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Ecclesiastes Lesson Seven

Ecclesiastes Lesson Seven: Ecclesiastes 3:16-22 – Mystery of Injustice and Death

I also observed under the sun: there is wickedness at the place of judgment and there is wickedness at the place of righteousness. 17 I said to myself, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every work.” 18 I said to myself, “This happens concerning people, so that God may test them and they may see for themselves that they are like animals.” 19 For the fate of people and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies? (HCSB)

I’ll deal with this passage in one section, as there is one theme that runs through it. The teacher is wrestling with a question that plagues us today; how can God be in control when there is so much wickedness in the world? Now, let’s dig deeper into this passage.

  • In this passage, the teacher seems to be saying that time passes swiftly for humans.
    • We often look back and wonder about or regret decisions we’ve made. 
    • At the same time, God keeps track of everything we do, and at the end of time, we’ll answer for our actions. The teacher makes this very statement in the final verse of Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
  • The teacher ponders this very thought in the first two verses of this passage.
    • He witnessed wickedness and injustice.
    • He wondered why the judgment was delayed.
  • Now we circle back to the theme of this passage; how can God allow so much evil in the world?
    • The teacher wasn’t the first to wrestle with this question, nor was he the last. I’m sure that everyone who reads this ponders the same question.
    • However, the teacher comforts himself with two assurances.
      • God has a time for everything.
        • Ecclesiastes 8:6 For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though man’s troubles are heavy on him.
        • Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because the sentence against a criminal act is not carried out quickly,  the heart of people is filled with the desire to commit crime.
      • God is working out His eternal purposes in and through the actions of mankind, even those who are wicked.
    • Verse seventeen should also be viewed with the eschatological judgment in mind.
      • Psalm 14:5 Then they will be filled with terror, for God is with those who are  righteous.
      • Although the teacher was not a prophet, he did speak of a coming judgment.
      • He acknowledged that political oppression was a universal phenomenon, but he offered hope, even though it was abstract, of a divine judgment and vindication.
  • God will judge everyone when the current earth has passed away, but He is also judging everyone now.
    • Verse eighteen tells us that God is testing man.
    • This testing reveals the character of each person.
    • When humanity leaves God out of their lives, they are no different than animals.
      • Psalm 32:9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you.
      • Proverbs 7:22-23 He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward a trap 23 until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.
      • 2 Peter 2:19-20 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them. 20 For if, having escaped the world’s impurity through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first.
  • As we read verses nineteen and twenty, we need to be careful and not draw the wrong conclusion. The teacher is not saying there is no difference between humans and animals. He is merely pointing out they have two things in common.
    • Both groups die.
    • The bodies of both groups will return to the dust. 
    • Humanity has a distinct advantage and difference over animals; mankind was created in the image of God.
    • However, both groups die and return to “dust.”
  • The Bible tells us that death happens when the spirit leaves the body.
    • James 2:26a For just as the body without the spirit is dead.
    • Luke 8:55a Her spirit returned, and she got up at once.
  • The teacher seems to be indicating that humans and animals don’t have the same experience at death.
    • Man’s spirit goes to God. Ecclesiastes 12:7 And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
    • The animal’s spirit ceases to exist. Read Psalm 49.
  • Once again, Ecclesiastes focuses on the mortality of humanity. Each of us is destined to have a physical death. But the real emphasis is whether or not we’ll experience spiritual life or death.
  • We also need to remember that mankind’s spirit, which is eternal, will exist in one of two places.
    • Those who have professed faith in, and submitted to the lordship of Jesus, will go to heaven.
    • Those who never professed faith in Jesus will be condemned to hell.
  • In the final verse of this passage, the teacher reaches two conclusions.
    • Neither possessions nor accomplishments are eternal.
      • We can’t take them with us when we die.
      • We should properly use them and enjoy them while we’re alive.
    • We will all pass from our physical bodies and live eternally as a spirit.
      • Our hope of eternal life is founded on God and not ourselves.
      • Those who have rejected God will face eternal punishment.
      • Those who have placed their faith in Jesus will experience eternal life in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without foundation, and so is your faith. 15 In addition, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified about God that He raised up Christ—whom He did not raise up if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Therefore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

As we reflect on this passage, let’s consider the following points.

