truthproject777

Ecclesiastes Lesson Fourteen

Ecclesiastes Lesson Fourteen: Ecclesiastes 7:23-29 – The Limitations of Wisdom

I have tested all this by wisdom. I resolved, “I will be wise,” but it was beyond me. 24 What exists is beyond reach and very deep. Who can discover it? 25 I turned my thoughts to know, explore, and seek wisdom and an explanation for things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity and folly is madness. 26 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. 27 “Look,” says the Teacher, “I have discovered this by adding one thing to another to find out the explanation, 28 which my soul continually searches for but does not find: among a thousand people I have found one true man, but among all these I have not found a true woman. 29 Only see this: I have discovered that God made people upright, but they pursued many schemes.” (HCSB)

I’m going to split this lesson into two parts.

  • Our inability to grasp God’s actions – verses 23-25.
  • The sinfulness of humanity – verses 26-29.

Our Inability to Grasp God’s Actions

  • The author explains that he set out on a challenge to discover the depths of wisdom. 
  • He found that no matter how hard he tried, it was impossible to have wisdom that revealed all the answers to what was observed in the world.
  • Even the statement “I have tested all this” is misleading since it’s impossible to test everything found in nature.
  • Understanding the how and why of God and His creation is impossible.
    • Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. 9 “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
    • Micah 4:12a But they do not know the Lord’s intentions or understand His plan.
    • Psalm 147:5 Our Lord is great, vast in power; His understanding is infinite.
  • The author then gets to the crux of the problem and reaches a fitting conclusion.
    • He sought to explore what he could and understand those areas that he did explore.
    • He never said that he did or intended to discover all the answers.
  • It is in coming to this conclusion that the author has discovered wisdom.
    • First, by acknowledging it’s impossible to discover the answers to everything.
    • Second, by acknowledging that God is sovereign. 
  • God is the answer.
    • Only God knows and understands His creation.
    • We begin to discover wisdom when we submit to God as His created beings.
    • Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 
  • By submitting to and following an infinitely holy and righteous God, we gain wisdom and turn from wickedness, which is better understood as stupidity and folly.

The Sinfulness of Humanity

This is a challenging section of the passage, and it’s easy to focus on the woman mentioned here. However, doing that leads us away from the bigger picture being presented here. The idea the author is trying to convey is the pervasive sinfulness of humanity.

  • This section begins with the saying that a woman who is a trap is more bitter than death. The question that begs to ask is who or what type of woman is being described.
    • Some scholars believe the author is talking about a prostitute, and Scripture is ripe with passages that depict the trap of prostitutes.
      • Proverbs 2:16-19 It will rescue you from a forbidden woman, from a stranger with her flattering talk, 17 who abandons the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; 18 for her house sinks down to death and her ways to the land of the departed spirits. 19 None return who go to her; none reach the paths of life.
      • Proverbs 5:3-6 Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her words are smoother than oil, 4 in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a double-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps head straight for Sheol. 6 She doesn’t consider the path of life; she doesn’t know that her ways are unstable. 
    • Other scholars believe this passage discusses the strife between a husband and wife.
      • Genesis 3:16b Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you.
      • Because of sin, married life will be a battle instead of a relationship filled with joy.
      • Women will try to ensnare and control men.
      • Most men, sometimes through force, will seek to dominate their wives.
      • In the end, both are miserable.
    • A third group believes the author was talking about foreign wives who would lead the man away from God.
      • 1 Kings 11:3-8 He had 700 wives who were princesses and 300 concubines, and they turned his heart away from the Lord. 4 When Solomon was old, his wives seduced him to follow other gods. He was not completely devoted to Yahweh his God, as his father David had been. 5 Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom, the detestable idol of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, and unlike his father David, he did not completely follow Yahweh. 7 At that time, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh,  the detestable idol of Moab, and for Milcom, the detestable idol of the Ammonites, on the hill across from Jerusalem. 8 He did the same for all his foreign wives, who were burning incense and offering sacrifices to their gods.
      • A modern understanding of this is being married to an unbeliever. It doesn’t matter if they are an atheist, agnostic, or follow a false religion. In each case, the unbeliever can pressure the Christian to turn away from a pure relationship with Christ.
  • It would be an incorrect understanding to think the author felt that 100% of women were inherently evil.
    • At this point, we need to remember the coherence of Scripture and the fact it can’t contradict itself.
      • Proverbs 12:4 A capable wife is her husband’s crown, but a wife who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.
      • Proverbs 14:1 Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
    • Since Scripture mentions capable and wise wives, it is evidence they exist.
  • Now, let’s move on to an understanding of the bigger picture being painted here: the overall sinfulness of humanity.
    • When God originally created man and woman, there wasn’t any sin in the world.
    • Adam and Eve were originally “upright,” meaning they were sinless and righteous.
    • Once sin entered into the world, each person was capable of sinful behavior.
    • Humanity chased after their desires instead of chasing after God and following His will.
    • Romans 3:10b-12 There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away; all alike have become useless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.
  • So, what is the solution? It’s contained in verse 26b The one who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner will be captured by her.
    • Let’s understand “her” to mean sin and sinful behavior.
    • When we obey God, walk according to His commands, and surrender to Christ, we will escape the penalty of sin.
    • When we don’t surrender to Christ and follow God, we are ensnared by sin and will eventually pay the penalty.

