A God-Fearing Life

Welcome & Turn to Ecc. Ch. 8

Opening Prayer

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Introduction

Hook: Thinking of GOOD LIFE CHOICES— IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION— THE END of THINGS...

BAD HABITS RARELY KILL IMMEDIATELY:

BAD DIET

SMOKING

DRINKING

LOOKING @ THESE THINGS PRESENTLY—SEEM OKAY.

Consideration: What is THEIR END?

END of STORY = MORE IMPORTANT than PRESENT.

--------

Transition: SAME THING APPLIES SPIRITUALLY

SOMETIMES LIFE = UNFAIR

GOING GOOD for UNGODLY...

GOING POORLY for GODLY...

Transition: TEACHER —SHOWING US IMPORTANCE of WALKING WISELY in the FEAR of GOD

3X REASONS/WAYS to WALK WISELY in FEAR of GOD...

BEGIN W/ PASSAGE.... CH. 8 (V1-13)

🐢🐢🐢 --- 30 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Passage Reading

Read Ecclesiastes 8:1-13

1 Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.

2 I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.

3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.

4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.

6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.

7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?

8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.

9 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.

11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.

13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

Recap/Context

Last Wk: WALKING WISELY

BAD THINGS HAPPENING to GOOD PEOPLE??

AVOID EXTREME RESPONSES

DON’T THROW YOURSELF to WICKED LIVING

DON’T THINK YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL SPARE YOU.

—> WALK MIDDLE ROAD in FEAR of GOD <—

Transition: TODAY—TEACHER SHARES SIMILAR THOUGHTS on WALKING WISELY in GOD’S FEAR— A FEW PRACTICAL WAYS...

BEGIN LOOKING @ VS. 1— HELPFUL TRANSITIONAL STATEMENT on WISDOM

🐢🐢🐢 --- 27 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Main Points

1. The Benefit of Wisdom (v. 1)

8:1 “Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.”

Explanation:

NO ONE LIKE WISE—

WISDOM HAS LIMITATIONS—BUT IT’S HELPFUL—

TRANSFORMS the COUNTENANCE!

--------

WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE BEGIN W/ FEAR of GOD

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV)

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

NO WISDOM/KNOWLEDGE APART from GOD

PREVIOUSLY—THEOLOGY WAS QUEEN of SCIENCES

--------

“ALL TRUTH = GOD’S TRUTH.”

GRAVITY = LAW of SCIENCE

GOD MADE IT.

ALL SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY—SO LONG as its ACTUALLY TRUE & NOT MERE THEORY = GOD’S…

… HE FORMED & FASHIONED IT ALL.

FEAR of GOD = BEGINNING of ALL WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE

Transition: TRUE WISDOM BEGINS W/ FEAR of GOD— & IT SHAPES HOW WE LIVE...

TEACHER = GOING to GIVE us a FEW EXAMPLES...

FIRST = RELATIONSHIP to STATE/AUTHORITY

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 2

🐢🐢🐢 --- 24 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

2. Earthly Obedience (vv. 2-5)

Subpoint A: Obey the King (v. 2)

8:2“I say: Keep the king’s command, because of God’s oath to him.”

Explanation:

#1 WALKING WISELY: TEACHER BEGINS W/ CIVIL OBEDIENCE...

ADDRESSING PUPILS SERVING in KING’S COURT...

--------

Reason: GOD’S OATH

CONFUSING HEBREW— OATH of GOD

OATH to GOD.... or GOD’S OATH?? —TRANSLATIONS DIFFER

--------

PAUL— ROMANS CH. 13— OFFERS HELPFUL POINT:

Romans 13:1–2 (ESV)

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

TRUE in ROMAN EMPIRE—WICKED EMPERORS

NEBUCHADNEZZAR (BABYLON) CYRUS (PERSIA) = CALLED GOD’S SERVANTS!!

--------

WOULD MAKE SENSE—GOD PUTS RULERS in PLACE (OATH) — THEREFORE OBEY.

WISDOM in OBEDIENCE to STATE,,, STEMS from SPIRITUAL CONVICTIONS

Camper Inspection Dilemma

--------

CITIZENSHIP in HEAVEN DOESN’T RESULT in CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE—UNLESS it’s in CONTRADICTION W/ OUR FAITH...

APOSTLE PETER:

BE SUBJECT

ALSO—OBEY GOD RATHER than MEN.

Application: CHRISTIANS OBEY LAWS of LAND in FEAR of GOD—

— UNLESS THEY DIRECTLY CONTRADICT OUR FAITH.

Transition: TEACHER = GOING to GIVE a FEW DETAILS of OBEDIENCE...