  • God controls “time.” We see this vividly illustrated when we look at Israel’s early history.
    • The Bible doesn’t focus primarily on the social, political, or heroes of Israel.
    • It does focus on God shaping Israel through grace and judgment, moving Israel towards His goal.
    • When we reflect on what’s in 1-2 Kings, we read a narrative about what God is doing in this period of Israel’s history.
      • The prophets were the most important figures in these books, announcing and interpreting God’s actions.
      • The kings thought they were in control of the country and its people. However, it was God who was in control.
    • The same is true in the prophetic books of the Old Testament.
      • God reveals Himself as sovereign, who ruled the past but is also in control of the present and future.
      • Humans may have schemes and ideas, but God’s plans are the ones that will be fulfilled.
      • The book of Daniel contains one of the best examples.
        • King Nebuchadnezzar thinks he’s a god, requiring worship.
        • Daniel tells him that he’s not in control, and to reinforce that point, the king lives for a period of time among the animals.
    • The New Testament continues this theme.
      • At the appointed time, Jesus is born, announcing the kingdom of God and dying for our sins.
      • Jesus declares the various times of God’s plans.
        • His crucifixion.
        • The witness or apostasy of the disciples.
        • His second coming.
        • Divine judgment and salvation.
  • As Christians, we are to live our lives considering the fact that God controls time.
    • 1 Timothy 6:13-16 In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you 14 to keep the command without fault or failure until the appearing  of our Lord  Jesus Christ. 15 God will bring this about in His own time. He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, 16 the only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; no one has seen or can see Him, to Him be honor and eternal might. Amen.
    • 1 Peter 1:3-5 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5 You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
    • Revelation 1:3 The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it are blessed, because the time is near!
    • Revelation 22:10 He also said to me, “Don’t seal the prophetic words of this book, because the time is near.
    • 2 Peter 3:8 Dear friends, don’t let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
  • Our relationship with God will determine how we view the fact that God controls time.
    • For the faithful, it should provide comfort.
    • For those without a relationship with God, it will be unsettling as they try and manipulate time to their own advantage, acting as if they were “gods.”
  • We live in a world that is skeptical and confused about what occurs after we die.
    • Many search for verifiable truth about what happens.
    • Too often, in this search, they ignore the truth of the resurrection.
      • They are like Thomas in John’s Gospel.
      • They want to see it themselves, or they won’t believe it.
  • It’s a symptom of self-centeredness and paranoia.
    • The only “truth” is what they choose to believe.
    • This has led to the rapid increase in “spiritualities” in the Western world.
    • These “leaps of faith” will never lead them anywhere without being founded on the Truth, which came in the form of a man over two thousand years ago.

Applications

  • Accept and embrace the truth that regardless of what occurs around us, God is in control and He knows what is best. This is true even when we are going through difficulties. During those moments, press into God and try and discern His will, but also walk in faith and the knowledge that He will sustain you through those difficulties.
  • Accept that each of us is mortal. Our physical bodies will die, but our spirit will live forever. There are only two destinations for our spirit. We’ll either spend eternity in heaven in God’s presence or eternity in hell, forever separated from His love and grace.
  • Enjoy the pleasures of life in accordance with God’s will and plan. God wants us to enjoy life as we walk in fellowship with Him. If we are truly walking in step with Him, we shouldn’t feel guilty about enjoying life.
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Ecclesiastes Lesson Six

Ecclesiastes Lesson Six: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 – The Rhythm and Eternity of Time

3 There is an occasion for everything, 

and a time for every activity under heaven: 

2 a time to give birth and a time to die; 

a time to plant and a time to uproot; 

3 a time to kill and a time to heal; 

a time to tear down and a time to build; 

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh; 

a time to mourn and a time to dance; 

5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; 

a time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing; 

6 a time to search and a time to count as lost; 

a time to keep and a time to throw away; 

7 a time to tear and a time to sew; 

a time to be silent and a time to speak; 

8 a time to love and a time to hate; 

a time for war and a time for peace. 

