7All streams run to the sea, Solomon intends us to feel the extent of our fall and the futility of the human condition. You and I will leave this world and, eventually, our lives, our reputation, our fame and our legacy will vanish just as for those who have gone before us. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened-not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. the other animals, as a witness to the rest of the world. Ecclesiastes 11:5. iii. material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owners. among those who come after. allow in order to align our journey with His will. All of us crave significance; we want to feel as though we have made a difference. Consider, for example, Paul’s warning that believers abstain from becoming involved in the sinfulness of this world in which we live, Paul’s exhortation is grounded upon a fundamental truth regarding this present world. We see this in our attempts to sate our hunger; we eat and yet the hunger returns. Still, we leave the big question unanswered. Who makes a million and thinks, ‘I’ll stop there, I am happy with this.’ The search for satisfaction is constant, because our satisfaction is constantly frustrated. Jesus appeals to the same truth that we find in Ecclesiastes; earthly things are fleeting, temporary and subject to decay. Just as you do not know the path of the wind or how the bones are made of a child yet to be born, so you do not know the work of God Who makes all things. Ecclesiastes 11:5 "As thou knowest not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. " Solomon is not an atheist or an agnostic. Spirit is a force that moves swiftly throughout our lives, accomplishing And this leads me to the greatest point; the place of King Jesus is all of this. Our past and all that seems dark and hopeless is what thrusts us forward Those of us who work feel this frustration as one week rolls into the next and yet little changes. Now hope that is seen is not hope. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. This is why Ecclesiastes is such a timely book in that it acts as a reality check, a wake up call. We know this to be true, for most of us have felt this sense of weariness. I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. This also is the exhortation of Jesus, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. but the earth remains forever. info@firwood.church. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. But even if one lives many joyful days, they should know that evil days will come - 11:7-8 CONCLUSION 1. 8All things are full of weariness; and there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:4). The interpretive question is, "Is there one illustration of mankind's inability to know, or are there two illustrations in Eccl. Paul understands that all we see around us is temporary and that the world in its present form will pass away with Christ’s return and that there will be a new heavens and earth. Here we find King Jesus. The Mary T. and Frank L. Hoffman Family Foundation. Streams flow into the sea and yet the sea is never full and still the streams continue to flow. “Man has tried to be happy without God, and this book shows the absurdity of the attempt.” That’s what we hear from Dr. J. Vernon McGee as we begin our study of Ecclesiastes. Both Solomon and Paul (and other New Testament writers) understand that something is very wrong in the world in which we live. I intend, therefore, to set out seven reasons why Christians should study the book of Ecclesiastes. Thank you for visiting all-creatures.org. In Ecclesiastes, we hear the skeptical voice of “the teacher.” He observes that living by the book of Proverbs doesn’t always bring positive results. 10Is there a thing of which it is said, Solomon concludes that human endeavour, human ambition, our innate need for satisfaction and creation itself are (is not are) subject to futility, meaninglessness and vanity. reprinted material must contain proper credits and web site link So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your 6 The wind blows to the south as He is manifesting His tapestry of We consider the second point first, we are told that the speaker is ‘king in Jerusalem’, later, as we will consider next week, we are told that this king, ‘acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before [him]’ (Ecclesiastes 1:16) and that he ‘became great and surpassed all who were before [him] in Jerusalem (Ecclesiastes 2:9). Paul writes that creation is ‘subjected to futility’ and, interestingly, Paul uses the Greek word, here translated futility, which is taken in the Septuagint to express ‘vanity of vanities’. This has led commentators to take widely differing views with regards to the overall meaning of the book, some arguing that the writer is an agnostic, others that he is orthodox; some that this book is pessimist in its view of life and others that the writer is an optimist. But when thinking about God and his ways, that’s really all we can say. Furthermore, we are told that this king is ‘the son of David’. It is my view, however, that despite some recent commentators who argue for a later date, that the speaker takes great pains to describe himself as Solomon, the son of King David and the greatest of all Israel’s kings. Solomon anatomises fallen creation and human existence in minute detail and, having completed his task and concluded that ‘all is vanity’ he reaches the conclusion of his conclusion. and goes around to the north; Ecclesiastes 10 Ecclesiastes 11 Ecclesiastes 12 Return to the Main Player Favoriting is a great way to keep a list of sermons, programs, and ministry resources in your account. 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! Note the similarities in thought, Solomon exposes a flaw running through the fabric of creation, that this universe which we inhabit is stained with vanity and meaninglessness. It is significant that Solomon refers to himself as ‘the Preacher’ (other versions translate this as ‘Teacher’ (NIV)). Pastor Tim Karr teaches a Sunday School lesson on Ecclesiastes 11:5-12:8 December 3, 2017 Ecclesiastes L16. to the place where the streams flow, We are a fallen people living in a fallen world and Solomon wants us to feel the weight of that. God’s purposes, plans and holy degrees cannot be thwarted nor frustrated. Thus, Christian living requires us to set the There is nothing new. Ecclesiastes 11. As has been observed by other commentators, the designation, ‘son of David’ can be taken to refer to anyone who is of the line of David. the eye is not satisfied with seeing, Ecclesiastes 11:5 1215 God, feminine descriptions 4006 creation, origin 4287 universe 5136 body 5199 womb 5802 care 8355 understanding. Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. present in that small, dark place. James picks up on this same point (it is important to remember that Solomon’s observations are, in fact, consistent with the whole of Scripture). God has done it, so that people fear before him. Just because we do not have the complete picture is no excuse for inactivity. We see endless activity with no resolution; Solomon concludes that this is meaningless. beauty in that one life. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. The end of the matter; all has been heard. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. I know this because although Solomon limits his enquires to all that takes place under the sun, he understands that there will be a final end to this futility. Ecclesiastes 11:7. There is here, I think, a reference to the Genesis account of creation and the fall. The NIV translates ‘vanity of vanities’ (v. 2) as ‘Meaningless, meaningless’, alternatively this same word could be translated as ‘useless’ and, in truth, the Hebrew word contains all three meanings. Our life, endeavour and legacy are, ultimately, beyond our grasp. 11There is no remembrance of former things, Many commentators and casual readers approach Ecclesiastes as if it is somehow out of kilter with the rest of Scripture. The superscription, ‘The words of the Preacher’ (Ecclesiastes 1:1) states Solomon’s intention for this book.