----------------

----------------

Subpoint B: Examples of Obedience (vv. 3-5)

Ecclesiastes 8:3–5 (ESV)

3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.

(V3) BE HUMBLE,, READY to FOLLOW—NOT EAGER to EVADE

Connection: We AREN’T SUBJECTS in FRONT of KING—NEVERTHELESS OUR HEART SHOULD REMAIN the SAME

OUR EARTHLY OBEDIENCE = SIGN of OUR HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP,,

DISOBEDIENCE CAN BE COSTLY

--------

(V4) PRAGMATICALLY,, ACKNOWLEDGE SUPREME AUTHORITY— WE’RE SUBJECTS of EARTHLY STATE...

4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?”

DISOBEDIENCE BRINGS PROBLEMS

--------

(V5a) KEEPING COMMANDS/LAWS = GO WELL for YOU...

5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.

WON’T FACE EVIL/DISASTER...

(V5b) WISE HEART— KNOWS HOW to RESPOND UPRIGHTLY...

ALL of THIS = WISE LIVING in FEAR of GOD...

Transition: BUT THERE is a GREAT LIMITATION on WISDOM—

— LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 6-9

🐢🐢🐢 --- 17 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

3. An Uncertain, Unpreventable Death (vv. 6-9)

Ecclesiastes 8:6–9 (ESV)

6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.

Reference (V5b) WISE HEART—KNOWS WHAT to DO, WHEN...

(V6) TIME for EVERYTHING

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

but MAN’S TROUBLE—LIES HEAVY— TROUBLE = ONLY HAVING PART of the PICTURE...

----------------

(V7) - WE DON’T KNOW the FUTURE

7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?

Illustration: POOR MARATHON EXPERIENCE YESTERDAY

----------------

(V8) WE’RE POWERLESS OVER the FUTURE

8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.

CAN’T CONTROL the SPIRIT/DAY of OUR DEATH.

Connection: I FIND THIS LIBERATING...

MY DAYS ARE HELD in GOD’S HANDS...

Psalm 139:16 (ESV)

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

BEFORE YOU BREATHED YOUR FIRST BREATH—GOD KNEW WHEN YOU WOULD BREATHE YOUR LAST

Disclaimer: DON’T PLAY in TRAFFIC—WE USE WISDOM...

BRING US COMFORT.

WE AIM LIVE WISELY—BUT WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LIMITATIONS...

DEATH = APPOINTMENT WE WILL ALL KEEP…

...UNLESS JESUS COMES BACK

…CAN’T KICK the CAN DOWN the ROAD FOREVER...

WE MUST BE READY for that DAY...

#2 WALKING WISELY—TRUSTING SOVEREIGNTY of GOD OVER DAY of OUR DEATH—BECAUSE WE DON’T KNOW the FUTURE

-----------

(V8b) THOSE DISCHARGED for WAR HAVE NO CHOICE— NO ONE CAN ESCAPE IT ALL—NO MATTER WHAT WICKED APPROACH is TAKEN

----------------

(V9) THIS ALL = TEACHER’S FINDINGS UNDER the SUN...

9 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.

Transition: KNOWING CERTAINTY & UNAVOIDABILITY of DEATH—

— TEACHER OFFER FURTHER REFLECTIONS in V10

🐢🐢🐢 --- 14 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

4. Walking in the Fear of God (vv. 10-13)

Ecclesiastes 8:10–13 (ESV)

10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.

(V10) Anomaly: WICKED PEOPLE BURIED & PRAISED… WHAT?!

LIFE DOESN’T MAKE SENSE...

-------

11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

(V11) Problem: JUDGMENT = SLOW to COME—SO PEOPLE SET THEIR HEARTS to WICKEDNESS...

CONSEQUENCES FAR OFF?? LIVE HOWEVER.

Illustration: REPEAT OFFENDERS in SOFT-CRIME SYSTEMS...

JUSTICE SYSTEM on EARTH— PUNISHMENT DELAYED/NONEXISTENT

ALSO in HEAVEN— DELAYED JUDGMENT

Example: IF GOD ZAPPED MORE PEOPLE— PEOPLE MIGHT LIVE DIFFERENTLY

BUT GOD is MERCIFUL

BUT HIS MERCY & GRACE AREN’T to BE PRESUMED UPON & ABUSED...

Transition: INSTEAD:

--------------

(V12-13) Teacher’s Conclusion:

12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.

13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

#3 WALKING WISELY in FEAR of GOD— NOT USING DELAYED JUDGMENT as LICENSE for WICKED BEHAVIOR

MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND—DELAYED JUDGMENT & ALL THAT...

BUT I KNOW IT’LL BE WELL WITH THOSE WHO FEAR GOD

& NOT WELL for the WICKED.

