Enjoy Your Vain Life
What does Solomon mean in 9:1 when he says, "righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God."?
These things being in the hand of God indicates that all of this is under God's power and authority.
Nothing happens outside of God's sovereignty!
According to 9:3, what do all people share in common?
They will die!
Eccl. 9:3 This 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.
Fill in the blanks for our outline of the book of Ecclesiastes: **points for each answer
1.) "Grasping for ------------" (Ch 1-2)
2.) "Grappling with -----------" (3-5)
3.) "Groaning for ---------" (6-8)
4.) "Gaining Spiritual -------" (9-12)
1.) "Grasping for Significance" (Ch 1-2)
2.) "Grappling with Sovereignty" (3-5)
3.) "Groaning for Solutions" (6-8)
4.) "Gaining Spiritual Clarity" (9-12)
According to 9:11, why doesn't the fastest person always win the race, or the strongest win the battle?
"for time and chance overtake them all."
No man is able to perfectly predict what time may bring and what God's providence (chance) may determine.
According to 12:10, is Ecclesiastes depressing?
What would a person be seeking to find Ecc depressing?
Ecclesiastes 12:10 The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.
This book is only depressing to the person who doesn't fear God and seeks fulfillment through earthly pursuits.
What do white clothes and oil symbolize in 9:8?
Eccl. 9:8 Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.
Wearing white garments indicates the attire of celebration, whereas black would represent mourning.
The oil would be a comfort in this climate for dry skin.
The context is enjoying your vain life, so he is teaching us to always be rejoicing.
What does it mean that a live dog is better than dead lion in 9:4?
His point in 9:4 is, "To be alive is to have this hope."
He illustrates this by saying being alive but being the most disgusting mangy scavenger is better than being the king of beasts, but being dead.
If you are alive, there is still hope of transformation in your life!
Compare the two kings in Ecc 10:16-17. Why is one land cursed and the other blessed?
The foolish king doesn't truly care for the people under him. He only cares about his own pleasure and prosperity.
A wise and godly leader puts the needs of those he leads ahead of his own comforts and pleasures. Furthermore, he feasts for the purpose of strength and not a reckless drunken lifestyle.
What does the parable of 9:13-14 mean?
Ecclesiastes 9:14 There was a small city with few men in it and a great king came to it, surrounded it and constructed large siegeworks against it.
Ecclesiastes 9:15 But there was found in it a poor wise man and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
Wisdom sometimes goes unrewarded!
We cannot guarantee that if we live a certain way we will get a certain outcome we desire.
Explain Ecc 12:11 - Ecclesiastes 12:11 ¶ The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
**points for each correct description.
Goads are cattle prods, so Biblical wisdom steers your life in the right direction.
These nails are like tent pegs that secure your life to the truth when you are proficient in knowing and applying the truth.
The one Shepherd is God Himself, so we understand that these are not merely Solomon's words, but the very words of God.
How much of your life does God want you to enjoy? (Ecc. 11:8)
Ecclesiastes 11:8 Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.
What happens to childhood and the prime of life in Ecc 11:10?
They are fleeting. They pass by before you know it.
What does it mean to "Remember your Creator" in Ecc 12:1?
Remember is not to merely acknowledge something to be true, but to live in light of it!
Remembering our Creator means continually living in light of the fact that God created you and you will give an account to Him.
Explain why "Wisdom is valuable but vulnerable to folly" in 9:17-10:1.
Great answers get double points.
9:17-18 - Wisdom is better for ruling a kingdom than ruling by force.
10:1 - The perfumer's oil would be delightful to smell, but when it is filled with dead flies, all the benefits of the oil are entirely nullified. Sin cancels out the benefits of wisdom.
Why does Solomon warn of endless books in 12:12
He is warning his beloved listeners that there is a lot of so-called wisdom in this world and people are going to be writing endless books for anyone who will read.
You need to be wise and selective about what you devote your mind to consuming. Only the scripture comes from One Shepherd and is profitable for your soul.
How do you know that Solomon's exhortation to follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes in Ecc. 11:9 is not a call to pursue sinful desires?
It is a call to pursue what brings you joy in life, but with the constant acknowledgement that you will give an account to God.
"Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things."
Fear God and do whatever you want!
According to Solomon in chapter 12:1-8, Only a proper perspective on ----- provides the true perspective on life.
Consider the theme of these verses.
"Only a proper perspective on death provides the true perspective on life."
What happens to your body and your spirit when you die according to Ecc 12:7?
Ecclesiastes 12:7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
Dust goes back to the earth, speaking of your physical body.
The spirit goes back to God, speaking of your spiritual life.
10:8-11 speaks of various dangers people encounter in work. How does wisdom help in work?
10:10 - Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.
Wisdom works with caution and bring a greater chance of success in work.
What is the chief purpose of man according to Ecclesiastes 12:13?
**Double points if you can quote the verse from memory.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶ The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
What is going to happen to your body as Solomon illustrates in Ecc 12:2-5?
Bonus: Why does this motivate us to remember our Creator?
Your body is declining. Life will increase in suffering and decrease in opportunities for joy.
There is no better time than the present to live in light of your Creator. It only becomes more challenging, not easier!
Why does Solomon emphasize remembering your Creator "in the days of your youth"?
Solomon is concerned that you would waste your youth on foolish pursuits.
Use the best years of your life in joyful service to your Creator and you will not be disappointed at what life and eternity bring!
Ecclesiastes 12:8 echoes Ecc 1:2:
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”
What does this verse mean?
Solomon is not saying everything is vain and there is no point to anything.
He spoke of hevel as the lack of earthly fulfillment, the brevity of life, the lack of justice, the pursuit of worldly things.
Surely the primary idea here after a chapter on the pains of old age, he is speaking of the brevity of life and lack of fulfillment in this life.
According to Ecc 10:12-15, what body part distinguishes a fool from a wise man?
Bonus: Someone on your teach quote Ephesians 4:29 from memory.
His lips - his speech.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
What does it mean to fear God?
Double points if you use the Bible to show me what it means.
This “fear” is not an attitude of terror or dread. It is instead a commitment of the total being to trust and believe the living God. The one who fears God dreads nothing more than God’s disfavor. Such a worshiper wants nothing more than to know the living God intimately and submit to His will.
Deut 10:12-13, Psalm 130:3-4...