Ecclesiastes 9-10

Ecclesiastes 9-10

Ecclesiastes 9:1–2 

1 For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them. 

2 All things come alike to all:

One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath.

Whats the this? Its everything we have read so far. And for good or bad, he preaches. We are told in 1 Corinthians 14:32–33  “ And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

God nor Solomon is seeking to confuse.

A “natural” man, is just meat, bones, death waiting to happen.

A spiritual man, a wise man, learns to love the life that Christ has bestowed on Him, to live for different mans.

People who believe, folks who don't, all make oaths. For the wise they are made carefully, easily. For the wicked, they fear oaths because they reveal the heart. The dead man inside.

Ecclesiastes 9:3–6 

3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. (knowing the end, yet they live for flesh)

4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. (living is a gift. The greatest gift is eternal life in Christ)

5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. 

6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. 

We always forget those who went before. only the rare have a name that goes beyond 2 generations. Or even one. How many remember the full name of their grandparents?

we can accomplish more in this life if we are alive. lions are proud, deadly, majestic. Dogs lowly, despisded, hated even. But a live dog beats a dead lion every time. Get your life going for God!

Everything happens to everyone. The trick is who you’re doing it for. Garments white, unstained by sin, living and enjoying what God has given you! We might all “die” but do we all live? Not for moment but again for eternity.

Ecclesiastes 9:6–12  “ Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. 7 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.

8 Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. (keep cool in the sun) 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

11 I returned and saw under the sun that— The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. 12 For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them.”

Again, written very late in his life, this sounds like a wise thing doesn't it?

to be busy living, because you’ll die and have no more chances, so get out there. Get it done! But Christ is coming back soon, great! Go build orphanages and help the widows and live for Him!

Because you’ll assume safety and wack! Or you’ll be comfortable, and wack!

Ecclesiastes 8:7 “For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur?” (Luke 12:16-21 tells parable of rich farmer) the greatest crop of his life came in, and he sought to spend it on self, and died as soon as it was stored up! He lived for himself not Lord and was judged by Father. Luke 12:21 ““So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.””

Ecclesiastes 9:13–10:1 

13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: 

14 There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. 

15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man. 

16 Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard. 

17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools. 

18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.” 

1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.

A simple person did an amazing thing, for a city that promptly forgot him.

the bluster of self and the narcissism often steeped in the tea that is royalty/power/politics, took the good that was done and cast it in the wrong light

A good thing was corrupted. Something that seemed so right, stank becuase of corruption. Like Lazarus, they stinketh. But are still dead (unlike L)

if we live for praise, thats what we’ll worship. Be careful of the why when you do something for others.

Ecclesiastes 10:2–4 

2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left. 

3 Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool. 

4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

Evil will always promote its own, not the honor performed but the glory for self sought. Keep watching, they’ll prove it by their choices.

dont give into it, dont respond in kind, dont give way!

Ecclesiastes 10:5–7 

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler: 

6 Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place. 

7 I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants.

There are a lot more fools than wise. And we see how the sheer mass can cause corruption all over.

things get backwards when this happens because failure is promoted as success.

Ecclesiastes 10:8–10 

8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. 

9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it. 

10 If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

Dig pits, break down walls, quarry stones, even splitting wood (i’ve been hurt by this) it all has a tendency, to bite. To not be injured or fall doesnt mean good or bad or God approves of what your doing. It just is.

But not thinking through even these things, can affect the work and your safety. We cant just rush in without a plan and hope it goes ok. Listen to Jesus, His parables always talk about being a planner, good stewards, etc.

Ecclesiastes 10:11–15 

11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different. 

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; 

13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness. 

14 A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him? 

15 The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!

Sometimes a snake just bites ya, and sometimes, folks that are just biting show themselves to be fools by what and how they say it.

We sometimes rebuke or exhort from a place of pride. And don’t even realize it, but need to hear ourselves, know what we’re saying. But it will eventually show itself for what it is.

v15 is considered to be a colloquialism, like saying not smart enough to come out of the rain. A fool tries to correct everyone but himself.

Ecclesiastes 10:16–19 

16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning!  childish kings are incompetent and usually boastful

17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time— For strength and not for drunkenness!  behave properly

18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. 

19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.

The behavior of immoral and incompetent leadership only shows when we have a moral and competent people. And when we see it, we know how costly it can truly be.

As per usual, the love of self is right there with the love of money. 1 Timothy 6:10  “ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” this has always been true.

Ecclesiastes 10:20 

20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

Dont curse. Be careful of prideful criticisms, they can catch up with. Even a thought can be interpreted and taken to them and cost us dearly.

We might be able to trust the one hearing but you know the old saying about a fly on the wall? Its old, lol. But the idea is that you never know who's listening. A bird, a fly, etc.

Only 2 more chapters in ecclesiastes, and its been a real blessing to go through it with you. Without God, without Christ, our lives end truly with death. an eternal conscious death, separated from the eternal one. Not what are you living for my friends, but who?