Ecclesiastes 7:1-4
M. Kelly
August 4, 2013
This our worldview. It is our perspective. It is a hopeful book because it encourages us to look to the truth, God, himself, rather than our own desires.
The Bible is a book of realities. We are not being led by God through paradise. We are being led through a darkened fallen world to paradise. This book is our visitor's guide to this world.
1. Though something be very good there may be something better. The operative idea in this section is the word better. We see the word better twice in the opening proverbs and it's used four times in our text this morning.
Proverbs 21:22
V. 1 he points out two situations that are better then another situation. Good name vs precious ointment and day of death v. day of birth.
Death is more instructive than birth. Birth is joyful but it all leads to the same place---death! Do we think much about the day we were born? No! Death is the pervading thought.
2. To go to a funeral is more instructive than to go to the house of laughter. What does death mean for the living? There is more instruction for our lives in thinking about our dying day than thinking about our birth. A funeral places our hearts in the right direction.
It's not wrong to laugh and have fun. It's just that contemplating death is more useful.
The house of mourning is not more pleasant than the house of laughter. It's more instructive. Solomon is not dealing with what makes us feel good but what is good for our souls.
3. Our heart needs instruction. v.3 Our hearts need to be put right and need to be better situated. More understanding of who God is and what He is doing. We need to live according to reality, not according to where ever our hearts want to go.
Sorrow is useful. Better than laughter in that it is more instructive. There is a time for everything and there is a time to laugh. Sorrow shows us our expectations of this life are too high. It shows us we are not in control.
Don't despise being depressed as long as we are depressed about the right things and we make use of our depression!
v.3 we can be sad because of earthly circumstances yet our hearts can be in the right place, rejoicing in the truth of God. Make use of your depression and sorrow! This is what Solomon is doing!
Sorrow should always point us to the evil of sin. A godly sorrow leads to repentance. The key to growth is to get the most out of life and these changing seasons.
4. Let us meditate on being in the house of mourning rather than the house of laughter. v.4 The mind of the wise is thinking about the day of our death....the house of mourning. Better to day dream about death because it is more instructive. It teaches us how to live.
5. Our souls are more important than our flesh. Our flesh doesn't like sorrow. These things are a great mercy of God or else we love this life too much. The pains and sorrows of life are not to be endured but to be made use of. That which is best for us is what is best for our souls.
Phil. 1: ? For me to live in Christ and to die is gain....
For those outside of Christ it would be better to not have been born. This world is heaven for the ungodly so to depart out of it is an entrance to Hell. Their dying day is not better than their birth. It would have been better for them if they had not been born!
The exchange that the Christian makes at death....
1. A change of place....residence. Eternity is set in our hearts. 2 Cor. 5:1-5
2. It's a change of company. We dwell with fallen people. Then we will dwell with just men made perfect!
We change company with ourselves...because we won't have to dwell with our sinful selves.
Eph 6:11, 12 We will exchange that full armour because we won't have any enemies then.
3. Death is a change of employment. The work of the believer lies in praying, wrestling, fighting against the devil etc. Warfare is our employment now. We receive a crown of glory in exchange.
4. Death is a change of enjoyments. We have a dim view of God. We do not enjoy him as we should. It's mixed with darkness, but in death we will enjoy the true wedding feast with a clear view of our Lord.
1 Cor. 13:11-12 Here we enjoy the promises of God but in heaven we will enjoy the reality.
1 John 3:2 We will enjoy God perfectly then.
Psalm 30 Up and down experiences of human life.
1 Thess 4:18-18 Comfort each other with these words....we are to think about what awaits us in heaven.
5. We change a decaying body for an everlasting body! We will be built to last! No need to worry about disease then!
6. We exchange a world of cares and tears for everlasting peace! Death is a rest from the trouble of our particular callings in this life. There is an ultimate Sabbath Day. Rev. 14:13 Ps. 90
1 Cor. 15:55-end of chapter
Preaching is not a sales pitch....not selling a worldview with options. These are not optional truths. Death is a reality....God's reality and we need to see it as part of our reality. It's appointed for all men to die. Let us learn from the house of mourning.
It is the hand of God who decides when to take us out of this world.
The present life is not life. It is the way to Life!
We need not fear death if by grace we have exchanged our righteousness for Christ's righteousness.
🌞🌻Marsha🌻🌞
He is the Α and Ω and everything in between. Îστιν ÏŒ Α Ω. (Revelation 22:13)
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http://middings.blogspot.com
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