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United Kingdom – Part 2 Lesson 21 Ecclesiastes

Outline I. Fulfillment comes from God (1:1-2:26). A. Man cannot find it himself or in this earth. B. Enjoyment of life is a gift from God. II. Man must trust God to realize his purpose (3:1-5:20). A. God has a plan for all things. B. Difficulties can be confronted, but not all can be answered or understood. C. Man must trust God and enjoy what God has given him here.

Outline III. Answers to inequalities of life (6:1-8:15). A. Explanation of various difficulties related to trust in God for enjoyment and meaning. B. Application to avoid and deal with various inequalities of life. IV. Explanation of further discouragements and conclusion (8:16-12:14). A. Importance and limitations of wisdom. B. The need for diligence and optimism. C. Follow God early and wholly.

Theme of Ecclesiastes Under the Sun All Is Vanity Beyond the Sun Fear God and Keep His Commandments

Trust God Do we get to “say” what time it is? Both positive and negative are right in their time and place What can we control?

Trust God What Profit has the worker? Put Eternity In Their Heart except no man can know … (3:11) Nothing is better than to rejoice and do good. Eat, drink and enjoy the good of his labor (3:12-13) These things happen so that we may fear God (3:14)

Trust God Injustice and Wickedness God allows injustice to test Under the Sun Man and Beast dies alike Beyond the Sun Man -> Judgement

Trust God Oppression of Men (4:1-3) Under the Sun Great oppression and no comfort Power to the oppressor Better to be among the dead Better yet to be never born

Trust God Vanity of Craft/Skill (4:4-6) It is better to enjoy a little with quietness that much that comes from the consumption of ourselves

Trust God – Not Oneself (Selfish) Two is better than one (4:9-12) Popularity is Vanity (King) (4:13- 16) Listen when you go to Worship and keep your tongue from evil (5:1-6)

Trust God – Not Riches Vanity of Riches (5:8-20) He who loves silver will not be satisfied Enjoy it and remember what will happen to it when your gone. A Sad Situation (6:1-12)

Inequalities of Life Which sounds better? (7:1-14) Good name is better than luxury Death is better than birth Funeral is better than a feast Rebuke of the wise is better than song.. Present is better than the past Wisdom is better than wealth Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 NKJV 13 Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked? 14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.

Inequalities of Life Seek Balance (7:15-22) Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself? Do not be overly wicked, Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?

Inequalities of Life Vanity of Government (8:1-9) Keep his commands (for God’s sake) With power and wealth, expect evil Don’t fight and you will not be harmed What will happen to these kingdoms?

Inequalities of Life Judgement appears slow and evil appears successful “under the sun” (8:10-14) What about beyond the sun? Therefore, enjoy what you have been blessed with “under the sun”.

Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Death will come to all (9:1-10) The same happens to the good and the bad? (injustice?) If we were to ask Job now, did the suffering last long? Was it worth it? What would his answer be? Time and chance happens to all (9:11) The good guy don’t always win “under the sun”.

Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Enjoy your blessings! (9:9-10) Live with the wife of your youth! Enjoy the pleasures God has granted you “under the sun”. Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might. It all ends at the grave!

Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Folly Destroys! (10:1-20) What can a small mistake do to a person of great reputation? What might happen to the one who digs a pit for another? What does the many words of the fool typically cost? What will happen to the land ruled by the young, brash king? (sound familiar) What happens to the one who curses kings or the rich? (little birdy may tell)

Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Be Benevolent! (11:1-2) Cast your bread on the water … Be Diligent! (11:3-8) Don’t wait to act while worrying over things you can’t control Simply sow, you don’t know what will grow or fail

Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Rejoice in the days of your youth! (11:9-10) Remember in the days of your youth! (12:1-8) Don’t wait till your older because you may not have the health

Conclusion (8:16-12:14) Ecclesiastes 12: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

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