9 What does the worker gain from his struggles? 10 I have seen the task that God has given people to keep them occupied. 11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also put eternity in their hearts, but man cannot discover the work God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. 13 It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks, and enjoys all his efforts. 14 I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. 15 Whatever is, has already been, and whatever will be, already is. God repeats what has passed. (HCSB)

Chapter three begins a new section in Ecclesiastes, with the first eight verses of chapter three being a masterpiece of wisdom poetry. The remaining verses in this passage are not part of the wisdom poetry but rather a reflection on and an exposition of it.

I’ll be breaking this lesson into two parts:

  • The mystery of time – verses 1-8.
  • Everything has a purpose – verses 9-15.

The Mystery of Time

As we read and reflect on the first eight verses in chapter three, we see that times and seasons are a part of regular, no matter where you live. The verses flow between the desirable and undesirable aspects of life. The teacher is not telling the reader how to obtain the former and avoid the latter. Life is composed of joy and sorrow, building and destroying, living and dying. Each one comes at the proper time. We can never be happy until we come to grips with the fact that life is full of changes and sorrows, as well as continuity and joy. We must accept our mortality and that our life is governed by time.

In these eight verses, the teacher tells us that God is at work in our individual lives, seeking to accomplish His will. Each event comes from God and is good in their time. The point is that if we cooperate with God’s timing, life won’t be meaningless. Everything will be appropriate in its time. Now, let’s take a look at these fourteen statements.

  • The teacher begins with the statement, “every activity under heaven.”
    • This is another way of “under the sun.”
    • These are observations of human life in the human world.
  • Verse two.
    • We may think that man is in control of birth and death, but God is the one who controls it.
      • Genesis 29:31-30:24.
      • Psalm 113:9 He gives the childless woman a household, making her the joyful mother of children. Hallelujah!
      • Ephesians 2:10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.
      • Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began. 
    • Since the Jews were agricultural people, they appreciated the seasons.
      • Their religious calendar was based on the agricultural year. See Leviticus 23.
      • The use of the word “uproot” indicates both harvest and the removal of unproductive plants.
      • The farmer understood that nature works for him only if he works with nature.
      • This is also the secret to a successful life. Learn God’s principles and cooperate with them.
    • Both birth and planting are ways of giving life; one to living beings and the other to plants.
  • Verse three.
    • Destruction and killing are part of life and can’t be avoided.
      • The teacher isn’t making an ethical statement about a just or unjust war.
      • He is making an observation that in a world where death is a fact of life, there will be a time to kill.
    • Plagues and sickness are part of the world.
      • God permits some to die while others are healed.
      • This doesn’t mean we should refuse medical care. God uses both “natural” medicine as well as miracles to heal people.
  • Verse four.
    • There is an increase in the intensity of the emotions described here.
      • Weeping precedes mourning.
      • Laughing precedes dancing. 
    • This concept can be applied to other emotions, too. Emotions tend to intensify as we go through the experience. 
    • The teacher is also encouraging people to enjoy the lighter moments of life, as we’ll all experience times of heartache.
  • Verse five.
    • There are several possible meanings to this verse.
    • One possible meaning relates to the culture of the Middle East during this period of time.
      • The people would openly display their affection for each other.
      • They would kiss and hug when they met and when they parted.
    • A second relates to a sexual union.
      • This is the position the Midrash Rabbah took with this verse.
      • As with all other things “under the sun,” sexual relations between a married couple are also fleeting.
    • A third relates to agriculture.
      • Throwing stones would make the field unsuitable for planting.
      • Gathering stones would make the field ready for planting.
  • Verse six.
    • In the first half of the verse, the teacher is saying there is always a time to search for something. This could be wisdom or something misplaced. But, there’s also a time to stop searching as it becomes a waste of time and effort.
    • In the second half, the teacher is saying there is a time to keep things. They serve a purpose for a season. But, there will come a time when any item will no longer be worth keeping. Once an item no longer serves a purpose or becomes unusable, it should be discarded.
    • The teacher is instructing us to put possessions into their proper context.
  • Verse seven.
    • The teacher is talking about actions taken during times of grief or repentance.
      • 2 Samuel 13:31 In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
      • Ezra 9:5 At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God.
    • However, we shouldn’t experience sorrow following the loss of a loved one in the same way as unbelievers.
      • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
      • Once the grieving period is over, the Christian must move on in the knowledge those believers who have died are in the presence of the Lord.
    • In a simpler sense, the teacher is also reminding us there is a time to speak and a time to keep quiet.
      • Colossians 4:6 Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
      • James 3:3-12 Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. 4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. 7 Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 We praise our Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God’s likeness with it. 10 Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way. 11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
  • Verse eight.
    • Perfect peace doesn’t exist “under the sun.”
    • The contents of this verse are arranged in chiastic order.
      • Love and hate represent personal feelings.
      • War and peace represent sociopolitical conditions.
    • A relevant question is whether or not Christians should “hate.”
      • Psalm 97:10a You who love the Lord, hate evil!
      • Revelation 2:6 Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 
      • Christians should hate the evil in this world. At the same time, we must remember that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood.
  • As we look back on these eight verses, we should apply the following concepts.
    • Taking each one individually is not what’s important.
    • Instead, they should all be combined as an overall description of human life.
    • The list is not prescriptive in nature. Instead, it is a descriptive account of the things that make up human existence.
    • We generally spend our days in the ways described in these verses and in activities that lie between the opposite extremes.

