Ecclesiastes 8 - Notes

Purpose:

TO better understand reality in accordance with truth so that we can live in greater harmony in God’s created order.

Doctrines:

Sovereignty of God (8:17)

Original Sin (8:11)

Fear of the Lord (8:12)

C.f. 3:14; 5:7; 7:18; 8:12–13

Observations throughout Ecclesiastes:

“vanity” is used 38 times

Good/goodness - 51 times

Fear of God - 6 times

Eccesiastes begins with all things in life are vanity and ends with a charge to fear God as being the duty of all men

The flow of Ecclesiastes is like a piece of cloth being woven together with both horizontal and vertical strands. Horizontal strands point to a secular view of life rejecting God as He is revealed in Sacred Scripture. Vertical representing a Biblical view of God which gives value to life in this world and time.

Wisdom, knowledge, joy - 2:26

Food, Drink, Pleasure in Working - 3:13

Wealth and possessions - 5:19;6:2

Ability to enjoy God’s gifts - 9:7

The book of Ecclesiastes is like a paining with a dark background and elements that naturally draw one’s eyes to the figures in the light. A God-centered view of life is seen vividly contrasted to a secular, godless view.

Exegesis:

v1 - Wisdom from above exalts, honors, is a graceful garland, and gives a beautiful crown upon a Christian’s head(c.f.Prov.4:8,9)

v2 - Possibly a reference to God promising that David’s throne will be established forever (c.f 2 Samuel 7:16)

v.2-5 - A king reigns in sovereignty over his people.

Obeying the law generally results in no evil from the government(c.f.Rom.13)

Wise people recognize and willfully submit to authority

Wise people discern both the kairos moments in time and the just and right ways of a matter

v.6-9 -

Human beings are deeply anxious and troubled about the uncertainty of the future

Man is not sovereign or the master of his own destiny and does not number his own days.

Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay

V.10 - The memory of the wicked is quickly forgotten (c.f Prov.10:7 ; Eccl.9:5)

v.11-13 -

Delayed justice reveals the depravity of man in moral anarchy

The Bible does not describe the quality of a person’s life based on what he owns, but who he fears

Sinners may seek the fountain of youth as to delay the inevitability of death, but it never ends well for them. Why?

Because they don’t fear God.

People spend their whole life fearing many things, but not the one thing they should fear and that is God.

v.14

People do not always get what they deserve on this side of heaven.

v.15

A person who is satisfied in God finds value in his food, drink, and work. A discontent heart does not find a quench to their thirst for more. (c.f. 2:24-25)

God wants His people to find joy in the face of injustice in this life

v.16-17

We are finite in our knowledge, God is infinite. We are limited in our understanding, God knows the very depth of all knowledge perfectly at all times!

Outline: