Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes …

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes Bible Studies From Ecclesiastes

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8  THE SEARCH : Trying To Find The Meaningful Life 1:12 – 2:26  THE PROBLEM : Understanding God’s Providential Rule Over Life 3:1 – 5:20  THE APPLICATION : Explaining & Applying God’s Plan 6:1 – 8:15  Trusting God & Living Joyfully In An Uncertain World 8:16 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Moderation” 7:15-18  “Moderation” = not going to extremes  Certainly not advocating a little sin Rom 6:1-2  Solomon observes situations don’t always work out like we think they should v. 15  The righteous perishes too soon  The wicked live too long The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Moderation” 7:15-18  This “injustice” has long troubled servants of God Psa 73:2-14  To “harmonize this injustice,” Solomon advocates a view of “moderation” vv  Does not discourage righteousness  Does not encourage wickedness The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Moderation” 7:15-18  “Be not overly righteous/wise” v. 16  Condemning self-righteousness  Leads to arrogance, pride, contempt for others Mt 6:1-18 Lk 18:9-12 Rom 10:1-3  It is how one “ruins himself” The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8 Wisdom “under the sun”

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Moderation” 7:15-18  “Be not overly wicked” v. 17  Condemns any wicked, unlawful conduct God would not approve  This makes one a “fool” Psa 14:1 Lk 12:20 [13 references in Ecclesiastes ]  It can even lead to premature death The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Moderation” 7:15-18  The solution Ù grasp both “rules” v. 18  The “rules” he cites in vv Moderation  The “successful man” (i.e. one who fears God) will come forth with both of these “rules”  He will not trust in himself  He will not participate in anything wicked The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Self-Restraint” 7:19-22  “Self-restraint” = temperance, self-control  Using the “wisdom” just advocated, a “wise” man who masters his temptations is better (stronger) than 10 men who rule a city v. 19  “Inner” guidance protects Psa 119: Cor 9:24-27 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Self-Restraint” 7:19-22  To guard against becoming haughty, Koheleth reminds of the condition of all men v. 20  All need this “protection”…no one is “immune” Rom 3:9, 23 1 Cor 10:12 Gal 6:1  To deny this is to be deceived & call God a “liar” 1 Jn 1:8, 10 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Self-Restraint” 7:19-22  We must also not get too “offended” when we are criticized by others v. 21  Important Ù assumes sin is not the reason… also assumes “criticism” is not slander  General truth Ù people usually discuss others’ faults more their accomplishments The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Self-Restraint” 7:19-22  If we get “offended” re: others’ criticism, we may be tempted to respond in kind Rom 12:17  Does it really matter if others unfairly “criticize” us? Rom 8:33-34  One cannot please all his “critics” anyway…if you please one, you “offend” another The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  The Value Of “Self-Restraint” 7:19-22  Solomon reminds us that we’ve all been “guilty” of the same behavior v. 22  Realizing this puts what we hear re: ourselves in perspective  Also remember Eph 4:29 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Solomon wanted to “test” the admonitions he just made with wisdom v. 23  However, he had to admit the answers he sought were “far from him”  If far from him, what about others who attempt the same “experiment?” The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Solomon had mastered “practical wisdom” (inspiration, God-given wisdom)  This “deeper wisdom” was out of his reach  The “remote” or “mysterious”…who can discover it? v. 24 cp. 7:13 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Solomon wanted to uncover “the evil of folly” and “the foolishness of madness” v. 25  Re: people in general… v. 26  They either use others for their own benefit, they are used by others due to weakness, or they escape because they please God The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Finding upright people = difficult vv  Only 1 in 1,000 men…none among women  “1,000”…literal or figurative?  Could it be the 1,000 women of 1 Kings 11:3?  Had Solomon become “soured” on women?  Condemning all women? cp. 9:9 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Finding upright people = difficult vv  Lest one form the wrong conclusion re: the absence of upright people, Solomon reminds why they exist  God made man upright, but man has sought out sinful ways to live The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Finding upright people = difficult vv  Man seeks out “many devices” to practice his sinful desires…“devices” we should not be ignorant of 2 Cor 2:11  Man continually invents more ways to violate God’s will and His righteous standards The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Identifying the “woman” v. 26  Although women, in general, had been the source of much misery & problems, was this the “woman” he references? 1 Kings 11:1-8  Some say it is Eve and her deception when sin came into the world Gen 3 1 Tim 2:14 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes THE APPLICATION 6:1 – 8:15  Some Personal Observations 7:23-29  Identifying the “woman” v. 26  Some say it is the “immoral woman” found in Prov 2:16-19 & 7:5-27  Some say it is the “Woman of folly”…the opposite of wisdom Prov 1:20 – 2:9 3:13-18 The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8

Life Under The Sun Biblical Studies In Ecclesiastes …