IS THAT ALL THERE IS?

Transcription

1 IS THAT ALL THERE IS? The Book of Ecclesiastes Dr. Jon McNeff, Senior Pastor January 14, 2018 Note: The following are the pastor s notes used in preaching this message. This is not a complete, word-for-word transcription of what was preached. These notes serve as a companion to the complete message, which is available by listening to the audio version. Bible quotes are primarily from NASB and ESV, respectively. Peggy Lee sang Is That All There Is? (Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller) I remember when I was a girl our house caught on fire and I'll never forget the look on my father's face as he gathered me in his arms and raced to the burning building out on the pavement and I stood there shivering and watched the whole world go up in flames. And when it was all over I said to myself, "Is that all there is to a fire?" Is that all there is? And when I was twelve years old my daddy took me to the circus, the greatest show on earth. And there were clowns and elephants dancing bears, and a beautiful lady in pink tights flew high above our heads and as I sat there watching. I had the feeling that something was missing. I don't know what but when it was all over I said to myself, Is that all there is to the circus? And then I fell in love with the most wonderful boy in the world. We'd take long walks down by the river or just sit for hours gazing into each other's eyes. We were so very much in love. And then one day he went away and I thought I'd die. But I didn't. And when I didn't I said to myself, Is that all there is to love? I know what you must be saying to yourselves. If that's the way she feels about it then why doesn't she just end it all. Oh no. Not me. I'm not ready for the final disappointment cause I know just as well as I'm standing here talking to you that when that final moment comes and I'm breathing my last breath I know what I'll be saying to myself. Is that all there is? Is that all there is? If that s all there is my friend, then let s keep dancing. Let s break out the booze and have a ball if that s all there is. that s Ecclesiastes! INTRODUCTION Hebrew title is Qoheleth one who calls or gathers people often translated in the book as preacher Ecclesiastes comes from ekklesia, meaning called out ones translated as church in New Testament this was the title used in the Septuagint Author Solomon 1) Ecclesiastes 1:1 identifies him as the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Life matches events here summation of the experiences of his life thus written close to 931 B.C. I. SOLOMON S SUMMATION four things which never change A. All is vanity Ecclesiastes 1:2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. hebel = vapor, wind, breath 1 Used 37 times in Ecclesiastes, once in every chapter Expresses the futility of all of life s experiences that end up in emptiness that results from being incomprehensible no meaning you are born, you live, you die Is that all there is? Book-end of Ecclesiastes 1:2 is Ecclesiastes 12:8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, all is vanity! Leads to the inevitable conclusion that this is nothing but striving after the wind, a phrase he employs nine times (Ecclesiastes 1:1:14, 17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 5:16; 6:9) 1 Victor P. Hamilton, "ה ב ל" in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr. and Bruce K. Waltke, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999),

2 B. Man has no advantage Ecclesiastes 1:3 asks the basic question What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun? Same question in Ecclesiastes 3:9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? Same for rich and poor the poor work hard and can t get ahead the wealthy and wise either inherit their money or get ahead by hard work but all are left with the same haunting question to what end Why is getting ahead any better than not getting ahead we all die in the end and take nothing with us C. Nothing changes Ecclesiastes 1:4 A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. like Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof the sun rises, the sun sets life remains as precarious as a Fiddler on the Roof D. There is nothing new under the sun Ecclesiastes 1:9 That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. Technology and styles change man doesn t pictures living life without God there has never been anyone more uniquely qualified to comment on this than Solomon: 1 Kings 3:7-12 Solomon asked for an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern good and evil. God gave it to him II. SOLOMON S EXPERIMENTS A. Pleasure Ecclesiastes 2:1 I said to myself, Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself. And behold, it too was futility. test indicates a comprehensive experiment Solomon wanted to find out about life first stop pleasure = gladness of the heart like The Wanderer song based on Ecclesiastes written by Bono sung by Johnny Cash I went out there / In search of experience / To taste and to touch and to feel as much / As a man can before he repents. 2 this pleasure results in futility = vapor, breath, vanity lit. worthless. points to joy which disregards the true issues of life it brings forth no real fruit; that it produces only the opposite of true satisfaction; that instead of filling, it only enlarges the inner void. 3 You see this in the bored faces of many of the rich and famous B. Laughter Ecclesiastes 2:2 I said of laughter, it is madness usually comes from joy or celebration but this laughter brings madness halal I shine referred to one who stares at the sun and moon in worship what is he saying? Referring to the one who laughs his way through life everything s a joke usually cynical, crude, makes fun of others it s sitcom humor crude, comedy club humor life is not a joke can t laugh your way through it C. Wine Ecclesiastes 2:3 after the disappointment that partying didn t bring fulfillment, Solomon explored with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under the heaven the few years of their lives. Speaks of mental searching and discovery this was a lab experiment to see if getting drunk can bring happiness anyone who s ever tried it knows the answer! Timothy Leary and LSD pot now legal in California. 2 Philip Graham Ryken, Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2010), Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch, vol. 6, Commentary on the Old Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996),

