H2H26 Tue- Fair and Just

Intro

create the trolley scenario

the difference between philosophy classes at college and the Wisdom of scripture

God wants you to seek good in a creation that you weren’t meant to understand completely

read 8:14-17

the Qoheleth explains that seeking after wisdom is vanity as well

why does wisdom seem meaningless? because bad things happen to good people and vice versa

you can’t explain everything no matter how hard you try or how much you know

Rain on everyone

take a step back and read the passage before that one 10-13

what does he mean that the sentence is not executed speedily? Is there no justice at all?

what about the next line? if the heart of man is set on evil, what can we do? and why would God make or allow his creation to be that way?

have them sum up the story of creation and the fall

the difference between the man and the beast and what really failed in the garden

God makes good. Humanity goes against what we were made to be by giving in to desire

Habakkuk 1:13-

Psalm 73: 2-3 & 12-17

only in the presence of God can you understand how to wrestle with the unfairness of the world

Paul shows us what that looks like

Rejoice Always

Where was Paul when he wrote Philippians and why?

1:3 leads off the body with how thankful he is and how his prayers are full of joy

1:18-21 what does it mean that for him to live is Christ and to die is gain?

everything he did from the time he devoted his life to Christ to his death was working toward spreading the love of God to everyone he could

if that is all that you are, then you can write what he does in this letter here and later in chapter 4

4:4-9 rejoicing always and setting your mind on God is the only way that you will find peace in a world that easily robs you of peace

the Qoheleth explains this more practically

Ecc 9:7-10- enjoy the blessings that you have been given

give all that you have to whatever it is that you have set out to do

our perspective is greater than the writer of Ecclesiastes because we know as Paul did that we have victory over death through Christ

that our joy does not end but are only a fraction now of what is to come when there is no more evil and suffering and unfairness

when desire no longer corrupts the good that God has made

for now we have joy despite our circumstance

regardless of wickedness, because we have faith and hope in the one who blesses us with the good that we do have

maybe Nehemiah 8:10- if you have time

Application

Rebel against the unfairness by being filled with Joy

trust that God is working toward an end wherein evil is destroyed and there is only joy in his presence with those who love him and others the same way

that’s what our faith and hope are meant to be

that’s the response to the evil in the world that is meant to set us apart

fight the evil in this world with unshakable joy and not only will your perspective be better, but people will notice and be changed around you as well