Applications

  • Don’t pursue knowledge and wisdom as the end all of your life’s pursuits. Accept that you’ll never understand everything, maybe most things, and place your trust in the sovereignty of God. Only He has all the knowledge and answers to the riddles of life. Pursue a relationship with Him as the most important pursuit in life.
  • Although we can’t, and shouldn’t, avoid engagement with the world and those who don’t follow Christ, we need to be careful. It is easy to be led astray, regardless of how strong you think your relationship with Him might be. Many who came before us were led astray, and there will be many after us. We must set boundaries to protect ourselves and have strong Christian brothers and sisters to walk alongside us.
truthproject777

Ecclesiastes Lesson Thirteen

Ecclesiastes Lesson Thirteen: Ecclesiastes 7:15-22 – The Value of Moderation

In my futile life I have seen everything: there is a righteous man who perishes in spite of his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in spite of his evil. 16 Don’t be excessively righteous, and don’t be overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Don’t be excessively wicked, and don’t be foolish. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them. 

19 Wisdom makes the wise man stronger 

than ten rulers of a city. 

20 There is certainly no righteous man on the earth 

who does good and never sins. 

21 Don’t pay attention to everything people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you, 22 for you know that many times you yourself have cursed others. (HCSB)

The preceding lesson talked about wisdom through parables. This lesson will also have an underlying theme of wisdom but in the context of moderation. 

I’ll be dividing this lesson into two parts.

  • The mystery of righteousness versus sin and the length of a person’s life – verses 15-18.
  • Another exposé on wisdom – verses 19-22.

The Mystery of Righteousness Versus Sin and the Length of a Person’s Life

Don’t we often wonder and struggle when we see blatantly sinful people living long and seemingly prosperous lives? And the same happens when we see good people who die young. It begs the question, “Why do the righteous suffer and the wicked prosper?” Doesn’t this contradict God’s Word?

  • Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 
  • Deuteronomy 4:40 Keep His statutes and commands, which I am giving you today, so that you and your children after you may prosper and so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.
  • Deuteronomy 4:25-26 When you have children and grandchildren and have been in the land a long time, and if you act corruptly, make an idol in the form of anything, and do what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, provoking Him to anger, 26 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that you will quickly perish from the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. You will not live long there, but you will certainly be destroyed.
  • Psalm 55:23 God, You will bring them down to the Pit of destruction; men of bloodshed and treachery will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You.

We need to consider two facts when we ponder the question of whether or not the Word has been contradicted.

  • God did promise to bless Israel in their land if they obeyed His Law, but those promises are not given to believers today under the new covenant.
    • Matthew 5:3 The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
  • The wicked appear to prosper only if you take a short-term view of things.
    • Psalm 73
    • 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

When we consider these two facts, we see clearly that God has not contradicted Himself.

Another biblical example to consider is the book of Job and his three “friends.” They are convinced that the question of how humans relate to God and the world is captured in one belief: If you obey all the rules, you’ll be safe. The result is that those who ascribe to this belief lean towards asceticism, self-denial as a spiritual discipline. However, asceticism has the following shortcomings.

