Book of Ecclesiastes (2)

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

2) What advice does the Preacher give to the young person? (1)

-Remember God in the days of your youth -While things are going well, before the difficult days come

The essential ingredient for happiness today is to have a relationship with God today

Happiness is not based on how well we live our much we have, it’s based on how well we obey and how much God’s will is being achieved in our lives

It’s OK to have career goals

Main goal in life is to sharpen my ability to obey God

To work out spiritually so I am stronger spiritually to be able to resist temptation to fall into sin

That’s the endgame. Job pays the bills

You can’t have the perfect job, the mate, the wonderful kids, etc. But you can have a deeper, more committed, more loving, and more obedient relationship with God.

GOD’S LOVE AND WILL ARE THE ONLY THINGS YOU CAN LEGITIMATELY DESIRE MORE AND MORE OF WITHOUT HARMING YOURSELF

You can never get too much of God’s love.

4) How is death depicted at the end of verse 5?

Man goes to his eternal home Mourners to about the streets

5) What four illustrations are used to depict the decaying of the body?

6) What occurs at death as described in verse 7?

- The dust returns to the earth as it was

- The spirit returns to God who gave it

7) What is the recurring theme throughout this book, as restated in verse 8?

- "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

Read Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 and summarize the Preacher’s admonish to the young. (1-7)

Barry: Many of the young pursue the flesh in exclusion of the spirit. Fleshly pursuits cause the young to miss out on the spiritual interest gained from following God while young. The Preacher admonishes the youth to remember God while they are young so that with age, you can collect the compound interest that comes from such a long-term investment. The mature always wish they would have invested more when it was available to them in their past.

Ecclesiastes 12:9–12 ESV

Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

8) What did the Preacher continue to do? (9-10)

He taught the people knowledge

He pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs

He sought to find acceptable and upright words, words of truth

9) What are the words of the wise and scholarly like? (11)

Goads and well-driven nails Given by one Shepherd

10) What did the Preacher encourage his son? (12)

To be admonished by the words of wisdom and truth

11) Yet what two things should one keep in mind? (12)

There is no end to the making of many books Much study is wearisome to the flesh

Read Ecclesiastes 12:8-12 and put into your own words what “Vanity of Vanities” means to you. (8-12)

Barry: Vanity of Vanities means to me that all man's efforts fall short in comparison to a life that God authors. Men believe their actions and motives are correct and just when, in essence, they are striving after the wind and vain. Solomon had every advantage to live a meaningful life outside of God and could not achieve it. We will be no more successful than he was.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 ESV

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

12) What does the Preacher offer as the conclusion to his search for meaning? (13)

Fear God and keep His commandments This is the whole duty of man

13) Why is this his conclusion? (14)

For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil

Read Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 describe what it looks like for you to keep God’s commands. (13-14)

Barry: For me, to continue keeping God's commands means two things.

To love God with all my heart, soul, and mind.

I need to have the proper emotion (heart) toward God.

I need to walk in the light, proper attitude (soul) with God.

I need to continue to mature/ grow in knowledge (mind) in His Word.

To love my neighbor as I would myself. This command molds me more and more into the image of my creator.

These two commands (Mt. 22:37-40) given to us by God will allow me to make my calling and election sure.

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