II. A MAN OF WISDOM WHO WORKS IN HARMONY WITH GOD REAPS EARTHLY BENEFITS REGARDLESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES. 7:112:8 A. ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES TEACH WORTHWHILE LESSONS BUT IF IMPROPERLY INTERPRETED COULD LEAD TO DESPAIR. Ecclesiastes 7:1-22 1. This lesson taught by comparisons Ecclesiastes 7... [ Continue Reading ]
b. Attendance at a funeral is better than attendance at a birthday party. Ecclesiastes 7:2 TEXT 7:2 2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:2 173. Why is it better to go... [ Continue Reading ]
c. Sorrow is better than laughter. Ecclesiastes 7:3 TEXT 7:3 3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for when a face is sad a heart may be happy. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:3 177. In the contrast of the two houses in verse two, which house would hold sorrow? Which would hold laughter? 178. Explain this v... [ Continue Reading ]
d. Wisdom is better than folly. Ecclesiastes 7:4 TEXT 7:4 4 The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, while the mind of the fool is in the house of pleasure. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:4 180. What decision does the wise man make? 181. List the reasons from the first three verses as to why a... [ Continue Reading ]
e. A rebuke from the wise is better than the song of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:5-7 TEXT 7:5-7 5 It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than for one to listen to the song of fools. 6 For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool, and this too is futilit... [ Continue Reading ]
f. Patience is better than anxiety. Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 TEXT 7:8-9 8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning; patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. 9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:8-9 185. To... [ Continue Reading ]
g. The now is better than the former days. Ecclesiastes 7:10 TEXT 7:10 10 Do not say, Why is it that the former days are better than these? For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:10 189. What would be considered the former days? 190. Why is it unwise for us to... [ Continue Reading ]
h. Wisdom is better than haughty judgment. Ecclesiastes 7:11 TEXT 7:11 11 Wisdom along with an inheritance is good and an advantage to those who see the sun. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:11 191. Who are the ones meant by those who see the sun? 192. Wisdom plus what is an advantage? PARAPHRASE 7:11... [ Continue Reading ]
i. Wisdom is better than money. Ecclesiastes 7:12 TEXT 7:12 12 For wisdom is protection just as money is protection. But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:12 193. What advantage does wisdom have over money? 194. Wisdom leads... [ Continue Reading ]
j. Trusting God for tomorrow is better than knowing about tomorrow. Ecclesiastes 7:13-14 TEXT 7:13-14 13 Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent? 14 In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity considerGod has made the one as well as the other... [ Continue Reading ]
2. This lesson is taught even when the opposite appears to be true. Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 a. The wicked are rewarded and the righteous suffer. Ecclesiastes 7:15 TEXT 7:15 15 I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and ther... [ Continue Reading ]
b. Warnings against the wrong interpretations of life Ecclesiastes 7:16-17 TEXT 7:16-17 16 Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? 17 Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time? THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:1... [ Continue Reading ]
c. Choose the best in life. Ecclesiastes 7:18 TEXT 7:18 18 It is good that you grasp one thing and also not let go of the other, for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:18 203. Identify the two things one should hold on to. (Ecclesiastes 7:16-17) 204. Wha... [ Continue Reading ]
3. Wisdom leads to proper attitudes and conduct. Ecclesiastes 7:19-22 a. Wisdom strengthens the wise. Ecclesiastes 7:19 TEXT 7:19 19 Wisdom strengthens a wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:19 205. What theme is still under discussion? 206. What is of greate... [ Continue Reading ]
b. Wisdom leads one to see his own sin. Ecclesiastes 7:20 TEXT 7:20 20 Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:20 207. What truth is stated here that is also taught in Romans 3:10? 208. In the light of this verse, why do... [ Continue Reading ]
c. Wisdom protects against false accusations and self-righteousness. Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 TEXT 7:21-22 21 Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, lest you hear your servant cursing you. 22 For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others. THOUGHT QUEST... [ Continue Reading ]
B. IMPORTANT LESSONS DRAWN FROM THESE OBSERVATIONS Ecclesiastes 7:23-29 1. Practical lessons can be learned but the deeper things are unattainable. Ecclesiastes 7:23-24 TEXT 7:23-24 23 I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me. 24 What has been is remote... [ Continue Reading ]
2. Through intensive study, one comes to see the potential within men and women to do evil. Ecclesiastes 7:25-28 TEXT 7:25-28 25 I directed my mind to know, to investigate, and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness. 26 And I discovered m... [ Continue Reading ]
3. A final observation: Men seek evil devices. Ecclesiastes 7:29 TEXT 7:29 29 Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices. THOUGHT QUESTIONS 7:29 222. How many things did Solomon discover? 223. What do you think is meant by the term uprigh... [ Continue Reading ]