  • Futility – everyone will end up failing at some point.
  • Arrogance – there’s a tendency to have a smug certainty about one’s righteousness.
  • Miserable – cutting off from the everyday joys of life.

Putting these ideas into modern understanding would caution us not to be fanatics or legalistic in our behavior.

The second half of verse eighteen effectively summarizes verses 15-18. 

  • To understand, we must figure out how fearing God will allow a person to end up with both. But what are “both?”
    • Having a devotion to God and following His teachings of wisdom.
    • Enjoying the good things in life.
  • A person who faithfully follows God will be able to maintain both of these throughout their life.
  • This is in contrast with two other philosophical outlooks.
    • Asceticism – any indulgence or humor is either a sin against religion or folly against wisdom.
    • Libertine – any form of restraint is a threat against pleasure-seeking.
  • The author seems to warn against excesses, but the Christian life seems filled with them.
    • Exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees: Matthew 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 
    • Be exceedingly glad when we are persecuted: Matthew 5:12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 
    • God has given us exceedingly great and precious promises: 2 Peter 1:4a By these He has given us very great and precious promises.
    • God has promised to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think: Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think  according to the power that works in us.
  • The author is warning against the wrong kind of excess, not excess in general, as Scripture can’t contradict other sections of Scripture.
  • God’s creation is wonderfully balanced.
  • We must learn to balance the ways we perceive the circumstances of our lives.

Another Exposé on Wisdom

This section contains two short teachings.

  • A person with wisdom is infinitely stronger than the foolish rulers of a city.
    • Wise men are necessary because human sin is universal: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
    • Rulers can try to control evil by brute force, but because of pettiness, weakness, and ambition in society, only wise men can maintain the equilibrium among them.
  • Verses 21-22 are a warning against being overly sensitive to what others say about us. It’s also highly likely, if not an absolute given, that we’ve said things about or to others that have caused pain.
    • We might try and explain away what we said by blaming it on “having a bad day” or “we didn’t really mean what we said.”
      • Others would probably use the same excuse when speaking badly about us.
      • Why do we apply different standards to what we say and what others say about us?
    • The knowledge of our flawed nature should shape our attitudes toward others.
      • We are sinful people, and apart from the redemptive power of Christ, we are destined to spend eternity in hell.
      • We are also called to love our neighbors as ourselves: Mark 12:31 “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.” 
    • If we’re wise, we won’t pay attention to what others say about us and won’t speak ill of others.

Applications

  • Avoid excesses in your life. This can also include “church activities” if they are detrimental to the balance in your life. I knew one Christian family while in high school who went to church Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and just about any other church event during the week. You might think that’s great, but you never saw the inside of their house. There were dishes and pots piled high in their kitchen. There were piles of dirty clothes throughout the house, even in the common areas. They had two dogs, and I often wondered if “accidents” ever occurred and how long it took to find them! Their family life lacked balance.
  • Focus on acquiring, understanding, and applying the wisdom contained in Scripture. But do this to walk in obedience to God’s Word and strengthen your walk with Christ, not as a way to show off or justify yourself.
  • Don’t let what others say about you cause discouragement. Sometimes, that isn’t easy. But in the end, if we’re walking in obedience to Christ, what others say about us doesn’t matter. They aren’t our judge. Only Christ can and will judge us.
truthproject777

Ecclesiastes Lesson Twelve

Ecclesiastes Lesson Twelve: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 – Wise Sayings

A good name is better than fine perfume, 

and the day of one’s death than the day of one’s birth. 

2 It is better to go to a house of mourning 

than to go to a house of feasting, 

since that is the end of all mankind, 

and the living should take it to heart. 

3 Grief is better than laughter, 

for when a face is sad, a heart may be glad. 

4 The heart of the wise is in a house of mourning, 

but the heart of fools is in a house of pleasure. 

5 It is better to listen to rebuke from a wise person 

than to listen to the song of fools, 

6 for like the crackling of burning thorns under the pot, 

so is the laughter of the fool. 

This too is futile. 

7 Surely, the practice of extortion turns a wise person into a fool, 

and a bribe destroys the mind. 

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning; 

a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit. 

9 Don’t let your spirit rush to be angry, 

for anger abides in the heart of fools. 