3 D. Work Ecclesiastes 2:4-6 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. he was an architect, developer, builder Solomon s public works projects are legendary 1 Kings 7:1-12 to see the magnificent details of Solomon s house his house took 13 years to build worked over 20 years on the House of the Forest in Lebanon, the Hall of Pillars, a Hall for his throne, housing for Pharaoh s daughters and apartments for his other wives and concubines he also built the Millo, a rampart built around the Temple to protect it (1 Kings 9:24) also built and fortified other cities over his whole kingdom in 1 Kings 9:15-22 His vineyards are noted in 1 Chronicles 27:27 Gardens and parks Ecclesiastes 2:5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; Pools and water engineering systems Ecclesiastes 2:6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. These are legendary Solomon built a complex water delivery system that brought water from Hebron, six miles southeast of Jerusalem to the Temple by means of an enclosed water siphoning system Pilate and Herod added to them seen today Slaves Ecclesiastes 2:7 I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. 1 Kings 5:13-17 Solomon had 30,000 forced laborers 70,000 transporters, and 80,000 hewers of stone working on the temple used 3,300 supervisors! E. Possessions Flocks Ecclesiastes 2:7 Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 1 Kings 4:22-23 Solomon s provision for one day was thirty kors of fine flour and sixty kors of meal, ten fat oxen, twenty pasture-fed oxen, a hundred sheep besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. 1 Kings 4:26 Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. 1 Kings 8:63 Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered to the Lord, 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the sons of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord. F. Money Silver and gold Ecclesiastes 2:8 Also I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. 1 Kings 10:14-15 Now the weight of gold which came in to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, besides that from the traders and the wares of the merchants and all the kings of the Arabs and the governors of the country. 25 TONS!! Each year! 1 Kings 10:21-22 All King Solomon s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None was of silver; it was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon. For the king had at sea the ships of Tarshish with the ships of Hiram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish came bringing gold and silver, ivory and apes and peacocks. 1 Kings 10:27 The king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem... bigger than Jeff Bezos owner of Amazon newest richest man in the world - $104 billion first trillion dollar company! G. Entertainment Male and female singers Ecclesiastes 2:8 I provided for myself male and female singers 1 Chronicles 23:6 indicates David enlisted 4,000 instrumentalists who led worship 1 Chronicles 25:7 there were 288 trained and skillful singers his itunes was a live band! H. Sex Ecclesiastes 2:8 and many concubines. 1 Kings 11:1-3 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the sons of Israel, You shall not associate with them, nor shall they 3

