it is known what man is;

- GOD KNOWS US.  He is the potter the creator, we are the clay.

God is infinite - we are finite.

God is OmPo, we are limited in strength and ability.

God is faithful; we are unfaithful and inconsistent ...irresponsible, fractured and so often confused.

 

:10c  for he cannot dispute with him who is stronger than he is.

 

:11  For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man?

 

 

- C.S. Lewis put it this way; "To argue with God is to argue with the very power that makes it possible to argue at all."

 

 Observations:

1. All the arguments, the words are useless; we should acknowledge our limitations and begin to immediately  fear God.

 

 

Isa 45:9-12; Dan 4:35; Rom 9:20

 

2. We need to orient within our niche - concentrate on the vertical.

 

3. So long as we fight the hand of God, we will not learn the lessons He is attempting to place before us.

 

 

6:12  For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

 

OBSERVATONS

1. Does life sometimes seem futile?  Only God knows what is good for you   and will satisfy your soul.

 

 

2. Life flashes by very quickly - don't waste it.  Jas 4:14

 

 

 

3. If we live under the sun - apart from God and His Word, life will be but a mere shadow of what it could be.

 

- only thru the WOG in you under the empowering ministry of the Holy Spirit and the application of it will anyone truly realize their potential in life as a Believer

 

 

SUMMARY PRINCIPLES FROM CH 6

1. Contentment can not be found in external things, the details of life, Lk 12:15

 

2. Contentment re: the details of life is found in our love of Christ and trust in His veracity.  Heb 13:5-6

 

3. Contentment, inner peace, is linked to one’s  spiritual growth. Phil 4:11-13

3 important aspects  that jump out at you

 

- "I have learned" (2x)

 

- "I know"

 

- "I can do all things"

 

4. Idolatry is the active worship or passive service to anything that takes the place of Christ and His Word in your life.