10 Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” 

since it is not wise of you to ask this. 

11 Wisdom is as good as an inheritance 

and an advantage to those who see the sun, 

12 because wisdom is protection as money is protection, 

and the advantage of knowledge 

is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner. 

13 Consider the work of God, 

for who can straighten out 

what He has made crooked? 

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 man cannot discover anything that will come after him. (HCSB)

The first part of chapter seven reads very much like it came from Proverbs. Although verses 1-14 could be read as one theme. It makes more sense to split it into two.

  • Wisdom can make life better – verses 1-11.
  • Wisdom helps us see life clearly – verses 12-14.

Wisdom Can Make Life Better

Verse 1

  • On the surface, these verse appears quite confusing. What did the writer mean by these two contrasts?
  • Both a good name and perfume were highly regarded in Jewish culture.
    • Proverbs 10:7 The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
    • Psalm 45:7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy more than your companions. 
  • Here, the writer contrasts outer appearance and inward values to make his point.
  • The writer also wasn’t saying death was better than birth because a person can’t die unless they were born. 
  • There are two significant days when a person’s name is known: the day they are born/named and the day they die.
    • The life lived between those two events determines whether the name leaves behind a lovely fragrance or a foul stench.
    • If a person dies with a good name, their reputation is sealed.
    • In this case, death is better than birth, as the person’s reputation is settled.
  • This same concept can be applied to a person with a bad reputation. Once they die, they can no longer do harm or cause hurt.

Verses 2-4

  • These verses make a simple point: there is much to be gained by sober reflection on death.
  • When we realize we’ll all meet the same end, a wise person will turn from foolishness.
    • Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.
  • We should learn from death but not be preoccupied with it. This could result in a person not taking life as seriously as they should.
  • As the writer transitions from the house of mourning to grief and laughter in verse three, let’s take a closer look at the meaning behind the word “laughter.” The Hebrew word can take two directions.
    • One is happy laughter, taking the word at face value.
    • The second is more subtle. It can mean derision or scorn.
  • The idea of grief and mourning being better than laughter and pleasure is simple yet deep.
    • The writer here is likely referring to circumstances that are temporal in nature.
    • Temporal happiness can divert our attention and focus away from God to things of the world.
    • When we experience temporal grief or trials, it brings us back to focusing on God and depending on Him for everything.
    • Temporal sadness is good when it causes us to turn our heart and mind back to God.
      • 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death.

Verses 5-6

  • Hearing rebuke is better than hearing praise.
  • I’m sure we’ve all been in situations where all we hear is praise, how good we are, or how well we’ve done something.
    • I’ve been in that situation several different times. Although we all like to hear we’ve done something well, it’s also helpful when we’re told how we’ve fallen short.
    • Although no one likes a rebuke, which is a strong word, we’ll never grow or learn if we aren’t told when we mess up.
    • This is especially true when the correction comes from someone who is wise or has experience in general or the specific situation where we may have made a mistake.
    • Praise often comes from those who lack wisdom or experience. Or, they may be trying to curry favor, especially if they are below the person they are praising.
  • The writer is also using two similes in these verses.
    • A foolish person is worthless, like thorns.
    • A foolish person is always in danger of facing judgment, burning under a pot.

Verse 7

  • The basis for the idea that extortion turns a person into a fool is found in many ancient Near East wisdom literature. 
  • Those in positions of political power should avoid corrupt activities.
  • However, as we look around the world today, it’s very common to see people in positions of power using their positions to accept bribes or conduct “under the table” deals to benefit themselves and their supporters.
  • The widespread corruption in politics makes it difficult not to have a cynical view toward those in office, and it’s easy to believe everyone who holds office is tainted somehow.
  • Bribery undercuts wisdom because it corrupts the heart.

