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> Eccl. 7:15-29
> M.Kelly
> Sept. 16, 2013
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> Ecclesiastes gives us the straight scoop. This world isn't what it is supposed to be yet God is sovereign over all.
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> Solomon is vexed. He has spent his whole life in this pursuit. Until he applies the doctrine of God's sovereignty he doesn't see that life has any meaning. He needs to come to a proper perspective. We also need to come a proper perspective.
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> The doctrine of God's sovereignty is connected to every other truth in our lives.
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> God only does that which is loving and sanctifying for his people. We need to look at our circumstances through the lens of God's sovereignty. We often make wrong conclusions because making wrong conclusions is what we do just like gravity makes something fall to the ground. We must be slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to hear because of this.
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> Eve's conclusion after hearing the facts from God and the serpent was wrong. Adam's reaction was to hide. Both were wrong. These are our parents and we do the same.
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> Frustration is a judgement against mankind due to sin that has entered the world. Salvation is from the final wrath of God on the day of judgment not from frustration. We need to apply Scriptures now at all times to help us with our responses to things. God is working all things together for good to those who are the called according to His purpose.
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> We must humble ourselves in order to apply God's wisdom. God's word is humbling. We must realize we do not have any wisdom within ourselves. It takes wisdom and humility to realize that we have cursed others. True wisdom is always humbling. It always exalts Christ, not ourselves.
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> V. 18 the fear of The Lord requires wisdom. Faith is humility. No man is born with humility. The Holy Spirit works humility/faith in us.
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> Wisdom reflects, dwells, contemplates. It takes time to think about the many times we have cursed others v. 22
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> Wisdom reflects on one's own sins. Bitterness reflects on the sins of others.
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> Wisdom sees oneself as inconsistent. This ought to humble us.
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> Wisdom requires patience and charity in dealing with others. V. 21
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> Our criticisms often indicate more of what is wrong with us then what is wrong with others!
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> We must know ourselves and work on ourselves. The sins of others against us are to be used for our spiritual advantage! We need to remember what Christ went through. It should always point to Christ. v. 21
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> The Bible deals with what should be and what is!
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> 1. Wisdom is hard.
> V. 23-24 Solomon tested all these things and said he would be wise but it was far from him. He says wisdom is hard to find. He is talking of what he has experienced. Notice how active Solomon has been in his quest for wisdom. He has sought it and he spent a life time at it and he didn't find it until the end of his life. He is revealing frustration in his quest to be wise! He bemoans the fact that he did not follow God. This is why he mentions the women. He has found that people are evil. He laments the realities of a fallen world. It's only an expression of his frustration in his search for wisdom. Wisdom is hard because it only comes by revelation. God is the revealer of wisdom. Man can't find it on his own. Wisdom can't be learned from a Book apart from the reality of those truths being applied to experience.
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> Solomon talks about his sinful experience with women. v. 26-28 Solomon learned profound wisdom and truth during his life time of searching for it in all the wrong places! God uses all things for our good! This does not excuse sin, but rather shows us God's sovereignty over it in that He uses it for our good to teach us wisdom and truth.
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> Solomon had a 1000 women and could not find wisdom in any of them. Later he says in Song of Solomon that we should find joy in the woman of your life....one!
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> 2. Men are disappointing. Others will disappoint us and we will disappoint others.
> Solomon is disappointed in himself. He searched for wisdom in all the wrong places. He is disappointed in others....men and women. v. 29. He is frustrated with people. He is frustrated with himself. Is it any surprise that others are frustrated with us and that we are frustrated with ourselves? Solomon's biggest disappointment was with people and is this not true of us? We are each the "other people"...others are disappointed with us!
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> All are frustrated in relationships with people and this is a judgement on sin that we must deal with. It's the nature of sin and inconsistent man. It's a judgement. We will never be disappointed in God.
> When others disappoint us, let it make us remember how disappointing we must be. Not to lead us to despair, but to help us to have patience with others.
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> 3. Sin promises pleasure but is more bitter than death.
> How many think their happiness lies in houses and women? God will not bless sin. Solomon is not saying there are no virtuous women. He is simply telling us that looking for fulfillment and wisdom down that road doesn't work.
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> 4. We must not give up our search for wisdom just because it is hard.
> We could go down the road of despair. It it a wasted past that is our focus, or our glorious future? Is it a wasted meaningless life behind us or have we learned and gained a heart of wisdom from it? God is preparing us for heaven. The means that He uses are mysterious. His ways are beyond finding out.
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> 5. Our wisdom is limited.
> All things work together for good, but we don't know the details of how all things fit together. We can only go so far.
> A learned ignorance....it can only go so far. We must admit that we don't have all the answers and wait for God to provide the answers.
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> The more we know we should realize how little we know.
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> ***God does not multitask. He is everywhere as if that is the only place He is. We all have God's full attention as if we are the only concern on His mind. When we multitask our mind jumps from one thing to another and our full attention isn't given to any one thing. Not so with God!***
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> Ps 139 Even before there is a word on my tongue, O Lord you know it. (paraphrase mine)
> Job 5
> Ps 145:
> Romans 11 from Him, to HIm and through HIm are all things
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> 6. Understanding death is more important than understanding life.
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> Ps. 90:11-12
> Teach us to number our days...
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> ***Understanding our death and the death of Christ is more important to understand the meaning of this life.***
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> v. 29 man needs salvation. There is a judgement to come.
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> 12:13 fear God and keep His commands....God will bring every act to judgement whether good or evil.
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> Knowing our own wretchedness only brings despair without knowing about Christ's death and resurrection.
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> The meaning of life is death. We will all die and there is a judgement to come.
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> Let us number our days that we might present to God a heart of wisdom.
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> Marsha
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> Sent from my iPod
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