Ecclesiastes 11 and 12 - My key verse in this section is Eccl. 11:8 - "So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity." We need to rejoice in every day we are given - and remember that there will be many dark days while we are on this earth - but there is a better place we are headed if Jesus is our guide.
Is life worth living? That was Solomon's question when he began and he said no, giving four arguments: the monotony of life, the vanity of wisdom, the futility of wealth, and the certainty of death. Being wise, he reviewed these arguments and this time brough God into the picture. This makes all the difference. He realized life was not monotonous but filled with challenging situations from God, each in its own time and each for its own purpose. Also learned wealth could be enjoyed and employed to the glory of God. Though man's wisdom couldn't explain everything, Solomon concluded it was better to follow God's wisdom than to practice man's folly. No escpae from death, and it ought to motivate us to enjoy life now and make the most of the opportunities God gives us. Now, Solomon is ready for his conclusion and personal application. He presents four pictures of life and attaches to each picture a practical admonition to heed.
(1) Life is an adventure - Live by faith (11:1-6) - Solomon uses two activities to illustrate his point here - the merchant sending out his ships and the farmer sowing his seed. In both of these activities a great deal of faith is required because neither can control the circumstances - both have a risk. Man is ignorant of the future, but he must not allow his ignorance to make him so fearful that he becomes either careless or paralyzed. Verse 4 points out that we can't just sit around waiting for ideal circumstances to happen. We must use each day wisely and sometimes leap out in faith.
(2) Life is a gift - Enjoy it (11:7-12:8) - We must rejoice in life (vs. 7-9). We must remove vexation from our lives (inner pain, anxiety) (vs. 10). We must remember - paying attention to consider life with the intention of obeying (12:1-8). Solomon describes different pictures of death in this section with a picture of a house falling apart and turning to dust, a lamp chain breaking, and a pitcher shattering. He is pointing out that we know that death is inevitable and we must enjoy and rejoice with every day we are given to live.
(3) Life is a school - Learn your lessons (12:9-12) - We must be wise and orderly in learning and studying God's word. In verse 12 he gives a warning that we should not go beyond what God has written in His word and to not allow man's books to rob us of God's wisdom. So much of the world can mold our minds and change our beliefs if we allow them to. There are no many in academia and in the philosophical and political realms that can morph our thoughts and change the way we believe. We must be solid in our faith and stay true to what God's word teaches us and not allow what others say to distort those true beliefs.
(4) Life is a stewardship - Fear God (12:13-14) - Fear is an attitude of reverance and awe that His people show Him because they love Him and respect His power and His greatness. The fear of the Lord must result in obedient living, otherwise the "fear" is only a sham. If we are not truly in awe and revere Him we will not obey Him. Our fruits of obedience will demonstrate our fear of the Lord.
All in all, Solomon has shown us that life is truly worth living - even through all the hardships that occur. God's wisdom helps us through life when we allow it. We need to focus on enjoying what we have here while we are here - and focus on the eternity of greatness that is waiting for us!
Ecclesiastes 11 (ESV) 1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth. 3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. 4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. 5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. 6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good. 7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. 8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. 9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Ecclesiastes 12 (ESV) 1 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"; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 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, 4 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-- 5 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-- 6 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, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
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