Everything Has a Purpose

The teacher now shifts his focus from everything “under the sun,” and brings God into the equation, which brings a new perspective to life. The teacher repeats the question he asked in 1:3, although he uses a few different words. Essentially, he’s asking whether all his work and toil was worth it. The teacher’s reflection has produced new evidence, and he gives three answers to the question.

  • Life is a gift from God.
    • Although we may not view life as a gift when we’re going through difficult times, it is still God’s gift.
    • We struggle to explain life’s mysteries, but often we don’t succeed.
    • If we embrace life as a gift from God and then thank Him for it, we’ll have a better attitude as we encounter our struggles.
    • If we accept life as a burden, we’ll miss the gifts that come our way.
    • Our outlook and attitude about life determine whether we view life as a gift or not.
  • Human life is linked to eternity.
    • We were created in the image of God and given control over creation. Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, “Let Us  make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.
    • Humans are different from the rest of creation.
      • Our spirit is eternal.
      • We can never be satisfied with the accomplishments “under the sun.”
      • We’ll never be able to explain the mysteries of life.
    • God accomplishes His purposes in His time.
    • We won’t be able to understand His plan until we enter into eternity.
  • We can enjoy life now.
    • The teacher implied this idea in 2:24.
    • 1 Timothy 6:17 Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things  to enjoy.
    • The teacher is not implying a life of pagan hedonism. Instead, we should live a life where we enjoy the gifts God has given us from the fruit of our labor, regardless of the difficulty of our life.
    • Life is transitory, but God’s work lasts forever.
    • When we live our life according to His instructions, life is meaningful.
    • Too many complain about what they don’t have instead of being thankful for what they do have.
    • It’s also important to understand the teacher isn’t promoting a “don’t worry, be happy” attitude.
      • He is promoting faith in God.
      • He is not promoting “faith in faith” or “pie in the sky.”
      • Faith is only as good as the object of faith. The greatest object of faith is God.
    • When we live life walking with God, it’s arrogant and disrespectful to say that life is meaningless and monotonous.
      • Humans are not insignificant creatures.
      • When we place our trust in Jesus, we become a child of God and have a future eternal home. John 14:1-6 “Your heart must not be troubled. Believe  in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.” 5 “Lord,” Thomas  said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
    • Thomas Watson, a pastor from the 1600s, said, “Eternity to the godly is a day that has no sunset; eternity to the wicked is a night that has no sunrise.”
    • A proper attitude towards God is to fear Him. We must not misunderstand the meaning of biblical fear. It isn’t cringing in terror; it’s submitting like an obedient child to a loving parent.
    • If we fear God, we don’t need to fear anything else because He is in control.

