“There Was A Crooked Man”
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Mountain climbers could save time and energy if they reached the summit in a helicopter, but their ultimate purpose is conquest, not efficiency. Sure, they want to reach a goal, but they desire to do it by testing and deepening their character, discipline, and resolve.
God could create scientists, mathematicians, athletes, and musicians. He doesn’t. He creates children who take on those roles over a long process. God doesn’t make us fully Christlike the moment we’re born again. He conforms us to the image of Christ gradually: “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory” ().
In our spiritual lives, as in our professional lives, and in sports and hobbies, we improve and excel by handling failure and learning from it. Only in cultivating discipline, endurance, and patience do we find satisfaction and reward. And those qualities are most developed through some form of suffering.
Suffering. Trials and Tribulations. Circumstances. Difficulties. What is the deal with it? The issue of human and christian suffering has been a very difficult topic to address and apply to our life in Christ. It has been throughout all church history and in my ministry. Why does the Lord allow bad things to happen to his people? The actual existence of evil in this world has been for years a philosophical problem. Godfried Libnetz calls it the problem of evil and has sparked a discipline called theodicy. It goes like this Originating with Greek philosopher Epicurus,[20] the logical argument from evil is as follows:If an omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient god exists, then evil does not.There is evil in the world. Therefore, an omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient god does not exist.
Simply how can a loving and all powerful God allow evil to exist. Evil exists so therefore either God is not all-powerful or He is not all loving or does not exist. Man this problem has been a problem for many over the course of Christian history and has been an issue for many who I have ministered to. Suffering has caused many over the years to fall away from the faith. To turn their back on God. To walk away disgusted and disappointed with God. Crying God has forsaken me. The reality with suffering and evil things in the world are there for trails and testing. Suffering does not cause us to fall away from from what we believe, its shows us that we never believed to begin with. Solomon sheds some light on this issue and we will look at it today.
If an omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient god exists, then evil does not.There is evil in the world.Therefore, an omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omniscient god does not exist.
Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
I have seen everything in this meaningless life, including the death of good young people and the long life of wicked people. So don’t be too good or too wise! Why destroy yourself? On the other hand, don’t be too wicked either. Don’t be a fool! Why die before your time? Pay attention to these instructions, for anyone who fears God will avoid both extremes.
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.
Accept It
The Good Days and Bad Days
God is in Control
The first thing we will consider today is how difficulties in life could be by the hand of the Lord and the best thing for us is not to figure it out, but simply accept and trust. Second, we will see how both the good days and bad days come from the hand of the Lord. Finally, we will see that no matter what the circumstances, the whole universe is held together by Him and for Him and for that we should always rejoice.
Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world cause us to reject what God does in rebellion and to think of bad days as those where God has abandoned us, it is the grace, compassion of the Lord, and the power of the Holy Spirit that will cause us to take joy in trials of many kinds and become partners in the suffering of Christ so that we may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.
I. Accept It
- Things are the way God wants them to be.
A. The Preacher so far… He studied the seasons of life and time of death, learning when it was time for this and time for that. Qoheleth watched the way people worked hard and played hard in life under the sun. Solomon saw how they lived and how they died all under the sun. We have seen here in he invites us to consider and observe God’s work in the world.
He studied the seasons of life, learning when it was time for this and time for that. He watched the way people worked and played. He saw how they lived and how they died. Here in he invites us to consider God’s work in the world.
Ryken, P. G. (2010). Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (p. 162). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
B. And now here we go… He asks a rhetorical question: Who has the power to straighten out what God has made crooked? The answer, of course, is no one. Things are the way God wants them to be and no matter how hard we try, we do not have the ability or the power to overrule and undo what the Lord has done.
C. He starts verse 3 with the statement, “Accept the way God does things.” Ra’ah - to consider something, to see, to understand in the sense of accepting. Why? There is nothing we can do about it. Even if we decided not to accept it, there is nothing we can do about it. So since we can do nothing about it, you might as well accept it.
Ryken, P. G. (2010). Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (p. 162). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
D. Accept what? The way the Lord does things. Why? Because there is nothing we can do to undo what he has done. Nothing we can do to what He has undone.
E. So when the Solomon talks about something “crooked,” he is not referring to something that is morally out of line, we all know that God could never be the author of evil. Qoheleth is more talking about some trouble or difficulty in life we wish we could change but cannot alter.
F. It is still true, of course, that there is nothing we can do to straighten out what is crooked. We cannot change what God has done unless and until God wants to change it. We are under the power of the sovereign and omnipotent ruler of the entire universe. We do not have the power to edit his plan for our lives. And we see it do we not?
G. All the science, ingenuity, and philosophy of man has not been able to undo what has been done. The ability of mankind has always been able to recognize that there is something crooked or broken, but not able to do much about it. Diseases that we cannot find a cure for. Natures destructive power… we see it coming but cannot do anything to stop it. We still cannot decide is eggs are good or bad for us. We all thought that high cholesterol levels were a result of diet, not we are finding that it is hereditary.
H. One of the areas we see this is psychology. With all my studies in psychological theory, it has become clear to me that psychologists do a great job of identifying and describing the problem with our behavior. What they do not do a good job with is fixing it. Identifying the problem great, finding a solution. No. Rebirthing, theophostics, hypnosis, conditioning, electro shock therapy, lobotomys.
I. We cannot by strength, wisdom, ingenuity, or knowledge do anything to do what God has undone or undo what God has done. God even makes it clear.
“Have you explored the springs from which the seas come?
Have you explored their depths?
Do you know where the gates of death are located?
Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
Do you realize the extent of the earth?
Tell me about it if you know!
