The Glory of Joy

The pregnancy with Sam - constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Every week we’d pack up, ready to stay and if it was time for him to come.

Every week we’d come home.

It was like living on the edge.

One thing sustained us:

John 11:4 ESV

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

We saw each step of the way that God was being glorified throughout this tough pregnancy.

In a real tangible way, we came to understand this important truth: that God’s glory will not fail, and this came to be an incredible comfort for us.

This was one of the subtle message of last week and where the preacher picks up this week:

wisdom and righteousness is rooted in knowing God, enjoying his glory, and trusting that his will will prevail.

to put it another way:

The root of righteousness and wisdom is knowing that God’s glory and sovereignty will prevail(9:1)

The preacher decides to show this - by raising the objections that others might raise, particularly:

It is the same for everyone (2-3)

Everyone faces the same fate and this reality can feel haphazard and unkind

- in fact - when he mentions the same event this event has almost a tone of accident or happenstance.

And death can feel this way:

I can easily think of half a dozen tragic deaths - deaths that make no sense.

He just presented the reality that the root of righteousness and wisdom lies in knowing that God’s glory and sovereignty will prevail - he asks the question you might be asking:

If God’s glory and his sovereignty remain over all - then surely:

The righteous

Good

clean

obedient

honest

Surely these are promised a good long life - right? Promised a long life?

In fact some faulty theologies are based off of this presupposition - both semi-Christian theologies and non- Christian theologies - in other words - do good and good will happen to you.

Not so fast says the preacher - we are all going to die one day.

So, how does this all fit together?

How does God’s sovereignty and glory fit together with this sense of randomness of life???

The preacher actually changes his focus, he adds a new hypothesis:

It is better to be alive than dead (4-6)

He who is living has hope:

Then he uses another sharp image.

First we need to understand - the relationship with dogs was different than ours.

As I finished writing this - my dog was lying next to me while I was preparing and petting him.

Moose’s life wasn’t always so cushy - he was a street dog.

His life was very different - he ran around, scavenged for food, and probably had more than one person cuss at him and try and kick him.

This is how dogs were treated in the ancient near east.

They were the lowest of the lows scavengers.

Lion’s on the other hand - are mighty.

But in death - even the mightiest are brought low.

We need to understand another thing: while there are hints of eternity in the Old Testament - often times we see this belief that this life is all there is - especially in wisdom literature.

The preacher works from this presupposition and this doesn’t make him wrong or diminish his wisdom for us:

what he is showing us - is how to live and the gift that life is.

When our lives come to an end, the memories of us fade.

This reality seems harsh but he’s now about to point beyond the reality - of how life seems random - to show us what living in the shadow of God’s glory and sovereignty looks like.

He now asks:

How shall we live in the shadow of death and God’s glory and sovereignty? (7-10)

There’s a weird gnosticism floating around a lot of Christendom today:

that is what we do in this life doesn’t really matter and the physical is unimportant:

this is unbiblical and untrue.

This world was created by God - and God called it very good.

This passage flies in the face of this new gnosticism - and says - no - your life and how you live it and enjoy it matters.

There are these poems that can be read forward and backwards:

Usually forwards is kind of a hopeless tome while backwards is deeply hopeful.

Something like:

I am less than beautiful,

Nobody can convince me that

I am right where I’m meant to be.

(read backwards)

This passage of Ecclesiastes is similar - if we read it quickly, carelessly or from a non-believers point, this passage could come across as hopeless and a permission to do whatever we please.

But if we read it in earnest - this isn’t an invitation to licentiousness it is to recognize the simplicity of doing the will of God:

Everyone wants God to come down and say to them “My friend this is my will - marry this person, move to that place, do this job. etc.”

But this isn’t how it works out.

A theologian said something along this lines (I can’t remember who otherwise, I’d tell you):

Read the Bible, pray, and then do as you please.

This isn’t an invitation to licentiousness - it’s an invitation for God to form you and in that forming - you will be doing God’s will.

This is echoing what the preacher says today:

If you are walking with Christ - seeking his will and holiness, being filled with the holy spirit - God has already approved what you do.

Your call then is to enjoy his good gifts - recognize his sovereignty, and let your life glorify him by giving thanks:

For your bread and wine.

Your comforting clothing - the white clothing isn’t referring to righteousness here but the reality of living in the hot middle east - like here.

The things that give your body comfort

Your spouse if you’re so fortunate to have one.

Verse 10 ends this section with a reminder that you are going to die - so do everything you do with all your might:

We could say this another way: Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Or 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

In other words: in everything you do - do it for the glory of God, knowing this his sovereignty and glory will never fail.

The preacher ends with two final objections

Life can feel very random (11)

The person who seems like they should come out on top - doesn’t.

This happens in life and it seems really unfair - but when an unshakable belief in the glory of God and his sovereignty underpins how you live your life - there is a peace, a joy, and a goodness that you can enjoy every day.

The preach ends with this final statement:

We do not know the time (12)

So this ends up like that poem - if you read it one way - it’s very depressing - we should eat, drink, and be merry.

If we read it as Christians: When we see God’s good sovereign hand, his glory splayed out for us to enjoy:

Food is given for joy.

Clothing for comfort.

Marriage for enjoyment and comfort.

Our work for the glory of God.

The reality is this: we don’t know our time - we don’t know what tomorrow will hold or even what will happen in the next hour or minute.

This can be a scary thing,

I’ve lived most of my life struggling off and on with depression - not knowing what comes next - can make you feel hopeless, helpless it can lead to depression or paralysis.

But the preacher points us towards a better way to live:

Live in the shadow of God’s sovereignty and glory.

Live there - because you know God through Christ - and this gives you joy.

Enjoy his good gifts.

My friends - as you go about your week - know this: God’s sovereignty and glory will never fail - even in your hardships - in your sorrow and pain - even in your tears - God’s sovereignty, God’s glory has not falters. And the God who’s sovereignty and glory never fails is the same God who’s son died for us on the cross, who redeemed us, who made us his. If this is true - what hardship can overtake us? What pain can destroy us?

Know this: God’s sovereignty and glory will never fail.