> March 3,2013
> M Kelly
> Eccl. 3:16-4:1-3
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> Solomon has spent much of his life in disobedience searching for happiness under the sun.
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> Once in a while he returns to the under heaven perspective.
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> Under the sun~without knowledge of and communion with God. All is vanity, confusing, vexing, an endless stream of events that end in death at the end. No point to it.
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> Under heaven ~ the heavenly perspective.
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> Solomon now is dealing with what he observes under the sun.
> a. In the place of justice, wickedness
> b. oppression
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> Solomon observes under heaven,
> a. everything is appropriate in its time
> b. everything is beautiful in its time
> c. everything is appointed by God
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> An under heaven perspective puts all things under God's control. Our reaction should be to the events of life, "I wonder what God is up to now?"
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> We are made with the idea in our hearts that we are made to last, that there is a reason why we are on this earth at this time.
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> Every event works for good and is appointed for good in our lives.
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> It is a grievous task for man to ache for and look for meaning and not be able to find it.
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> The pain and vanity of this search is go great that Solomon comes to the conclusion that it would be better to be dead or not even born.
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> He congratulates the dead because they don't have to see the pain and sorrow that is so prevalent.
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> Without a redemptive plan, and the promises of God it would be better to not exist!
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> Solomon now goes to the abuse of power, authority and position. He observes the oppression of it. His point is that this is the way the world is and there is no point in living if this is all there is! Death would be better!
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> Interesting, Solomon gives no a solution to this problem.
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> 1. Life is supposed to be better than it is. v. 4:1
> He sees tears and those who are oppressed without comfort. v. the dead are congratulated and the unborn are congratulated because the unborn have never had to see any of this.
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> Why are the oppressed filled with tears? Why is it terrible to see that? It's because life shouldn't be that way! Much of our conversation is about how things should be better than they are.
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> What does an unsatisfied life point to? That life should be satisfying. It's not supposed to be this way. We were made to have full communion with God . We were made to be full and this is why we long to be full! All the unsatisfaction in life is because of the Fall, because of sin.
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> Animals do not have the ability to enjoy relationship with God. They are not equal with man.
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> There are spiritual lessons in all of life. These things prove that there IS a God and that things are supposed to be better but this is God's judgement for sin.
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> Marketing is effective and works because marketers know that life should be better and they try to tell you that they have the answer to make your life better.
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> We seek for life to be better! We congratuate the dead....we say "he is at peace", "his troubles are over now" etc.
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> None of us are exempt from thinking these thoughts that death is better than life! We all battle these things. We must battle to set our minds on things above.
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> Look at Elijah, Jeremiah, Solomon, Jonah....all these and more wished for death. It is a common thing that we must battle.
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> ⛄Marsha⛄
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> But none of these things move me, (not knowing what shall befall me v. 23) neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24 KJV)
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