Verses 8-9

  • The theme in these two verses is to consider life as a long-distance event and not a sprint or trying to take shortcuts to make things easier.
  • The shortcuts and bribes were talked about in the previous verse.
  • Hard work and taking the narrow path is the correct way to live one’s life.
  • Too often in today’s world, people look for the quickest solution, which, almost invariably, is not a solution but a trap that leads us astray.
  • A follower of Christ needs to be patient.
    • Philippians 1:6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
    • Hebrews 12:1b-2 Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.
    • Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
  • There’s also a warning in verse nine.
    • We need to control how we respond to situations, especially those which upset us. This also includes situations where “righteous anger” is appropriate.
    • Often, we can jump to conclusions before we know the full story.
    • How often can that lead to damaged relationships because of a simple misunderstanding?
      • Proverbs 29:20 Do you see a man who speaks too soon? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
      • Proverbs 19:3 A man’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord.
      • Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.
      • Acts 19:36 Therefore, since these things are undeniable, you must keep calm and not do anything rash. 

Verse 10

  • This verse also contains a warning.
  • When things get difficult, we often lack the patience to get through the situation, and instead, we yearn for the “good old days” because we think they were better.
  • A prime example is the Exodus from Egypt.
    • God was leading His people into the promised land.
    • However, every time things got tough, the people would cry out for the “good old days” of living in bondage.
  • Looking back on past events is vital to gain a true perspective of things. The Bible even commands us to do that.
    • Isaiah 46:8-9 Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors! 9 Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me.
    • Psalm 42:4 I remember this as I pour out my heart: how I walked with many, leading the festive procession to the house of God, with joyful and thankful shouts.
  • We are not to dwell on the past or cause it to skew our decision-making in the present.
  • The only time to dwell on past blessings is when we give thanks to God or as a reminder of how He has been faithful to us.
  • However, if we spend too much time reflecting on past blessings, we can miss out on what God is doing around us and trying to do through us in the present.

Verses 11-12

  • What is better, wisdom or wealth?
  • A sign of maturity is the ability to put life into perspective and not get out of balance.
  • Godly wisdom is more valuable than wealth.
    • Money can lose its value, be stolen, or be spent foolishly.
    • Wisdom keeps its value and can’t be lost unless we become foolish and throw our wisdom away or ignore it.
  • A person who has wealth but lacks wisdom will often waste their wealth.
  • A person who has wisdom will know how to acquire and use wealth.
  • Wisdom can help us navigate the difficult time, regardless of our financial situation.

Verses 13-14

  • The point here is that God is in control of all things; His will can’t be resisted or changed.
  • God brings both prosperity and times of testing.
  • When we are experiencing good times, we should enjoy the prosperity.
  • When we are being tested, we should understand and accept that this is also from God.
  • We don’t know what tomorrow will bring; it could be wealth or a season of testing.
  • Regardless, we can accept that God is in control.
    • Lamentations 3:38 Do not both adversity and good come from the mouth of the Most High?
    • Philippians 4:12-13 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.
  • We would do well to remember Paul’s words above. Paul was content regardless of his circumstances. And we also must correctly understand verse thirteen. It doesn’t mean we can do anything we want. It does mean we can endure whatever circumstances we find ourselves in when we are walking in obedience to God.

Applications.

  • As we consider applications to this passage, I want us to consider the world today in contrast to this passage. We live in a very materialistic and self-centered world, and this passage screams disagreement with what the world says we should pursue. Often, the world’s pressures leave us looking for a way out, a way to escape what the world says is right. Against this backdrop, I want us to consider the following applications.
  • Don’t live for temporal worldly recognition. Focus on obedience to God and what His Word says. If that results in adulation and recognition, it’s okay. Just remember to give glory to God and not think too highly of yourself.
  • Remember, our life is like a puff of smoke on the timeline of eternity. Francis Chan has a wonderful illustration of this. Think of the longest rope or string you can imagine (it will never be long enough), and put one drop of red ink at the beginning. The red ink is our life, and the rest of the string is eternity after we leave this world. Why do we focus so much on the red ink and not eternity? Don’t chase after the temporal; chase after the eternal.
  • If you are blessed with monetary success, use it to bless others and help those in need. It doesn’t mean we need to sacrifice it all and live in poverty (although it’s possible God may direct you on that path), but if we’re stingy while living in opulence, our lives are not shining the light of Christ.
  • Persevere through whatever trials you’re going through. If it’s because of disobedience, confess and return to God. If it’s because you’re being tested and refined, rejoice in the process and prepare yourself for further Kingdom work.
  • When we die, we won’t be able to take anything with us. As we stand before Jesus, will we hear, “well done, good and faithful servant,” or will we hear, “depart from me, for I never knew you”?