4 associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods. Solomon held fast to these in love. He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. I. Foolishness Ecclesiastes 2:12-13 So I turned to consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except what has already been done? And I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. Result Ecclesiastes 2:16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die! Solomon s picture would have been on cover of Fortune, Architectural Digest III. SOLOMON S OBSERVATIONS A. He hated life Ecclesiastes 2:17 So I hated life why? You have to leave it to another Ecclesiastes 2:18 Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the fruit of my labor for which I have labored by acting wisely under the sun. This too is vanity. Also learned that simple labor is good and comes from God Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? B. Time for everything Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. Profound implications Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything appropriate (beautiful) in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. God has made man for eternal purposes nothing in this life can fulfill that C. The evil of oppression The evils of the world cry out for context and reason without any Ecclesiastes 4:1 Then I looked again at all the acts of oppression which were being done under the sun. And behold I saw the tears of the oppressed and that they had no one to comfort them; and on the side of their oppressors was power, but they had no one to comfort them. Hitler, Stalin, Rwanda The dead congratulated for being dead - Ecclesiastes 4:2 4

5 Rivalries between neighbors the source of wars Ecclesiastes 4:4 A rich man with no heir gaining riches for no reason Ecclesiastes 4:8 The sadness of being alone Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 Two are better than one Unjust succession of the king Ecclesiastes 4:13-15 And the people just keep on coming Ecclesiastes 4:16 D. Guard your steps Profound insight Ecclesiastes 5:1 Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. Rash promises and impulsive commitments are foolish Ecclesiastes 5:2 Pay what you vow! Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 Watch your tongue Ecclesiastes 5:6 E. The folly of riches (Ecclesiastes 5:8-20) During the time that God gives you on the earth: Too many officials oppress the poor Ecclesiastes 5:8 He who loves money will not be satisfied Ecclesiastes 5:10 The sleep of the working man is pleasant Ecclesiastes 5:12 Riches being hoarded is grievous Ecclesiastes 5:13 Enjoy life it s a gift from God Ecclesiastes 5:18-19 F. The futility of life The futility of life (Ecclesiastes 6:1-9) Ecclesiastes 6:3-4 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, however many they be, but his soul is not satisfied with good things and he does not even have a proper burial, then I say, Better the miscarriage than he, for it comes in futility and goes into obscurity; and its name is covered in obscurity. Karen Carpenter IV. SOLOMON S CONCLUSIONS (Ecclesiastes 6:10 12:8) A. I don t know Ecclesiastes 6:12 For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun? B. Wisdom is limited (Ecclesiastes 7:1 14) More is learned through adversity than pleasure Ecclesiastes 7:2 every man will eventually have to deal with mourning Ecclesiastes 7:4 The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning Ecclesiastes 7:5 It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than for one to listen to the song of fools. Wisdom is better than money because it preserves the lives of its possessors. (Ecclesiastes 7:12) Prosperity and adversity will come to everyone Ecclesiastes 7:14 Comparisons: Ecclesiastes 7:15 a righteous man can perish in his righteousness and a wicked man can prolong his life in his wickedness Ecclesiastes 7:17 giving yourself to wickedness or foolishness will ruin you 5

6 Ecclesiastes 7:19-21 don t take things you hear spoken behind your back too seriously we all do that Ecclesiastes 7:23-29 the limitations in finding out wisdom result in discouragement C. Obey the king (Ecclesiastes 8:1-9) Be mindful of earthly authority Ecclesiastes 8:2-3 Keep the command of the king because of the oath before God. Do not be in a hurry to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases. It keeps you out of trouble Ecclesiastes 8:5 There is a proper time for every action Ecclesiastes 8:6 We can t restrain the wind change the way things are Ecclesiastes 8:8 D. There is no justice (Ecclesiastes 8:10-17) Men s actions don t make sense Ecclesiastes 8:14 There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility. Don t fight against the injustices of life it s like spitting into the wind just enjoy your life Ecclesiastes 8:14 There is futility which is done on the earth, that is, there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked. On the other hand, there are evil men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I say that this too is futility. E. Men are in the hands of God (Ecclesiastes 9:1 11:6) Observations on life: All will die (Ecclesiastes 9:1 10) Ecclesiastes 9:3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. Enjoy family Ecclesiastes 9:9 Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun. Man knows not his time (Ecclesiastes 9:12 Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them. You won t be remembered (Ecclesiastes 9:13 18) a poor man delivered a city from the onslaught of a great king by his wisdom Yet no man remembered the poor man. Ecclesiastes 9:15 Most good people receive no monument on their death they become like the wind whistling across the prairie F. Life makes no sense (Ecclesiastes 10:1-20) Solomon makes note of the foolishness he has observed: You will always be able to tell a fool Ecclesiastes 10:3 his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. Things happen that don t make sense Ecclesiastes 10:7 I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land. You might get hurt when working Ecclesiastes 10:9 A wise person sharpens his ax Ecclesiastes 10:10 Mature leaders bring blessing and not woe Ecclesiastes 10:16-17 Eating is enjoyable wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything. Ecclesiastes 10:19 possibly a reference to the unwise king throughout this section who thinks he can solve everything by raising taxes Be careful about private conversation because it has a way of becoming known Ecclesiastes 10:20 6