The final verse of this passage harks back to 1:9-11, giving us a reassurance that God is in control of the cycle of life. God can, and has, broken into this cycle throughout history, performing miracles. The birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are examples of breaking the cycle of life and overcoming the “life-death cycle.” Since Jesus broke this cycle, we have become a new creation that overcomes time and death. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things  have come. 18 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world  to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Applications

  • Don’t wrestle with the factors of the “under the sun” lifecycle. View life, both its good and bad points, as a gift from God. Every human who has ever lived experienced highs and lows. When you look at the life of Jesus, He certainly experienced both ends of the spectrum. Why should we be any different?
  • Receive your joy from eternal pursuits and pleasures, not from things “under the sun.” Anything pursued or accomplished outside of God’s will ultimately fail to satisfy us. However, when we walk in sync with God’s plan, our life will be one of joy and satisfaction.
  • There’s nothing wrong with enjoying our life “under the sun.” In fact, God’s desire is that we do enjoy it. If we are walking with Him, we can rest in the peace that regardless of what we face, He will sustain us through the experience. At the same time if you don’t have as much “stuff” as others, don’t focus on that. Be thankful for what you do have and not envious of what you don’t. Otherwise, you will live a miserable life. Never forget Jesus’ words in John 10:10b I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
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Ecclesiastes Lesson Five

Ecclesiastes Lesson Five: Ecclesiastes 2:17-26 – The Emptiness of Work Apart From God

Therefore, I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me. For everything is futile and a pursuit of the wind. 

18 I hated all my work that I labored at under the sun because I must leave it to the man who comes after me. 19 And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will take over all my work that I labored at skillfully under the sun. This too is futile. 20 So I began to give myself over to despair concerning all my work that I had labored at under the sun. 21 When there is a man whose work was done with wisdom, knowledge, and skill,  and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too is futile and a great wrong. 22 For what does a man get with all his work and all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? 23 For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful;  even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile. 

24 There is nothing better for man than to eat, drink, and enjoy his work. I have seen that even this is from God’s hand, 25 because who can eat and who can enjoy life apart from Him? 26 For to the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy,  but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and accumulating in order to give to the one who is pleasing in God’s sight. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. (HCSB)

This passage ends the first section of Ecclesiastes, where the teacher looks at the futility of life. However, in the final part of this section, he gains clarity on the goals and purpose of life. I’ll split this passage into two sections.

  • The emptiness of work – verses 17-23.
  • The joy of obedience to God – verses 24-26.

The Emptiness of Work

Verse seventeen acts like a bridge between the previous section and this one. The word “therefore” is a key to understanding this bridge. You may have heard this said before, but it’s worth repeating. When you see the word “therefore,” you need to ask the question, “what’s it there for?” Now, let’s dig deeper into the bridge and this first section of the lesson.

