Explore the Bible Lesson Preview August 20, 2006 "What's The Bottom Line?" Background: Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14 Lesson: Eccl. 11:9-10; 12:1-5, 13-14 Motivation: It has been said that "youth is wasted on the young." However, because the young have health, energy and their whole lives before them, the Preacher write "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth" (12:1). The principle is to enjoy God and the life He has given to their fullest every day. Examination: I. God's Judgment is Real (Eccl. 11:7-10) A. Enjoy Life "But if a man lives many years and rejoices in them all..." (8) "Rejoice, O young man, in your youth and let your heart cheer you..." (9) Too often, we are dissatisfied with the present stage of life. We think "I'll be happier...when I grow up...when I have kids...when kids leave home...when I am financially secure." On the other hand, we reminisce about the "good old days." Our challenge is to say with Paul "...for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Phil. 4:11b). B. Recognize Death "remember the days of darkness" (8b). The contrast between light and darkness in 7-8 is probably an allusion to life and death. In this regard, the passage corresponds to 9:10 "Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." I Cor. 10:13, 15:12-19, 15:54-58 esp. 55 C. Accept Judgment "God will bring you into judgment" (9b); "put away evil from your flesh" (10) Believer's Study Bible, p. 904: 1 / 10
11:7-10 "Solomon encourages his readers to live a full and active life, recognizing that (1) death is inevitable (v. 8) and (2) the prospect of God's judgment (both in this life and the next) should influence all activity (v. 9)." I John 3:1-3; Rom. 8:14-18; John 11:25; Jude 24-25 II. Death is Certain (Eccl. 12:1-8) The Preacher exhorts us not to waste youth but to "remember now your Creator" (1) This admonition is set against the backdrop of the inevitable aging process pictured as a house aging into decline. A. Make the most of today "before the difficult days come" ( 1) Believer's Study Bible, p. 905: 12:1 " Difficult days' are times of trouble. Pleasureless years refer to the time of life during which disabilities and infirmities, perhaps even old age, hinder the enjoyment of pleasures. There is little time for repentance and faith and no time for a lifetime of obedience. Since there is no certainty of life, the admonition is to remember now your Creator,' not only in youth but more specifically in the present part of youth in order to allow days for a fruitful life." B. Good Health Is to Be Valued 1. Inevitable Decline of Limbs "In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow down; when the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows grow dim." (3) Believer's Study Bible, p. 905: 12:3 "In this section there is a graphic description of the decline of life, those years following the time of youth and young adulthood. The gradual decay creeping over the body, which is the dwelling place of the spirit, is depicted in the figure of a house and its parts. The keepers' of the house are the arms; the strong men' are the legs or bones; the grinders' are the teeth; those that look through the windows' are the eyes." 2. Inevitable Decline of Senses "When the doors are shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low." (4) Believer's Study Bible, p. 905: 12:4 " The doors' which are shut in the streets' is probably a reference to the mouth which 2 / 10
closes with the two lips (cf. Ps. 141:3; Mic. 7:5). This would picture the lips as closed and drawn in because the teeth are gone, leaving the sound of grinding' as the munching and sucking of toothless gums. The voice of the aged man becomes high pitched as a bird; yet the organs of speech ( the daughters of music') fail, or perhaps his hearing is so impaired that the man cannot hear the music." 3. Inevitable Decline of Desire "Also they are afraid of height, and of terrors in the way; when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper is a burden and desire fails." (5) Believer's Study Bible, p. 905: 12:5 "The aged man's white hair is pictured as a full-bloomed almond tree. Though almond blossoms are pink, they turn white as they fall from the tree. Probably the allusion to the grasshopper' is a reference to the aged man himself, who in his aged gait, bent with the years, may exhibit some resemblance to the animal mentioned. This man finds pleasure in nothing, and all of his desires fail. His eternal home' is the grave (9:10), thus ending his bodily existence. There was revealed to Paul, however, a more profound hope (cf. 2 Cor. 5:1-10)." 4. Inevitable End of Life "Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." (6-7) All of the metaphors refer to death. Note the strong statement of eternal spiritual life "and the spirit will return to God who gave it." (7b) Job 1:24 III. Fear and Obey God (Eccl. 12:9-14) A. Perseverance "And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright - words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. And further, my son, be admonished by these." (9-12a) In spite of the rather pessimistic outlook presented (you're dissatisfied, you grow old, you die), "he still taught" (9). If we look down at circumstances we're discouraged; if we look up to Jesus, we're encouraged. 3 / 10
