Sept. 1, 2013
M. Kelly
Eccl. 715-18
Studying verse by verse helps us to not have a proof text mentality. Many use this text as proof that all things are lawful in moderation. We need to realize what Solomon is doing. This a lament from Solomon's observations in verse 15. He is giving the under the sun conclusion. He says if the righteous perish in his righteousness, then we shouldn't be overly righteous or overly wicked. Take all things in balance is his attitude and conclusion. But this is the under the sun view. He is not prescribing how to live but is describing how people live in a crooked world with a crooked worldview.
In chapter 1 it is a grievous task to know there is meaning in life but not able to find it without God. Romans 1 shows us that God has given man over as a judgment to these things.
God would never have allowed evil to enter the creation unless it served His greater and grander purposes. He is not the author of evil.
The one who fears God comes away with God's sovereign control over all.
We are to know clearly that "and we know that all things work together for good..."
God gives us the good days and the bad days and no one can straighten what He has made crooked.
All things are useful in the hands of God.
Ecc. 3:14-15 You can't edit your life. God is in control.
Review:
*God given wisdom is a shelter to us. Wisdom is a protection to us.
**It only protects if used. Intellectual knowledge of truth does no good. It must be used in practical life.
**Eph. 1 These things are available to us. We need to use them
*We have no power to change what God is doing.
**Anger does no good.
**Impatience is no remedy. It doesn't work.
**Daydreaming about a better time doesn't help.
**Frustration doesn't work.
*Strong faith submits to God.
**It's about using circumstances to move us closer to God.
Consider: God has made both the good and the bad. What He has made crooked no man can straighten.
*We don't know the future! Man will not discover anything that will come after. 3:2-8 Contrasting opposites. We know the future is up and down and includes sorrow. Do we deserve anything more? The Christian is the only one who can make sense of these realities.
<Uncertainty is a means God uses to draw us to Him. We should have to run to God when circumstances go bad. We should already be walking with Him.>
Observations from before the review:
1. We are apt to make wrong conclusions
Unbelievers make wrong conclusions. Adam and Eve made many wrong conclusions.
Solomon made some wrong conclusion in verses 15-18.
Are we to trust our fleshly, emotional reactions to things? NO! We should examine our first reactions instead. Are these proper conclusions?
We must take our experiences and filter them through the truth so that our reactions and conclusions will be godly.
2. Life seems unfair.
Solomon is lamenting about this. Everyone agrees life should be better than it is.
God works all things for His purposes and he does so through the actions of men.
Thoughts from the Crook in the Lot by Thomas Watson:
God is wiser than us.
It's a crooked world because God has ordained it.
Marsha
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