Explore the Bible Lesson Preview July 28, 2013 Why Do I Feel Empty? Background: Ecclesiastes 3:1 5:7 Lesson: Ecclesiastes 3:1, 10-14; 4:9-12; 5:1-7 Motivation: The great American dream has moved well beyond a chicken in every pot. Materialism has become a god with mass advertising serving as the false prophet. This study in Ecclesiastes gives several cautions against a mindless pursuit of wealth. Examination: I. God Controls Time (3:1-15) There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven. HCSB, p. 1091: 3:1-11 These verses, the most famous text in Ecclesiastes, must be read from the context of the fundamental claim of the book: that we are mortals, doomed to perish, and that our work will perish with us. No human work is eternal, and our activities, whether building or tearing down, must change as the situation dictates. We naturally prefer to stay on the positive side of the list to laugh rather than to weep, to love rather than to hate, and to have peace rather than war but as long as we live in a world of change, conflict, and death, we must accept the fact that we cannot have unchanging bliss. Even so, as verse 11 says, everything is appropriate in its time. Mourning and separation are painful, but there is a time when it is right and even beautiful to mourn. We must accept the fundamental fact of mortality: we are creatures who live in time. We must respond appropriately to the seasons of life as they come. 3:11 is perhaps the key verse in the book. He has also put eternity in their hearts s uggesting that man can only find true significance by trusting in God; he is powerless to 1 / 6
understand the mysteries of the universe and eternity on his own. 3:12-13 records the second occurrence of the book s refrain. (Prov. 3:5-6; Ps. 37:4-8; Deut. 29:29). HCSB, p. 1091: 3:11 The fact that God has also put eternity in their hearts tells us that although we are creatures of time, we are not like the animals, who are fully and exclusively creatures of time. God made us as hybrids, so to speak, in that we are temporal but we have an inner longing for eternity. We can never be fully at peace in this life because, although we are mortal, we yearn for immortality. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. It is also the gift of God whenever anyone eats, drinks and enjoys all his efforts. I know that all God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of Him. (12-14) HCSB, p. 1091: 3:12-14 The fact that we are creatures of time is another reason to enjoy the days we have. Giving ourselves to excessive mourning and toil is as wrong as indulging in excessive laughter and dancing. 3:15 The phrase God repeats what has passed is literally, God seeks the pursued or God seeks the persecuted. Such a translation suggests that God cares about and seeks out those who are harassed and oppressed. This anticipates the test on injustice that follows (vv. 16-17). II. God Controls Life (3:16-4:3) This section begins with a denunciation of human justice (16-17) which is continued in chapter 4. The Preacher concludes with the inevitability of death for every living thing. Humans and animals are alike in that they live and then they die. This section should not be used as a text for Solomon s belief in the life after death; he makes clear his belief in the spirit returning to God in 12:7. I said to myself, This happens concerning people, so that God may test them and they may see for themselves that they are like animals. For the fate of people and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile. All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth? I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies? HCSB, p. 1092: 2 / 6
3:18-22 These verses are disturbing to Christian readers because they appear to deny the hope of eternal life. What they actually deny is that people within themselves have the power to transcend death. By contrast, Egyptian religion was so certain that people were immortal that the ancient Egyptians were obsessed with preparing their tombs for the afterlife. According to the Bible, death is an enemy (1 Cor. 15:26); it is not merely a doorway to a new level of existence. God s people will experience eternal life only because they are known by God and will be raised by His power. Our hope is based entirely on the resurrection of Christ. The Teacher of Ecclesiastes wanted people to take death seriously so they would use well the time they had under the sun. It does not deny that God can raise us from the dead. III. God Provides Friends (4:4-16) A. Futility of depending on earthly justice (3:16-4:3) We re often disappointed by decisions in our courts. But Solomon observed thousands of years ago that the only true justice comes from God. B. Futility of selfish toil (4:4-8) If we re working only to get more, it is futility. (Prov. 22:1; 23:5; Haggai 1:5-7) C. Futility of loneliness (4:9-12) God made us social creatures. In the Garden of Eden, He declared that it was not good for man to be alone. Three benefits of marriage are listed: 1. Help and support Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. (9-10) 2. Comfort and warmth (11) how can one alone be warm? 3. Protection and strength (12) a cord of three strands is not easily broken 3 / 6
D. Futility of Popularity (13-16) The praise of men is illusory and passing. IV. God is Worthy of Worship (5:1-7) HCSB, p. 1093: 5:1-7 This passage deals with religious behavior, and it warns that we should not try to impress God. It is in two parallel parts. First, positively, come to the house of God in humble obedience ; negatively, don t try to impress God with big sacrifices and big vows; and then there is a proverb that big dreams and many words come from an overworked fool. Second, positively, fulfill your vow ; negatively, don t make a vow you cannot keep; and then a proverb, many dreams and many words are futile, so it is better to fear God. The foundation of these teaching is our mortality. God is in heaven and you are on earth. Because we are weak, small and prone to fail, we should give up on trying to impress God with vows, gifts and promises. We cannot impress Him; our place is to be humble and obedient. This text calls on us to depend on the grace of God and not on our religious deeds. A. Don t go through the motions of worship think, listen and reflect. Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. (1) (Matt. 13:11-17; Rev. 3:20-22; Ps. 51:10-19) B. Don t make rash promises Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? (5-6) 4 / 6
C. Don t obsess on circumstances; instead meditate upon God. For many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God. (7) Application: 1. Temporal things will not produce lasting satisfaction. 2. God s sovereign purpose guides the life of believers. 3. Our ultimate security, significance and satisfaction must be found in God through Christ. Leader Pack Item 15: Worksheet: My Time His Time Biblical Illustrator: p. 30, Time and Eternity: A Hebrew Understanding **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: www.hfbcbiblestudy.org Dates: 5/30-8/1 MetroLIVE in worship center; 7/20-27 RUSH Week, Branson; 7/22-26 - Unique Student Ministry Conf.; 7/26 Family Mission Trip; 7/31 Summer Celebration, students; 8/2-3 Milestone: Adolescence Welcome to 6 th grade; 5 / 6
8/3 New 6 th Grade parents Milestone; 8/3 Inspirational Writers Conf.; 8/10 Children s Ministry Summit; 8/16 Hunt Retreat Grand Opening; 8/18 BIG Sunday Students; 8/19 FBA Orientation; 8/20 First Day of School, FBA; 8/23 Students Back to School Event; 8/24 Men: Serve; 8/25 Back 2 School (Promo) Sunday; 8/28 Next Gen Family Fun Event; 9/1-2 Summit Leadership Retreat; 9/2 Labor Day Church offices closed; 9/4 11/20 Fall Midlink; 9/13-15 SPF Camp; 9/15 Parent Commitment; 9/15 MIYC Orientation; 9/20 Fusion Big Night Out; 9/22 LBS Leadership Lunch; 9/27-29 Men s Retreat; 9/28 Health, Fitness & Spirit Expo 8-4:00. 6 / 6