ECCLESIASTES STUDY GUIDE CHAPTER 12

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Stanley Shaw
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1 Chapter 12: ECCLESIASTES STUDY GUIDE CHAPTER 12 Please read Ecclesiastes chapter 12. As you do, try to answer the following questions to help you understand the passages of scripture and apply the spiritual truths to your life. Please read all the scripture passages cited to help you answer the questions. In this, the final chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon makes his concluding remarks. In this chapter Solomon uses some very poetical language to describe a process we all go through. This study also engages us in solving some clues to help understand the mystery of this poetry. After having spent a lifetime experimenting with and analyzing "everything under the sun" Solomon s conclusion for real joy and blessing is to love God and serve Him with all of your heart, soul and mind! (1) Read Ecclesiastes 12:1-2. (a) In v.1 Solomon says; "Remember now your Creator..." Why is it important to remember that the LORD is CREATOR and how important is it to you personally? Refer to Psalms 77:1-14; 106:21-45; Jeremiah 2:13, 32. (b) Why and how are we to remember that Jesus Christ is both CREATOR and SAVIOR? Refer to John 1:1-5, 10-14; Col. 1:13-22 and Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 and Rev. 4:11; 5:

2 (c) Who is Solomon primarily addressing in these verses and (1) WHAT is he advising them to do; (2) WHY is he advising them and (3) WHEN is he advising they do it? See also Psalms 39:4-5; 90:3-12; Proverbs 22:6; 2 Timothy 3: What do you think the "days of trouble" or difficult days are referring to? (i.e., "...finding no pleasure in them"). (1) (2) (3) days of trouble : (d) How do these verses tie-in with the end of the previous chapter, Ecc. 11:9-10? (e) Verse 2 appears to be saying that life gets darker and troubles seem to "hang on" and linger as we get older. Do you think this refers to a physical or emotional effect; or both? 2

3 (2) Read Ecclesiastes 12:3-8. (a) Understanding that Solomon is using poetical terms in these verses, what physiological process do you think Solomon is describing in verses 3 7? {See e.g., Genesis 2:7; 3:17-19}. (b) What do you think the following poetical phrases describe or refer to? (Hint: read v.5b and v.7). "..watchmen of the house tremble": "..strong (or mighty) men stoop / strong men shall bow down : "..grinders stand idle because they are few": "..those looking through the windows grow dim": ".. the doors are shut in the streets and the sound of the grinding mill is low": "..when one rises up at the sound of a bird and all the daughters of song will sing softly": (c) What psychological effects is Solomon describing in the phrases he uses in v.5?..afraid of a high place and of terrors in the way :..the almond tree blossoms :..the grasshopper drags himself along and desire 1 fails : 1 Literally, caper berry referring to a physically stimulating drink. 3

4 ..for man goes to his eternal home :..the mourners go about in the street : (d) In v.6 Solomon again uses the same phrase he used in v.1; "Remember your Creator..." but now he is describing the time of youth in a different way a poetical way. In the context of these verses, what do you think the following items refer to? (Hint: refer to v.7). "..the silver cord is severed" "..the golden bowl is broken"..the pitcher is shattered at the spring" "..the wheel is broken at the well" (e) In v.7 Solomon confirms the curse of sin (i.e., death), the body goes back to the ground from which it was made (Genesis 3:19). But notice, the spirit does not die! The spirit goes back to God who gave it so there is no such thing as "soul sleep" (a total cessation of consciousness after death). Compare/contrast with the discussion of what Solomon says in Eccles. 3:18-21; 9:4-6. Refer also to Luke 16:19-31; John 5:25-29; 11:25-26 and 2 Cor. 5:1-6. Knowing these things, how should that affect the way one lives in the present? (Hint. Refer also to v.14). See also Eccles. 7:1-4; 8:7-8; Jer. 9:23-24; Eph. 5:1-16; Col. 4:2-6 and Phil. 4:4-9. (f) In v.8 Solomon concludes this section by reminding us: "Meaningless, meaningless", says the teacher, "everything is meaningless" (or "vanities, vanities; emptiness, emptiness"). Has Solomon given us adequate reason for remembering the Creator? What basic application can you draw from all this? Read 1 Cor. 3:9-15 to help you answer this question. 4

5 (3) Read Ecclesiastes 12:9-12. (a) In verses 9 & 10 Solomon reaffirms his authorship of many proverbs as well as compiling many the wise sayings (proverbs) of others. What do you think Solomon means when he says that...the words of the wise are like goads (i.e., sharp spikes) and their..collected sayings like firmly embedded nails"? (b) How does Solomon refer to the author of this wisdom? (See also John 10:7-14; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Peter 2:24-25). (c) Do you think Solomon was speaking from "first hand" experience in verse 12? (d) What do you think the statement Of making many books there is no end and much study is wearisome to the flesh means? See for example; Ecc. 1:13, 18; Lk. 16:31; John 5:39-40, What practical application of this can you think of in your own life? (Perhaps we should be careful in what knowledge and goals we pursue as Solomon found out the "hard way"). 5

6 (4) Read Ecclesiastes 12: Solomon concludes his entire discourse on his efforts to search out "wisdom" and "folly" by saying: "Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man". This is a simple, but profound statement. It concisely summarizes the complete purpose of man in God's creation! Compare Deuteronomy 10:12; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Micah 6:6-8 and Matthew 22:34-40! (a) Do you think this is a logical conclusion on Solomon's part? Should Solomon have known this all important truth from the beginning?! What do you think happened? Refer to Ex. 23:32; Deut. 7:3-4; 17:16-20;1 Kings 3:1-14; 4:29-34;11:1-10; (b) We are ultimately accountable to God; who "..will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing whether it is good or evil". Compare Jesus' words in Mark 4:22. What personal applications should a NON-BELIEVER draw from this? (c) What should a BELIEVER S response to the truth stated in v.14 be and how should this affect their behavior and attitude? For application of this truth see Galatians 6:7-10; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15; 4:1-5; Hebrews 4:12; John 16:7-11; 1 John 3:1-3 and ultimately for the non-believer, Revelation 20: MAY WE PUT INTO PRACTICE THE GREAT TRUTHS EXPRESSED IN THESE LAST TWO VERSES! 6

Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 Trinity Bible Church Ecclesiastes Lesson 5 July 2, 2003 Ecclesiastes 10-12 Ecclesiastes 10:1-20 I. Futility. 1:1-2:26 II. God s Immutable Plan for Life (3:1-22) III. The Futility of the Circumstances of