ECCLESIASTES 7:1 - 8:17

How impressive throughout Ecclesiastes is the evidence that while Solomon is doing his utmost to prove that life is futile and not worth living, the Holy Spirit is using him to show that these conclusions are the tragic effect of living “under the sun:” – ignoring the LORD, away from God the Father, oblivious of the Holy Spirit – and yet face to face with the mysteries of life and nature!

The quest for meaning in life is not new.  Over the centuries, men and women have struggled with the same questions that plagued the Preacher…an may be plaguing you as well.  The “solutions” they found are enlightening:

·        A French playwright named Jean-Paul Sartre concluded there is NO EXIT from this meaningless existence.

·        * A Danish theologian named Soren Kierkegaard was driven by life’s complexities to a blind leap of faith.

·        *Henry David Thoreau wrote:  “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

The Preacher continues to build his case for the hopeless and helpless state of life in this world.  What good is it to laugh (Ch. 7) or live lawfully (ch. 8) when life’s tragedies and inconsistencies sweep down upon the righteous as well as the wicked?  Where can you turn to find help in making sense out of the complex pieces of life?  The answer comes back with ringing clarity.  “Don’t let the excitement of being young cause you to forget about your Creator.  Honor him in your youth before the evil years come…Fear God and obey His commandments.”  (12:1, 13) The secret of life is held in the hands of the Giver of life.  Though at times you will not understand his workings you can always build your life with confidence upon the Word. 

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ appeared in human history and offered the solution to man’s desperate condition:  “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness John 10:10.  Only with Christ in the center can  you view life from God’s perspective and see purpose in every part.  With John 14:6 as your personal invitation:  “come to God the Giver of life today“ and share with everyone you can each day.

An atheist professor read Ecc. and commented that it was the only book of the Bible that made sense to him.  Too bad he overlooked the last 2 verses of the book.

We might title chapter 7 LAUGHTER and chapter 8 THE EMPTINESS OF LAWLESSNESS. 

 “A wise man is like a pin, his head keeps him from going too far!”

Chapter 7:  Solomon had said in 1:12-18 that wisdom did not make life worth living, but then he took a 2^nd look at the problem.  In 7 and 8 he discussed the important of wisdom in life…found 14 times in the 2 chapters.  He concluded that tho wisdom can’t explain all of life’s mysteries, it can make positive contributions to our lives. 

Wisdom can make life better.  He says in v. 1 – 4 that sorrow is better than laughter.  Laughter can be like medicine that heals the broken heart, but sorrow can be like nourishing food that strengthens the inner person.  It takes both for a balanced life.

Solomon was not contrasting BIRTH and DEATH, not was he suggesting that it is better to die than to be born.  He was contrasting two significant days in human experience…receive your name (birth) and the day you die.  The life lived between those 2 events will determine whether that name leaves behind a lovely fragrance or a foul stench.  

Solomon is advising us to look death in the face and learn from it.  Looking at death encourages us to take life as seriously as we should. 

v.5-6 Rebuke is better than praise.  A wise person’s rebuke will accomplish far more in our lives than will the flattery of fools. 

v.7-9 The “long haul” is better than the shortcut.  We are advised to beware of EASY routes…they often become expensive detours that are difficult and painful. 

Bribery appears to be a quick way to get things done, but it only turns a wise man into a fool and encourages the corruption already in the flesh heart.  Wait patiently and humbly for God to work out His will than that we get angry and demand our own way. 

God must be at the beginning of what we do.  He will see to it that we reach the ending successfully.  We can claim Rom 8:28 because we know that He is at work in our world, accomplishing His purposes. 

v. 10 Today is better than yesterday.  The good old days are the combination of a bead memory and a good imagination.  Yesterday is past and cannot be changed; tomorrow may not come, so make the most of today!!!  Learn from the past, prepare for the future …live today in the will of God and do not be paralyzed by yesterday or hypnotized by tomorrow. 

WISDOM HELPS US SEE LIFE CLEARLY v. 11-18

Wisdom – God’s wisdom enables us to accept and deal with the changing experiences of life. 

WEALTH v. 11-12 Unlike money, true wisdom does not lose its value and cannot be lost, unless we become foolish and abandon it deliberately. 

PROVIDENCE v. 13 “See the way God does things and fall into line.  Dion’t fight the facts of nature.”  This is a sensible invitation to a life yielded to the will of God.  The Lord makes crooked and the LORD makes straight.  Whichever way he wants it, is the way it will be.

We don’t fully understand all the works of God, but we do know that “He hath made everything beautiful in its time. 

ADVERSITY AND PROSPERITY v. 14

God balances our lives by giving us enough blessings to keep us happy and enough burdens to keep us humble.  Two objectives: to keep us from thinking we know it all and that we can manage our lives by ourselves.  Just about the time we think we have an explanation for things, God changes the situation.  No matter how much experience we have in the Christian life, or how many books we read, we must still walk by faith.

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SIN v. 15-18 The contrast between the righteous suffering and the wicked prospering.  Francis Bacon (1561-1626) wrote “Prosperity is the blessing of the O.T.; adversity is the blessing of the New.”  Secondly, the wicked appear to prosper ONLY IF YOU TAKE THE SHORT VIEW OF THINGS.  They may gain the whole world, but they lose their own souls. 

Solomon was warning against self-righteousness and the pride that comes when we think we have arrived and know it all.  He was condemning the self righteousness of the hypocrite and the false wisdom of the proud.  Hold onto true righteousness and true wisdom. 

WISDOM HELPS US FACE LIFE STRONGER.  V. 19-29  We must overcome…sin. 2. what people say about us, our inability to grasp the meaning of all that God is doing in this world and see – The wise man knows that he does not know and this is what helps to make him wise!  3. The sinfulness of humanity in general…escape evil by fearing God and seeking to please Him. 

There are many snares and temptations in this evil world, but the person with Godly wisdom will have the power to overcome.  Solomon proved his point – wisdom can make our lives better, clearer and stronger. 

8:1…Seek wisdom…being wise changes your countenance!!!

Solomon explored the problem of evil in the world  8:1-9 Authority

Keep commands…avoid punishment.  Wickedness will one day be judged.

Choose to not obey, desert or defy.

Have discernment v. 5-6 Nehemiah, Joseph, Daniel

v.10-14  Robert Frost “people who are chosen to decide who had the best lawyer.”  (jury)

Encourage good laws, enforcement by capable people. UNTIL Jesus comes…accept it without pessimism or cynical attitude.

v. 15-17 Perhaps we can solve a puzzle her or there, but NO one can comprehend the totality of things or explain all God is doing.  God does not expect us to know the unknowable, but He does expect us to learn all that we can and obey what He teaches us.  The more we obey the more He can teach us.  John 7:17

v. 15 enjoy life and delight in the fruits of labor.  Positive “faith outlook”  Accept life as God’s special gift and know that He gives us “all things richly to enjoy.”  I Tim. 6:17

Complain NOT about what U don’t have and Give thanks for what you do have!!!!

Wisdom cannot explain every mystery or solve every problem.  It can help us exercise discernment in our decisions.

8:6 and the wise person knows what to do at the right time!!!!