  • When we remember back to the previous lesson, we remember the teacher coming to the conclusion that the end result for both the wise and foolish man was the same, death.
    • That’s the reason the teacher uses the word “therefore” to start verse seventeen.
    • Because he realized that all of his work, wisdom, and accomplishments were useless once he looked back on them, the teacher “hated life.”
    • The teacher was engaged in the constant and pointless “grind” of life.
    • No matter what he accomplished, it left him feeling empty and unsatisfied when he had a chance to look back and consider his life.
    • The teacher’s hatred of his work is also an indicator of a sinful heart.
      • It began and grew through the continual pursuit of the meaning of life without including God in the equation.
      • It was a revelation of the folly of his life. He hated life, but he was afraid to die.
    • This attitude is in contrast to the Christian attitude. Our lives should be joyful regardless of our circumstances, and death is a new beginning.
  • In verses eighteen to twenty-three, the teacher considers all the wealth he’s accumulated and the work he’s accomplished and comes to the following conclusions.
    • He wasn’t able to keep any of it.
      • Sooner or later, the teacher would die, and everything he had would be left to other people.
      • 1 Timothy 6:7-10  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
      • A writer once said money is “an article which may be used as a universal passport to anywhere except heaven, and as a universal provider of everything except happiness.”
      • At the same time, we need to remember that we are stewards of what God has given to us.
        • Deuteronomy 8:18  But remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant He swore to your fathers, as it is today. 
        • We have the privilege of enjoying it and using it for His glory.
        • One day, we’ll all have to give an account of how we used the gifts we’ve received.
    • He wasn’t able to protect it.
      • Not only must the teacher leave it all behind, but he might also pass it to someone who would waste it.
      • This very thing happened with the teacher’s son, Rehoboam. 1 Kings 11:41-12:24.
      • It may be possible to try and write your will in such a manner that your estate won’t be wasted, but the effort doesn’t always succeed.
      • Parents never know how the next generation will turn out.
      • The teacher’s response to this revelation was to live in despair about the situation.
    • He wasn’t able to enjoy his wealth and accomplishments as he desired.
      • The teacher dwelled on his great wealth and worried about what would happen to it after he died.
      • He did all the work but would have to leave it all to someone else.
      • The teacher questioned whether or not this was fair.
      • He spent so much time accumulating wisdom and wealth, yet it would all pass away.
  • At this point, it appears that the teacher is extremely pessimistic, but he doesn’t remain that way for long.

The Joy of Obedience to God.

As we look at the last three verses of this passage, we encounter the first of six conclusions the teacher reaches in Ecclesiastes. Each of these conclusions emphasizes accepting life as God’s gift and enjoying it in God’s will. Now, let’s take a closer look at these verses.

  • The teacher wasn’t promoting the idea of “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” That is a fatalistic mindset.
  • The teacher is saying, “Thank God for what you have, and enjoy and use it for the glory of God.” 1 Timothy 6:17  Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy.
    • Not only are blessings from God but even the enjoyment of the blessings should be viewed as a gift.
    • The teacher believed it was evil if a person was blessed but couldn’t enjoy them.
    • The Jews would read Ecclesiastes during the Feast of Tabernacles because this festival was a time of rejoicing and reflecting on God’s abundant provision for their needs.
  • Verse twenty-five encapsulates what the teacher means.
    • The problem is not necessarily with the “things.”
    • The problem is with the “thinking.”
      • It’s impossible to enjoy the fruits of all of our labors apart from God.
      • But, when we are rooted in God, we can fully enjoy the fruits of our labors because they fall in line with God’s will.
  • The key to our happiness and enjoyment of life is directly related to our obedience and desire to please God.
    • When we walk in obedience and trust Him, we live in a spirit of satisfaction.
      • This doesn’t mean we won’t have trials.
      • But we trust that God will carry us through those trials.
    • God will give wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those walking in obedience.
      • These three gifts allow us to appreciate God’s blessings and enjoy them.
      • It isn’t enough to possess “things.”
      • We must also have the type of character that enables us to use “things” wisely and enjoy them as God intended.
  • The sinner has a completely different type of experience.
    • They may accumulate great wealth but will never find fulfillment because they’ve left God out of the picture.
    • Their wealth may go to a righteous person. Proverbs 13:22  A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but the sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
  • Throughout history, Israel acquired an enormous amount of wealth from countries that walked apart from God.

