Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.1UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.08UNLIKELY
Fear
0.58LIKELY
Joy
0.61LIKELY
Sadness
0.52LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.66LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.04UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.83LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.74LIKELY
Extraversion
0.03UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.43UNLIKELY
Emotional Range
0.52LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Introduction:
We are finally reaching the conclusion of this book.
This book kind of reminds me of the second Star Wars movie, “The Empire Strikes Back.”
I remember watching it when I was 8 or 9 for the first time and how dark and depressing the ending was.
There doesn’t seem to be any hope… As we have gone through this book it too has been very depressing, but the light is coming.
In particular the last two verses of this book give us what the real solution is to man’s problems.
Recap:
Last week we discussed this notion that foolishness is a sign of immaturity and that one act of foolishness can have severe consequences.
Abraham telling Pharoah Sarah was his sister.
Consequence was being ejected from Egypt.
Noah’s testimony was damaged by one episode of shameful drunkenness.
David’s life and family were forever changed by one weak moment of of indulgence in lust.
Moses wasn’t allowed into the promise land because of one rash act of frustration, impatience, and anger.
Last week we also saw Solomon give some sound advice pertaining to a person’s occupation:
Planing things out and keeping good records.
Expect the unexpected and be prepared for accidents.
Work smarter not harder.
Improper planing can risk loss of income or someones life.
We can apply those truths to our lives as believers too:
We must always work cautiously and prepare for the risks that come along with our work.
Because you are no threat to the devil when you are idle.
We do not change the message of the gospel, but sometimes our methods will need to change.
Using the sharpest tools at our disposal.
Speaking of tools we have been given- spirit gifts- to use in our service to the Lord.
The greatest work we can do is the work we do for the Lord.
Chapter 11
vv 9-10) Judgement will come
[9a]Solomon in this final section of this book is going to be directed towards youth.
Solomon is probably looking back from an old age to the days of his youth before the he started the under the sun premise took a tole upon his life and mind.
Wanting his younger readers to have a better life.
Solomon, I believe he is trying to encourage the young person to follow after your dreams!
To experience all of life’s adventures and excitement that you can, while you can.
As humans we place all sort of limitations and restrictions on life that God has never placed.
Remember that God richly provides all things for us to enjoy: 1 Tim 6:17
Remember though there is a limited period of time when we have the strength and ability to do so.
God approves as long as we obey His Word.
Despite Solomon’s terrible premise, I do believe that God gives us the liberty to live life to the fullest.
The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying him forever.
Rab, a Jewish teacher of the third century A.D. commented, “man will have to give account for all that he saw and did not enjoy.”
Family, we cannot use our freedoms, liberties, and riches as a cover to sin against God.
[9b] Solomon enthusiastically endorses fun and enjoyment, but this is not a free pass for the young to experience everything in life.
This is not a license to indulge in every desire before one must “grow up” having life bear down upon them, as is required by age.
The counsel in the last words of verse nine provides clarification.
In looking at the complete statement, we must recognize that Solomon is issuing a strong warning to the reader.
Do what your heart desires and see as much as you can.
But remember that eventually God will bring you into judgement, that is, the judgement of old age, which seemed to Solomon like divine retribution for the sins of early life.
As believers with the full counsel of God’s Word we should take note of this important point.
the first being:
As a believer you will not be able to fully experience the joy of the Lord when you prescribing to indulge your fleshly appetites in disobedience to God.
You may enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin: Heb 11:25
But your joy will be handicapped by a sense of God’s coming judgement on sin.
We will never know true happiness or joy when living in a life of sin.
God has made our souls to suffer a sense of uneasiness and emptiness- never being fully satisfied (which is the goal that Solomon is trying to find)- until we place our trust in Jesus Christ.
[10] In verse 10 Solomon is explaining that while you have youth, maximize enjoyment and minimize sorrow and trouble or vexation.
Sin sown in youth will reap painful consequences, but sowing God’s Word in your heart will reap precious dividends.
Sin sown will reap painful consequences, but sowing God’s word will reap great rewards.
Read your Bibles, study your Bibles, Obey what it says, and you will sow and reap divine riches.
Solomon is stating that youth and the dawn of life are fleeting (vanity) because they are so short lived.
Nowhere in literature is there a more classic description of old age than in the first half of chapter 12.
The meaning doesn’t lie on the surface because it is presented as an allegory.
But the emerges of a doddering old man shuffling his way irresistibly to the grave.
chapter 12
vv 1-8) The value of remembering God
[1-2] The doleful picture of age and senility is a warning to young people to remember their Creator in the days of their youth.
Notice something disheartening?
Solomon doesn’t say their Lord or Savior or Redeemer but their Creator.
This is the only way Solomon could know God from his vantage point under the sun.
But even at that, the advice is good.
Young people should remember their Creator… before the sunset time of life, when the days are difficult and cruel and the years are totally lacking in pleasure and enjoyment.
I hate to break it to you, but old age is the time when the lights grow dim, both physically and emotionally.
The days are dreary, and the nights are long.
Gloom and depression settle in.
Talk about depressing.
How are we to apply this passage of scripture to our lives?
We should remember that God is continually present in our lives.
Once we accept Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit actually lives within our bodies.
We need to remember this wonderful truth because it means that we alway have God’s presence to guide and help us through the trails of life.
We should remember that God is our Creator- He literally made us from nothing.
By right of creation, God is entitled to have authority and control over our lives.
God owns the patent on our lives as human beings, and He has never sold it.
He own all the rights to this product He created.
That is the reason, we humans must answer to Him.
We need to know that God will definitely judge our lives-our words, thoughts, and deeds.
The unbeliever will be doomed to eternal separation from God.
We as believers will be judged as children of God, rather than as lost sinners.
But we must still answer to God for the things done in our bodies, whether good or bad: 2 Cor 5:10
[3-5] As a young person, you should learn to faithfully walk with God while you have the energy and strength of youth.
A day will come when your body will age and weaken, and you will not be able to serve God as energetically as you did during your younger years.
To illustrate the aging process, Solomon uses the image of a decaying house one that is literally falling apart.
Though various commentators interpret some of the specific metaphors differently, nearly all agree that this is a graphic description of old age.
Those who are older will identify with this description.
Remember your Creator while you are young…
Before your limbs tremble and you cannot protect your home.
The keepers of the house are the arms and legs that weaken and tremble with age.
Before your body is stooped over.
Before your teeth start falling out.
Before your eyesight starts failing.
Before your legs become too weak to walk outside.
Before your hearing beings to fade.
Before your sleep is halted by birds.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9