This study comes from Reading Plan week 48, Ecclesiastes 9-12. Group Handout: Other studies from this week's reading: |
Introduction If Christians have to live with an eye towards the future, knowing that the goal is to live in eternity with Christ, is there any possibility that some good can be experienced during this life? We have a long list of the things we’re supposed to avoid – where’s the authorized list of “acceptable” things? Surprisingly, the Bible does not teach that the best solution is to remove one’s self and live in complete isolation, but to live “wisely”. That is, to learn and discern what are the things of God to which we should be devoted versus the things of this world intended to distract and cause us to fall. The writer of Ecclesiastes has made a lengthy assessment of these things in the preceding chapters and is now presenting a sort of summary of his findings. |
1For I have taken all this to my heart and explain it that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God. Man does not know whether it will be love or hatred; anything awaits him. |
[Read v.1] Q: What does the writer mean by “all this”? And why might it be significant that he mentions he has taken it “to my heart”? A: “All this” is a summary of his findings expounded in the previous chapters, the difference between living according to God’s ways versus man’s own ways. Mostly he stated that his search was the result of applying his mind to the issues. It’s therefore significant that now he provides the results in the context of the heart, the one place from which spiritual change and wisdom truly emanate. So his answer is not purely intellectual, but spiritually based. Q: Why is it comforting that the deeds of righteous men “are in the hand of God”? A: The writer has previously (and exhaustively) explained the futility of earthly activities and accomplishments by those giving no personal regard to God. Whereas they ultimately fail to produce anything for them, the earthly activities of the righteous – because they’re directed by God – accomplish much for them in this life and the one to come. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
A: No, this is the writer’s way of stating that God is sovereign over all the deeds and events that will occur in a righteous person’s life, such events covering the entire spectrum of love to hate, hardship to blessing, positive to negative. Point: For the person truly trusting that they’re in God’s hands and protected regardless of the circumstances, this should be a comfort. There’s a big difference between not knowing what life will bring without trust in God and not knowing what life will bring yet trusting in Him. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”
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| 2It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and for the unclean; for the man who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good man is, so is the sinner; as the swearer is, so is the one who is afraid to swear. 3This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead. 4For whoever is joined with all the living, there is hope; surely a live dog is better than a dead lion. 5For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten. 6Indeed their love, their hate and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun. | [Read v.2-6] Q: What is the “reality check” the writer is trying to induce regarding this present life? A: Everyone, whether they are ultimately judged to be righteous or wicked, will die – what he states as “one fate”. Just as there is no amount of wickedness that can change this fact, so there is no amount of righteousness that can change it either. Q: In v.3, why does the writer express this as “an evil”? A: This is actually a second, continuing thought based on v.1-2. It’s a fact that “there is one fate for all men”, but the evil is when MEN apply this truth to mean, “We’re all going to die, so why bother to live righteously? What does it matter if I choose to live wickedly?” They don’t live as if they’ll be responsible for their actions in this life nor as if there actually is an eternal life to follow. Point: The writer continues in v.3 to explain that this kind of reasoning is actually “insanity...in their hearts throughout their lives” because it doesn’t change the truth of what will happen to them upon their death. To choose to ignore the consequences of life after death is neither rational nor productive. Q: In v.5-6, is the writer actually saying there is no life after death? A: This is his way of stating that the only chance one has to make things right for the next life is by living according to God’s will and ways in THIS life. Once they pass from this life to the next, the opportunity to change the outcome has vanished. (Some religions and philosophies think otherwise, that there will be a “second chance”.) Q: So what is the only advantage of activities performed “under the sun” because of the things we accomplish in this present life? A: They only have an advantage as long as they are in concert with God’s will and ways, providing assurance that because we acted solely within His guiding hand so that we will enjoy the rewards of the next life. |
7Go then, eat your bread in happiness and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works. 8Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head. 9Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given to you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun. 10Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. |
[Read v.7-10] Q: Does it make a difference that every item listed is qualified with “your”, such as “your bread”, “your wine”, “your works”, etc.? A: This is the biblical term that means you’ve obtained something legally and within the limits of God’s Law, as opposed to ill-gotten gains through theft, fraud, deception, etc. This is especially strong in that white clothes represent purity from sin and righteousness, and oil for spiritual anointing. Q: So what is the reward for this life? A: To enjoy in moderation the basic things provided through the course of our successful efforts to maintain a right relationship with God. Q: In v.10, is the writer stating that the only thing after this life is nothingness or some kind of vacuum? A: No. This is a figure of speech meant to convey that we need to do everything possible to carry out God’s commands in this life, knowing that in doing so He will take care of all our concerns for the next as well. Application: Do you know someone that doesn’t want to “get involved too much” because they’re worried about damaging their future? How well do you recognize that your future is determined by how you live according to God’s will in the present? |
| 11I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all. 12Moreover, man does not know his time: like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare, so the sons of men are ensnared at an evil time when it suddenly falls on them. | [Read v.11-12] Q: How might an unbeliever interpret these verses? A: They might say something to the effect that nothing is guaranteed and that bad luck or “fate” can prevent even the best from attaining their objective. Q: How might a Believer interpret these verses? A: Nothing occurs as the result of man’s personal strength or will because “time and chance” are controlled by God to produce HIS desired outcome. Q: How is the “Believer’s interpretation” reinforced by v.12? A: What in this life unbelievers call “bad luck” or “chance” or “fate” will ultimately be revealed to have been God’s trap (“net” or “snare”) to hold them accountable for their choices. Application: If we believe God is in control whether there’s “good” luck or “bad”, whether it’s by “chance” or not when it comes to the lives of unbelievers, why don’t we believe as strongly when it comes to our own life? Is our trust and faith undeterred by circumstances, or do we avoid facing the fact that God is working by blaming other “coincidental” factors? |
| 13Also this I came to see as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed me. 14There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it. 15But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man. 16So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded. 17The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. 18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. | [Read v.13-18] Q: What are possible meanings and applications of this story? [Encourage group discussion; suggestions provided below for facilitating that discussion.]
Observation: Is it possible that there have been/are/will be times that the “small city” refers to the church/Christians, the “great king” to Satan, and the “poor wise man” as a type of Christ? In other words, that there is great attentiveness to Christ in times of extreme stress or spiritual persecution, but a tendency to wander from His Word during relative times of peace and blessing? (It sort of mirrors the historical cycle of revival.) Q: What is the dramatic contrast between the small city in v.13-17 and the “one sinner” in v.18? A: Just as it only took a single wise man to overcome the crisis by God’s wisdom, it only takes acceptance of a single instance of sin to overcome something good. Point: A single righteous man overcoming overwhelming evil is found in the examples of Noah, David and Goliath, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego, and David. A single sinner destroying much is found in the example of Achan (Joshua 7:16-26), Micah making his own idol and anointing his own priest (Judges 17-18), Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews (Esther), Absalom’s revolt against his father David, etc. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
A: Until this point, the examples used in the discussion might be called “great people”, people who by their great, personal strength and will were attempting to establish works in their own name. At the very end is a discussion of “little people”, those who will never be recognized or remembered for anything in the course of this life. It’s an extension of the “one fate awaits all” statement, showing that whether one is great or small, known or obscure, esteemed or loathed, the ONLY thing that is going to matter in the very end is the degree to which you lived according to God’s will and ways. |
Consider the application to this discussion of this parable of Christ: While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return. And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.
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Overall Application
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