Comfort Amidst Reality

Ecclesiastes Study, 2024

Series Title: The Pursuit of Purpose

Message #9

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22.

ETS: Solomon reflected on the frailty and unfairness of life.

ESS: We can be comforted even amidst the frailty and unfairness of life.

OSS: [Devotional] {I want the hearers to trust God and worship Him.}

PQ:

How can we be comforted amidst the reality that life is frail and unfair?

UW: Ways

Intro.:

TS: Let us together consider a few ways we can find comfort amidst these realities.

We recognize God as judge. [vv. 16-17]

Life can seem unfair. Full of wickedness.

Perhaps upon this realization one can feel a sensation of despair and sense the urge to take matters into their own hands.

However, the realization of Solomon was that God was/is judge. This means that he (Solomon) was not and neither are we.

Thus, we can be comforted amidst the reality of such by recognizing that we are not the judge— we should live rightly and let God deal with that which is not right.

We commit to enjoying life. [vv. 18-22]

Reading these verses causes the reader to recall Genesis—the account of creation as well as the fall and the curse/consequences thereof.

Romans 5:12. The result of the fall of man is death— the same fate as the animals/beasts.

Reading these verses also causes the reader to realize and grasp the reality that life is frail.

As such, Solomon hopes to instill in the reader the importance and seriousness of life and encourage the reader to enjoy life, living it to the fullest degree of trust in God— not placing too much merit in the things of this life, but realizing life as a gift in and of itself.

Reflective Questions:

[1] Regarding such realities, Let’s consider Psalm 90:12 “12 Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.”

[2] Would you consider the following with me?

Confess to God: life is a gift; life is short; life is sometimes unfair.

Commit to God: to use your time wisely; to trust Him throughout all of life.