Seeking Answers
A Study in Ecclesiastes
Lesson 20 – Seeking Genuine… Finding Counterfeit –
Living Wisely in a World of Vanity
Brian K. Davis
February 8, 2012
Overview of Chapter 9
• From Chapter 8 – Use Wisdom in the Work of Solving
the Problems of Life
• Work Regardless of the Similar Event of the Godly and
the Ungodly (v1-10)
• Work with the Awareness that God Will Control the
Final Outcomes (v11-12)
• Wisdom is Declared to be the Greatest Guide in Our
Work (v13 – 18)
Work Regardless of the Similar Event of
the Godly and the Ungodly (v1-4)
• All Mankind Has the Same Earthly Fate –
Based on what man observes in life, he
cannot conclude is he loved or hated
• The blessings and curses of nature fall upon
man with discriminating the good from evil Consider Matt. 5:45
• Death is another event in life – but the
events that happen in life occur to both the
good, clean and unclean…
• Life is full of hope for the living; contrast the
living dog vs. the dead lion
• In Ecclesiastes 4:2 death is viewed in
relationship to enduring oppression and 7:1
judges the day of death in it benefits to men
Work Regardless of the Similar Event of
the Godly and the Ungodly (v5-10)
• Death is the end of man’s ability to
participate in life under the sun and his love,
hate and envy are perished; and Man’s fate is
sealed
• We are all terminal - What should be our
proper response to the certainty of death?
1. Man should enjoy life as he has
opportunity! Minor chord: 2:10;
3:12:13, 22; 5:18-20; 8:15
2. Live with joy, purity, happiness and
cheerfulness – white garments and
the head lacks no ointment
3. Enjoy your family life – this is a gift
from God!
4. Work hard – Work is often seen as a
curse, but it is a blessing that allows
us to provide for others – Consider
Ephesians 4:28
Ephesians 4:28:
Let him who stole steal no longer,
but rather let him labor, working
with his hands what is good, that he
may have something to give him
who has need.
Work with the Awareness that God Will
Control the Final Outcomes (v 11-12)
• Solomon continues his observations in life under the
sun and he notes the following 5 things:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The race is not always won by the fastest runner
Strongest army do not always win the battle
Wisest man does not always have bread to eat
Man of understanding is not always rich
Men of skill do not always have the favor of
men
• Life under the sun is inconsistent with what one thinks
will happen – time and chance (not luck, but unfortunate
experience) happens to us all! – Consider James 4:15
• Man does not always know what lies immediately
ahead of him – like a fish taken in a net or bird caught in
a snare – Unplanned events of life fall suddenly upon
him and catch him unexpectedly
James 4:14 – 15
whereas you do not
know what will
happen tomorrow. For
what is your life? It is
even a vapor that
appears for a little
time and then
vanishes away. Instead
you ought to say, “If
the Lord wills, we shall
live and do this or
that.”
Wisdom is Declared to be the Greatest
Guide in Our Work (v13 – 18)
• Solomon again points to the superiority of wisdom:
• He see a city under siege
• A poor man counsels the king and delivers the city
• After it is over, no one remembers or appreciates the wisdom of the poor man –
wisest man does not have bread to eat!
• Sometimes wisdom goes unrewarded
• It is superior to strength, even when wisdom is despised and ignored
• Words of wisdom in quietness are better than the crying rage of fools
• Wisdom is better than weapons of war
• “one sinner destroys much good” – The good which wisdom might counsel can be
destroyed by one worthless sinner. This should be a reminder to all of us of the wide
reaching effects of one sinner