This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
It is still true, of course, that there is nothing we can do to straighten out what is crooked. We cannot change what God has done unless and until God wants to change it. We are under the power of the sovereign and omnipotent ruler of the entire universe. We do not have the power to edit his plan for our lives. But far from driving us to despair, the sovereignty of God gives us hope through all the trials of life. We do suffer the frustration of life in a fallen world. But the Bible says that we suffer these things by the will of a God who is planning to set us free from all this futility and who is working all things together for our good
Ryken, P. G. (2010). Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (p. 162). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
J. So if this is something we cannot do then what is our choice. We can accept it and rejoice in the word of work of the Lord or we can reject it and live in constant rebellion against a God who cannot be defeated.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”
K. But far from driving us to despair, the sovereignty of God gives us hope through all the trials of life. We do suffer the frustration of life in a fallen world. But the Bible says that we suffer these things by the will of a God who is planning to set us free from all this futility and who is working all things together for our good. Let’s continue.
But far from driving us to despair, the sovereignty of God gives us hope through all the trials of life. We do suffer the frustration of life in a fallen world. But the Bible says that we suffer these things by the will of a God who is planning to set us free from all this futility and who is working all things together for our good.
Ryken, P. G. (2010). Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (pp. 163–164). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
II. The Good Days and Bad Days
-Today and Everyday is under the hand of our Lord.
A. Trusting the character and sovereignty of God will truly help us respond in worship when difficulties arise. Good days or bad days our Lord is glorified in us. This is because...
Enjoy prosperity while you can,
but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.
Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
B. Solomon here is showing us that today and everyday is under the sovereignty of God. Period.
C. Some days of our lives are full of prosperity. The sun is shining with a cool ocean breeze blowing, the birds are singing and iheart radio is playing all your favorite songs. Brand new powder on the slopes at copper mountain. You catch a trophy trout on every cast at the dream stream. You shoot in the 70’s on the golf course. You catch every green light home during rush hour. You are with all the people you love eating your favorite food while you watch the Broncos beat the Raiders on Sunday night football.
D. We are on time with our bills and there is still money left in the bank. Promotions at work with an incredible boss. The whole family is getting along, kids are doing well in school, everything is falling into place and spiritually we are feeling closer to the Lord than we have ever felt. We have a hunger for the Word, we have incredible times of prayer, fellowship with others in the church are dynamic. Life is good. We are told to enjoy it as a gift from the grace of our Lord Jesus. Its easy to do it, when its like this. But…not every day is like that.
E. The sun is not shining and the birds are not singing and the internet is down. We can’t pay bills and no money in the bank. Debt piles up. Can’t find a job. Did not get the raise. We owe on our taxes. Work is hard and boss is trippin. Life is not easy all my friends seem like they abandoned me. I lost everything. Loved ones are sick. Loved ones are dying. More tragedy after tragedy. Nothing is going right. When we pray we feel like we are praying to a wall, Bible study just seems routine, and it feels like people in the church are not very supportive. Feels like the Lord has abandoned us. Why Lord have you forsaken me?
F. What Solomon is wanting us to consider is that this day is just as much a day the Lord has made. It is our tendency to think that all bad days are because of the Devil or evil people, but have we considered that these bad days could be from the hand of God. No way Shane … its not just me and Solomon. How bout Job.
Job’s wife said the same thing… no way.
But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
G. No one, not even the devil can make straight what the Lord makes crooked. We should acknowledge that both the good days and the bad days come from the hand of God.
We should acknowledge that both the good days and the bad days come from the hand of God.
H. Solomon is urging us to not reject it or have an issue with it. But to accept it. We have a hard time with this don’t we. I was dealing with and associate pastor and his wife as they were experiencing difficult times, nothing was working out. I tried to counsel them during this time to continue to see it as a time of testing from the hand of God. Do not think of it as God abandoning you, but the wife told me… its too late and they turn away from the Lord.
Ryken, P. G. (2010). Ecclesiastes: Why everything matters (p. 164). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
I. We see it with Job…even if it is the hand of the Devil, it was still instigated by God the Father. But Shane I don’t like persecution...
Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
But Shane I don’t like trials and sorrow...
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John
But Shane I don;t like firey trials...
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
But Shane I don’t like to be treated unfairly...
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.
J. And here is something we need to see. Look at what the people in the early church experienced.
Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
Hebrews 10:
K. And Job was better off because of it. Suffering is a part of life as a Christian. We need it. It tests us to show us who we really are and what we are really made of. The testing of our faith.
And Job was better off because of it. Suffering is a part of life as a Christian. We need it. It tests us to show us who we really are and what we are really made of. The testing of our faith.
III. God is in Control
- I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
A. How can we get through this? The answer is the same and has always been the same. Christ. He is the way the only way.
B. It is because of Christ that we can lose everything and still rejoice. It is because of Christ that we endure persecution and still rejoice. It is because of Christ that we can face trials of many kinds and still rejoice. It is because of Christ that we can take joy in tribulations. It is because of Christ that when the storms of life hit us hard and harder than ever… we can still stand and say blessed be the name of the Lord.
C. Yes sin and the pattern of this world cause us to do the illogical, to believe the illogical, to follow the illogical in rebellion, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but it is Christ who will set us free. That is why Christ came to save us and to give us strength to be His people. To strengthen us to be kings and queens of the kingdom of heaven.
D. We needed to be saved from the guilt and condemnation of sin. That is why Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures...
E. The promises continue. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
F. So you see in all things… Christ is everything. Jesus is everything. He is the answer to life and life more abundant. You cannot just accept Christ as Lord and go on you merry way. Christ is the merry way. It not just knowing Christ but being known by Him. Christ is everything.
G. Paul sums up this passage in Ecclesiastes when he wrote...
Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
H. Good days or bad days. And what was the secret?
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.