The end of chapter two completes the first section of Ecclesiastes, often described as “The Problem Declared.” Let’s take a summary look back at the first two chapters.

  • The teacher presented our arguments that painted a picture that life isn’t worth living.
    • The monotony of life – 1:4-11.
    • The vanity of wisdom – 1:12-18.
    • The futility of wealth – 2:1-11.
    • The certainty of death – 2:12-23.
  • These points are valid if you only consider “life under the sun” from the human viewpoint.
  • But what happens when God is brought into the picture?
    • Everything changes.
    • Looking back at the first two chapters, we see God isn’t mentioned from 1:14 to 2:23.
    • Yet, life and death, wisdom and wealth, are all controlled by God’s hands.
    • God wants us to enjoy His blessings and walk in obedience to His instructions.
    • If we revel in the gifts but forget where those gifts come from, we are nothing more than ungrateful idolaters.

Applications

  • Take stock of what you’re pursuing in life. Are you chasing things “under the sun,” or is your vision focused on God’s will and being obedient to His instructions? If you’re dissatisfied with life, it may be because you’re focused on the wrong things or at least viewing them in the wrong way. 
  • Come to grips with the fact you can’t take your possessions or accomplishments with you after you die. Then, focus on whether your accomplishments are of an eternal or temporal nature. Trim the temporal goals and focus on or add to the eternal goals.
  • God’s Word says that those who are pleasing in God’s sight will receive wisdom, knowledge, and joy. Sometimes we lose sight of how short our life is on earth and how long eternity will be. Focus on those things that will be credited to your eternal account and remove those that are credited to your earthly account.
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Ecclesiastes Lesson Four

Ecclesiastes Lesson Four: Ecclesiastes 2:12-16 – The Limits of Wisdom

Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly, for what will the man be like who comes after the king? He will do what has already been done. 13 And I realized that there is an advantage to wisdom over folly, like the advantage of light over darkness. 

14 The wise man has eyes in his head, 

but the fool walks in darkness. 

Yet I also knew that one fate comes to them both. 15 So I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will also happen to me. Why then have I been overly wise?” And I said to myself that this is also futile. 16 For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man, since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise man dies just like the fool? (HVSB)

In this passage, the teacher makes a comparison between wise and foolish people. He determines that there is a difference during their lifetimes, but once death overtakes them, there is no difference. Let’s peel back the layers on these verses.

