Ecclesiastes is the record of experiments that Solomon made with life. He tried everything "under the sun" to see if he could find satisfaction for his soul. Everything must be interpreted in that light. The Christian life is in the heavenly places where God is. Man under the sun will have a different view of life from the view of God who is above the sun. We are looking at two different worlds, two different ways of life. Life under the sun is a mundane existence apart from God. It views a future and an eternity without God. The Christian life is a contrast to this in every way because man has been saved by the grace of God and is a display of His grace.
We have seen that many of the teachings of the Book of Ecclesiastes are quite radical. They present the philosophy of man under the sun. They do not present the Christian viewpoint, nor do they represent God's viewpoint. They tell us the inevitable conclusions that are reached by the man under the sun. We must always remember that Solomon is speaking of life apart from God.
Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 9:17 "The quiet words of a wise man are better than the shout of a king of fools."
Key Thoughts: Listen closely for wisdom. When you hear something wise, remember it or write it down. Don't stop seeking God through prayer and obedience.
Read Ecclesiastes Chapter 9
Verses 1-3. We are not to think our searching into the word or works of God useless, because we cannot explain all difficulties. We may learn many things good for ourselves and useful to others. But man cannot always decide who are objects of God's special love, or under His wrath; and God will certainly put a difference between the precious and the vile, in the other world. As far as the sons of men are left to themselves, their hearts are full of evil; and prosperity in sin, causes them even to set God at defiance by daring wickedness. Though, on this side death, the righteous and the wicked may often seem to fare alike, on the other side there will be a vast difference between them.
Verses 4-10. The most despicable living man's state, is preferable to that of the most noble who have died unrepentant. Solomon exhorts the wise and pious to cheerful confidence in God, whatever their condition in life. The meanest morsel, coming from their Father's love, in answer to prayer, will have a peculiar relish. Not that we may set our hearts upon the delights of sense, but what God has given us we may use with wisdom. The joy here described, is the gladness of heart that springs from a sense of the Divine favor.
Verses 5, 10. When Solomon says the dead know nothing, and there is no working, planning, knowing or understanding in death, he is not contrasting life with afterlife, but life with death. Once you die you can't change what you have done or suddenly plan to become a better person. Resurrection to a new life after death was a vague concept for Old Testament believers. It was only made clear after Jesus rose from the dead.
Verse 7. If death is the end of everything, then man is just like an animal. The evolutionist says that man once was an animal, and this man under the sun says man is like an animal now. The end result of both is the same. Man dies like an animal. How different it is for us who know that we have come from the creative hand of God and that we are going back to God?
Verses 7-10. Considering the uncertainties of the future and the certainty of death, Solomon recommends enjoying life as God's gift. He may have been criticizing those who put off all present pleasures in order to accumulate wealth, much like those who get caught up in today's rat race. Solomon asks, "What is your wealth really worth anyway?" It is important to enjoy God's gifts while we are able, because the future is so uncertain. But don't let them be your motivation and source of joy.
Today is a gift, that's why it's called the present. Today is God's gift to you. What you do with your day is your gift to Him.
Verse 9. Solomon wrote a proverb about marriage. "The man who finds a wife finds a good thing; she is a blessing to him from the Lord" (Proverb 18:22). How sad to be married and not appreciate and enjoy this great blessing God has given you.
Verses 11-12. Men's success seldom equals their expectations. We must use means, but not trust to them: if we succeed, we must give God the praise; if crossed, we must submit to His will. Those who put off the great concerns of their souls, are caught in Satan's net, which he baits with some worldly object, for which they reject or neglect the gospel, and go on in sin until they suddenly fall into destruction.
Input does not determine outcome. Life is not a predictable computer. God's patterns are not predictable. It seems that chance often has as much influence on our well-being as human behavior. God's wisdom is far beyond our comprehension.
Romans 11:33-34 "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, no man can fathom his ways! Who has known the mind of the Lord our offered Him any counsel?"
Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?" This was God's response to Job. He wanted Job to understand that He has a bigger plan and that he should patiently trust God.
The winner of the race isn't always the one who runs the fastest out of the starting blocks, but the one who keeps on running. The one who finds God is the one who keeps seeking Him. The one who finds success is the one who keeps obeying God.
Jeremiah 29:13 "When you seek Me with all of your heart, you will find Me." Seeking God with all of your heart is not a one time thing. It isn't simply an altar call. It is a process that begins with prayer, obedience, and discipline.
Verses 13-18. A man may, by his wisdom, bring to pass that which he could never do by his strength. If God be for us, who can be against us, or stand before us? Solomon observes the power of wisdom, though it may labor under outward disadvantages. How forcible are right words! But wise and good men must often content themselves with the satisfaction of having done good, or, at least, endeavored to do it, when they cannot do the good they would, nor have the praise they should. How many of the good gifts, both of nature and Providence, does one sinner destroy and make waste! He who destroys his own soul destroys much good. One sinner may draw many into his destroying ways. See who are the friends and enemies of a kingdom or a family, if one saint does much good, and one sinner destroys much good.
A wisely worded question can do more good than an angry threat. When someone comes up with an answer, in their own mind, how can they reject it?
Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
Verse 15. Who was that man who came and brought deliverance? His name was Wisdom, and Wisdom is a name for Christ. He came to this earth in poverty. Jesus could actually say, "...the foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has no where to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20). He was a poor man. This was a prophetic statement.
Listen closely for wisdom. Our society honors wealth, attractiveness, and success above wisdom. It is sad to see people strive to look important in man's eyes while ruining their relationship with God.
Don't wax your car and forget to take out the trash that is building up inside.
1 Samuel 16:7 "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
We each have a circle of influence. There are people that we speak with on a daily basis. How are you leading them?
There was a father who had some whiskey hidden in his barn. Each morning he would walk out to the barn and drink some. One snowy morning he walked out to the barn. As he was reaching for his whiskey, he heard footsteps. Turning around he saw his son. He asked, "What are you doing here?" His son answered, "I'm following in your footsteps, dad." They boy had been walking in his dads footsteps through the snow. He told his son to go back into the house. Then he took the whiskey bottle and broke it.
There is somebody watching us and following in our footsteps. Whose footsteps are we following?