(Heb. 12:1-2) Believer's Study Bible, p. 905: 12:11, 12 "Wise men have much of value to share. The biblical books of wisdom (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon) are of eternal value. Self-appointed philosophers who reject faith in the revelation of God can investigate, ponder and write forever, but will never find the answers for which they are searching (cf. Josh. 24:15)." (2 Cor. 5:8; Col. 2:8-9; Prov. 29:1) B. Obedience "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all." (13) Jesus said, &q uot;if you love me keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Our love for Jesus is not proven by how loud we sing, or by how high we jump but how straight we walk when we hit the ground. Believer's Study Bible, p. 906: 12:13 "In this verse is the author's own statement of the overall theme of the entire book. Amid all the difficulties and inequities of life, as well as in the midst of all life's blessings and prosperity, one duty remains primary and unchanging: man's honor and obedience to the Creator God. This alone will merit and secure happiness and fruitfulness on earth and throughout eternity." & The Way of Wisdom Without God "all is vanity": 4 / 10
Godless learning ===============> cynicism (1:7, 8) Godless greatness =============> sorrow (1:16-18) Godless pleasure ==============> disappointment (2:1, 2) 5 / 10
Godless labor =================> hatred of life (2:17) Godless philosophy =============> emptiness (3:1-9) Godless eternity ================> unfulfillment (3:11) Godless life ==================> depression (4:2, 3) 6 / 10
Godless religion ===============> dread (5:7) Godless wealth ================> trouble (5:12) Godless existence ==============> frustration (6:12) Godless wisdom ===============> 7 / 10
despair (11:1-8) The beginning of wisdom is fear of God, a deeply serious attitude toward the commands of God. GODLY FEAR ==============> FULFILLMENT (12:13 - Chart from Believer's Study Bible, p. 906 C. Realize the Judgment to Come "For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil." (14) Believer' s Study Bible, p. 906: 12:14 "The author closes this book by stating that there is a God who will hold man accountable for his life (cf. 3:17; 8:12, 13: 11:9). Man's life under the sun' (1:3) will be judged from a heavenly perspective. Thus the book truly ends with a positive and encouraging word, because one's accountability before God means his life is of eternal value. In spite of frequent observation and experience of life's apparent futility, the inspired author exhorts his readers to grasp by faith the sovereignty, goodness, and justice of God and to enjoy all the facets of life as His gift. Beings created in the image of God are not insignificant, and life lived unto God is not vanity." I Pet. 2:9; Heb. 4:15-16; Rom. 3:26, 8:28-29 Application 5:10; I Cor. 3:12-18) 1. Enjoy life in the present tense. (John 5:24; 6:27) 2. Learn commitment to you Lord. (Prov. 3:5-6; Ps. 37:4) 3. Live with respect to approaching judgment. (Gal. 5:16-26; 2 Cor. 8 / 10
Note: Brother John made a list of five things Solomon did wrong: lethargy, luxury, learning, liquor, lust, which were all overcome by the Lord of Life. (Rev. 5:8-10; I Pet. 1:3-9) Teaching Packet: Item 19 Poster: "This is Obedience" Biblical Illustrator: p. 50, "An Allegorical End" Notes/Dates: Aug. 20 - Bible Study Promotion Day, Aug. 25 - Teacher Training Track 103, A ug. 25 - CSI Houston - Oasis & Rotunda, Aug. 26 - Share Your Faith Workshop, Sept. 1 - KSBJ/Paul Baloche, Reuben Morgan, Desperation "Night of Praise & Worship, Sept. 3 - Full Schedule (Labor Day Weekend), 9/12-10/24 - Beth Moore Tues. Bible study, Sept. 22 - CSI Houston; Sept. 29-30 Marriage Conf./ Rosbergs, Sept. 30 - First Hope Job Fair; Oct. 7-8 - Luis Palau City Fest, Oct. 27 - CSI Houston, Nov. 10-11 - INSPIRE Conference, Nov. 19 - Christmas Store donations, Nov. 24 - CSI Houston, Nov. 26 - Full Schedule (Thanksgiving), Dec. 2 9 / 10
- MTC Christmas Store, Dec. 8-9 - Christmas Presentation; Dec. 15 - CSI Houston, Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve - (both a.m./ss opt; 5 & 11 pm), Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve (Full Schedule). 10 / 10