Today’s passage: Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

Helpful thoughts:

• The Preacher points out that even in the courts of this world, injustice can be found.
• God is going to judge, and His judgment is perfect.
• Solomon perceived, with God out of the picture entirely, we are no different than the animals.  Charles Darwin and millions of others have come to the same conclusion.
  • He shows the sadness of the idea that since we cannot see and verify that the soul of man has gone “upward” (The immortality of the soul), man could not have anything more to look forward to than any animal.
    • By the way, check out Proverbs 30:4 and John 3:13.  We do not look for best-selling books about “first-hand” accounts of going to heaven and back for proof, when the Bible says that does not and will not happen.  Only Jesus has been to heaven and then come to earth.  Only four prophets/apostles were given visions of heaven.  Go to the Scriptures to learn about heaven, not unbiblical (Both in description and in disobedience) accounts of people’s, at best, dreams…and at worst, lies.

Questions to consider:

1. How amazing is it that God’s Word was saying, about 2,700 before man actually started believing, that mankind would be seen like no more than animals if they removed God from the picture?
2. Why is there injustice on this earth?  How does the knowledge of God’s final justice help us to endure injustices we see or experience?

Today’s passage: Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

Helpful thoughts:

• The beauty of the poetry from verses 1-8 is dashed by the blunt statement of verse 9.  But, there’s hope.
• God gifted man by putting “eternity in his heart”.  We know that there is more than this life.  We cannot control eternity or bring it about, but it gives us perspective.
  • Perspective relative to our time and the temporary nature of our “good” and “bad” times.
  • Perspective relative to our lack of control and authority  and God’s absolute control and authority.
• The final portion of verse 15, “God seeks what has been driven away” leads into the next passage concerning God’s judgement.  God will recall all that has passed to give an account.
• When we fear God (Hold Him in reverence), we can view life as a gift and enjoy it, trusting that He will make everything right.
• When we fear/focus on the here and now (Ignoring God), we view life as a possession to be gained and are burdened by the prospect of eternity and a higher power.  This results in idolatry.

Questions to consider:

1. Under the sun, we view people who are older as having more experience and therefore wiser.  How can our relationship with Christ and belief in God’s sovereignty over all eternity give us great wisdom, regardless of our age?
2. What things might you try to control?  What fears drive you to this attempt?  What would repentance/surrender look like?
3. How does a high view of God (Along with a humble view of self) and a delight in Jesus Christ help us to enjoy life?

Today’s passage: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Helpful thoughts:

• Verses 1-8 are the “Under heaven” part of the story.  The “Above heaven” part will come next.  Hope will come in the next passage.
• These verses are filled with beautiful poetry that is celebrated by believers and unbelievers alike for its artistry.  It is meant to remind us of our limitations.  It illustrates the vanity (Striving after the wind) of the first two chapters.  This poem is not a celebration.

Questions to consider:

1. Parts of this poem we may have some occasional control over.  Parts of it, we do not.  What is that constant element in this poem that we cannot control?  What are the occasional elements in this poem we cannot control?
2. Have you ever heard the saying, “If you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig”?  What are the dangers of being positive about everything?  Should we be content with the beauty of the poem, or should we be yearning for something of substance?

Today’s passage: Ecclesiastes 2:18-26

Helpful thoughts:

• The inheritance Solomon would have left behind would have been for the next king (His son!), for his children and for the benefit of Israel, but he found that to be a vanity and evil.
• If a person gives their all to their possessions on this earth, there will only be pain in not feeling fulfilled or getting to keep anything after death.
• Enjoyment is a gift from God.  There is no enjoyment of anything (Temporal or eternal) apart from Him.

Questions to consider:

1. How does surrendering to God’s lordship make it possible for us to experience joy?  Why is it impossible to experience joy outside of His will?
2. How would Solomon’s view of leaving behind his possessions to others change if he was putting God first?  In what ways would that give him joy?
3. What does the phrase “Find enjoyment in his toil” acknowledge still exists?  Are we only able to have enjoyment when everything is going perfectly?  When will everything go perfectly?

Today’s passage: Ecclesiastes 2:1-17

Helpful thoughts:

• Solomon pursued pleasure in alcohol, foolishness, properties, building wealth, artistry, entertainment, sex and more.  He took for himself whatever he wanted, and did more than we could ever accomplish.  None of it satisfied him.
• Solomon pursued his wisdom, and though it was better than chasing folly, it still didn’t satisfy and he knew death was coming either way.
• The result of Solomon’s “experiment”…He hated life.  Solomon was complaining.
• Remember, the Bible is honest.  Solomon is revealing his heart.  He was in sin and was dissatisfied.

Questions to consider:

1. What is consistent of Solomon’s pursuit of folly and his pursuit of wisdom?  Who was he doing it for?  What was his goal in either pursuit? (Compare Solomon’s motivations in 1 Kings 3:6-9 with today’s passage.)
2. In our pursuit of folly, what is it that we actually want?  What motivates us?  What are we hoping to get/gain?
3. in our pursuit of wisdom, what is it that we actually want? What motivates us? What are we hoping to get/gain? (As Solomon expressed, there is a wrong way to pursue wisdom.)
4. What motivation will result in joy and contentment?

Today’s passage: Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Helpful thoughts:

• The Preacher gave his heart (His inner man) to experience and consider all that is done on this earth.
• Whenever the word vanity is used, the Hebrew word could also be translated as a “vapor” or “mere breath”. (James 4:14)
• When the Preacher says, “To know wisdom and to know madness and folly”, the knowledge goes beyond reading or study.  Solomon sought to experience all wisdom, madness and folly.  He participated in madness and folly.  He found earthly gain in none of these things, from wisdom to folly.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is the business of this earth that we have been given “unhappy”?  What made it that way in the first place?
2. Why can’t man stop the Curse on this earth?
3. In what arena does wisdom and knowledge only result in vexation and sorrow? (Hint: Verse 13)

Helpful resources:

As we read through the book of Ecclesiastes together, I will also be reading this book;

Living Life Backward: How Ecclesiastes Teaches Us to Live in Light of the End by David Gibson.

Today’s passage: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

Helpful thoughts:

• Solomon is the “Preacher” and author of this book.
• These first eleven verses serve as an introductory summary to the theme of the book.
  • There is nothing for man to gain (Take final and full possession of, or control over) on this earth.
  • Life is not a possession to be gained, but a gift to be enjoyed.
• Our life will come and go, time will continue on, mankind will always want “more”, and history will repeat itself without anyone even realizing it.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is it so important for us to remember that we will never “conquer” life under the sun?  What does the acknowledgement of our inability to truly be in control do for our perspective as it relates to God, eternity, and this life?
2. What perspective has the Preacher not yet brought into his preaching?  Where is God?  How does this omission help us to discern the arena within which vanity persists?
3. How is it true that there is never anything “new”?  In what way(s) is the technology of our day and mankind’s interaction with it, “Been already in the ages before us?”