  • Verse 12
    • Throughout history, discoveries and advancements have been made. Each one is in the hope that life will be made better for the current and subsequent generations.
    • However, often the subsequent generations will conduct the same experiments.
    • The worst part is repeating mistakes made by previous generations. 
    • That’s the teacher’s point when he says, “He will do what has already been done.”
    • What’s the point of chasing after wisdom and knowledge if mankind continues to repeat previously made mistakes?
    • Let’s consider this point in our personal lives or maybe with family or close friends.
      • How often do we see mistakes being repeated, even painful or stupid ones?
      • How often are we guilty of these same mistakes?
      • Why is it that we can blindly follow previous mistakes and cause great harm to ourselves or others?
    • It all comes back to the fall and the sinful nature of mankind.
      • Our focus isn’t on the things of God.
      • Our focus is on the things of the world.
  • Verse 13
    • This verse should be viewed in a two-pronged understanding.
    • It’s not just the contrast between wisdom and folly or light and darkness.
      • The wise man sees “things” and has understanding.
        • Wisdom brings illumination to situations.
        • This illumination doesn’t always avert the troubles that are coming, but it makes the wise man aware of them.
        • Because of wisdom, some trouble can be avoided or reduced.
        • In an extreme interpretation, the wise man can see when death is approaching.
      • The foolish man doesn’t see things.
        • The foolish man is walking in darkness and never sees the troubles that are coming.
        • The foolish man walks blindly into the troubles.
        • Death will catch the foolish man unaware.
    • When we think about the New Testament, the gospels, and Jesus, we see an identical comparison.
      • Jesus is our wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.
      • Jesus is light. John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
      • Satan is darkness. Acts 26:18a  To open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.
      • Paul speaks about the wisdom of God and the foolishness of man (worldly ways) in 1 Corinthians 1:20-25  Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? 21 For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message preached. 22 For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. 24 Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom, 25 because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
    • Seeking wisdom isn’t wrong or wasted time as long as we are aligning with God’s wisdom.
  • Verse 14
    • The comparison between light and dark in the previous verse carries over to this verse.
    • However, there is one common ground for both the wise and foolish man; death awaits both of them.
    • As a Christian, we must remember that the life we live here is not the end. Our hope is in our eternal dwelling place and never-ending fellowship with God.
      • 1 Peter 1:3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
      • John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.
      • John 5:28-29 Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come out—those who have done good things, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked things, to the resurrection of judgment.
      • Romans 6:5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection.
    • The hope and promise of eternal life in heaven should give each follower of Christ a sense of peace and comfort, no matter what we face.
  • Verse 15
    • The teacher now comes to the conclusion that regardless of wisdom or folly, light or darkness, wealth or poverty, there is one great leveler which everyone faces…death.
    • He also ponders the question, “What did he gain by being wise?”
    • Wisdom will not prevent him from dying.
    • As I mentioned in the discussion of the previous verse, the Christian always has hope. Regardless of our circumstances, background, socio-economic status, gender, etc., we realize that it isn’t “what’s under the sun” that is important. It’s our relationship and submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ that will ultimately determine wisdom or folly.
  • Verse 16
    • As we read this verse, we can almost feel the despair in the teacher’s words.
    • He has concluded that when all is said and done, wisdom is no better than folly.
    • Consider the pursuits of the wise, powerful, or wealthy.
      • They desire fame or to be well-known.
      • They desire some type of physical structure by which to be remembered.
        • It could be a plaque.
        • It could be a monument.
        • Anything of a physical nature would qualify.
      • Many of these people are materialistic in nature.
        • They desire to be remembered for their “achievements.”
        • But the only immortality they can achieve are the physical reminders of their life.
        • In the end, these are often ignored unless they were extraordinary during their lifetime.
        • One example might be the Lincoln Monument. But we need to ask the question, “How many people today actually know who Lincoln was and what he accomplished during his lifetime?”
    • The death of the “famous” people begins to vanish as those who knew them personally also die.
      • Consider the life of Beethoven.
        • It may be said that he lives on in his music.
        • However, the truth is that we know the music but not the man.
      • Another example is Pythagoras of Samos, who was credited with mathematical and scientific discoveries.
        • He developed the Pythagorean theorem.
        • He developed Pythagorean tuning.
        • He identified the five regular solids.
        • He developed the Theory of Proportions.
        • There are several more discoveries attributed to him.
        • Yet, knowledge of the man by the vast majority of people is non-existent.
  • The teacher pursued wisdom and “things” as the ultimate goals of life.
  • Today, many follow the same path and eventually realize these pursuits leave them feeling empty. 
  • Only by pursuing God and not “the things under the sun,” will we be truly happy and fulfilled.

Applications

  • Examine the things in life you place a priority on. Are those things of a worldly or eternal nature? If you find that worldly things occupy a prominent place in your life pursuits, reorder your priorities and focus on eternal choices.
  • The pursuit of possessions or accomplishments most often will fail to satisfy us. There is only one path to happiness and joy, being a faithful follower of Christ. If we’ve placed our faith in Jesus and trusted His words, we should follow this path. Remember His words in John 10:10b  I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. If you don’t feel that your life has abundance, it’s likely because your focus is wrong. The “stuff” of the world will never satisfy. Only Jesus can lead us to satisfaction.