7 Life is uncontrollable (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6) Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Don t be afraid to take a wise, but risky step in life once in awhile like a farmer who casts his seed on marshy ground and expects a harvest There is so much we don t know about how or why God does things and there is no virtue in wishful thinking Ecclesiastes 11:5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. Guidance for the young (Ecclesiastes 11:7-10) Ecclesiastes 11:9 Enjoy your life yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all things. You will have to pay the piper Ecclesiastes 11:10 So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting. Don t grieve over things you can t change learn to deal with anger take care of your body while it still works you are not invulnerable Final conclusion (Ecclesiastes 12:1-14) you will grow old (Ecclesiastes 12:1-8) Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, I have no delight in them The depression of old age Ecclesiastes 12:2 before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; youth is the time of optimism old age brings darkness, clouds, and sadness from failure of the body relationships are finished nothing to look forward to The hands, arms, and legs, like the guards of a palace, shake in old age in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop Ecclesiastes 12:3 You need false teeth the grinding ones stand idle because they are few Ecclesiastes 12:3 You need glasses and those who look through windows grow dim Ecclesiastes 12:3 Ecclesiastes 12:4 could refer either to the bowels being shut up as a result of the lack of eating or simply the mouth not taking in food and the doors on the street are shut Don t eat much the sound of the grinding mill is low Can t sleep and one will arise at the sound of the bird Can t stand loud music all the daughters of song will sing softly. Ecclesiastes 12:5 fear of height Hair turns white the almond tree blossoms Crippled and bent limbs the grasshopper drags himself along Sexually impotent the caperberry is ineffective His impending funeral For man goes to his eternal home while mourners go about in the street. Ecclesiastes 12:6-7 The internal organs cease functioning as death approaches Remember Him before the silver cord is broken (life force?) and the golden bowl is crushed (brain?), the pitcher by the well is shattered (heart?) and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. V. SOLOMON S INSTRUCTIONS A. Listen to me final words (Ecclesiastes 12:9-14) These words excel all others Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 In addition to being a wise man, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly. Listen to these words Ecclesiastes 12:11 The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. they will prod you to obedience and preserve you like nails complete a building project Any words beyond this are useless Ecclesiastes 12:12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. 7

8 Parents emphasis on education lose senior year where is your kid going to college? Why? How will they do? B. Fear God The end of it all fear God and keep His commandments Ecclesiastes 12:13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. A epitaph that is over one hundred years old is etched on a tombstone in an Indiana cemetery. It warns: Pause, stranger, when you pass me by: As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you will be. So prepare for death and follow me. An unknown philosopher walked by and scratched these additional words on the tombstone: To follow you I m not content, Until I know which way you went. 4 QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 1. What is wisdom in man s view? 2. What can we learn from Ecclesiastes 2:1-13? 3. What is taught in Ecclesiastes 3:1-11? 4. What can we conclude about a life without God from Ecclesiastes 10:1-20? 5. What are the implications of Ecclesiastes 12:13? 6. How would you apply Ecclesiastes 12:13? 4 Randy Alcorn, Heaven (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2004), 33. 8