One Scholar: FEAR of the LORD = “HOLY CAUTION” in RESPONSE to GREATNESS of GOD

Illustration: WET FLOOR CAUTION SIGN—

TREAD CAREFULLY—YOU’LL SLIP

FEAR of GOD— TREAD CAREFULLY,

--------------

END of the STORY = WHAT MATTERS MOST....

YOUNG PEOPLE:

Connection: MIGHT HAVE PEERS LIVING IT UP & LIFE = GOOD....

Proverbs 23:17 (ESV)

17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.

DON’T ENVY the PRESENT— CONSIDER THEIR END...

BROAD ROAD = COMFORTABLE—LEADS to DESTRUCTION...

ONLY NARROW GATE LEADS to LIFE

🐢🐢🐢 --- 8 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Gospel Connection

IMPORTANT for ALL of US—BECAUSE the END of the STORY is COMING....

DEATH COMES to ALL of US...

GREAT UNKNOWN

WE DON’T GET to PRACTICE IT… WE CAN’T TEST-DRIVE IT...

Harsh Reality: && WE DON’T HAVE POWER OVER IT.

DIET & EXERCISE = GOOD — PROLONG LIFE—BUT NOT INDEFINITELY

AVOID DRUGS & ALCOHOLISM — GOOD — CAN’T PROLONG IT INEVITABLY

MEDICATIONS & MACHINES — CAN’T PROLONG IT INEVITABLY..

YOU MIGHT MAKE IT to 100…BUT WE’RE ALL FINITE.

WE’LL ALL GROW OLD & DIE AND THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT...

------------------

ONLY THING WE CAN DO— IS BE READY…

WALKING WISELY in FEAR of GOD...

FEAR of GOD = ACKNOWLEDGING HE’S the JUDGE

Reality: JUDGMENT MIGHT BE PUT OFF—BUT IT’LL COME EVENTUALLY…

Quote,, Spurgeon: Sinners are not, as a general rule, punished here. Their sentence is reserved until the day of judgment.

Problem: FOR SINNERS BEFORE a HOLY GOD—THIS = TERRIFYING.

---------

Transition: WITH SURETY of DEATH & SURETY of JUDGMENT— WE NEED a WAY OUT....

Good News: MIGHT NOT BE SPARED from DEATH—

— BUT WE CAN BE SPARED from JUDGMENT WE RIGHTFULLY DESERVE.

GOD = JUST— WILL PUNISH SIN...

Gospel Hope: JESUS TOOK the PUNISHMENT WE DESERVED—SO WE CAN BE SPARED...

ALL SIN WILL BE PAID FOR—EITHER BY JESUS— OR BY OUR ETERNAL JUDGMENT...

DELAYED JUDGMENT on GOD’S PART—NOT NEGLIGENCE—IT’S MERCY:

2 Peter 3:9–10 (ESV)

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

DELAY in CHRIST’S COMING in JUDGMENT = ACT of MERCY—

— OFFERING SINNERS OPPORTUNITY for REPENTANCE & FAITH...

---------

Challenge: FRIEND—IF DEATH WERE to COME to YOU UNEXPECTEDLY,, ARE YOU READY?

YOU DON’T KNOW the FUTURE

YOU CAN’T PUT IT OFF FOREVER

BUT YOU CAN HAVE a HOPE in DEATH THROUGH FAITH in JESUS CHRIST.

Invitation: IF YOU’RE WITHOUT HOPE—TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE...

------------------

Transition: And now, for the rest of us, what is the teacher telling us this morning?

🐢🐢🐢 --- 3 minutes left---🐢🐢🐢

🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

Application

Preaching Idea : WE MUST walk in the fear of God,

knowing in the end we’ll have to stand before Him...

Fear of God:

TRUST CHRIST as SAVIOR

WALK in HIS FEAR DAY BY DAY...

---------

Practical Steps today’s text:

Be a Good Citizen:

OBEDIENCE to EARTHLY AUTHORITIES = ACT of WORSHIP...

Trust God’s Sovereignty:

WE’RE LIMITED— DON’T KNOW the FUTURE & CAN’T CONTROL DAY of DEATH

TRUST GOD—WHO HOLDS ALL OUR DAYS— LIVE WISELY in BETWEEN

Live in His FEAR W/ HOLY CAUTION...

DON’T ENVY WICKED… EXCUSE SIN

JUDGMENT’S DELAY DOESN’T MEAN IT’S NOT COMING...

Instead: WALK in the FEAR of GOD— ON NARROW ROAD W/ CHRIST— KNOWING SOMEDAY WE’LL BE WITH HIM

Let’s pray....