Solomon considers the day to day wisdom and folly of life under the sun. He begins to make the point that fearing God is the one thing needful.
Ecclesiastes 7: The Contrast of Wisdom and Folly
1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
5 It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.
6 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity.
7 Surely oppression drives the wise into madness, and a bribe corrupts the heart.
8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
10 Say not, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.
11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.
12 For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.
13 Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked?
14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.
15 In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing.
16 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself?
17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.
19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers who are in a city.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
21 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.
22 Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, "I will be wise," but it was far from me.
24 That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?
25 I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.
26 And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.
27 Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things---
28 which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.
29 See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
Ecclesiastes 8: Keep the King's Command
1 Who is like the wise? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.
2 I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him.
3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.
4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, "What are you doing?"
5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.
6 For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him.
7 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?
8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.
9 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun, when man had power over man to his hurt.
Those Who Fear God Will Do Well
10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity.
11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.
13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Man Cannot Know God's Ways
14 There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.
15 And I commend joy, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.
16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep,
17 then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.
Things to think about…
1. Solomon reckons that mourning is to be preferred before mirth, Eccl 7:1-4. He is of course speaking about its influence upon the character rather than preferring a masochistic mentality. I find that those who have suffered have a humility of spirit and a genuineness in their outlook that has been refined through their suffering. Have you been to the house of mourning? What did you find there?
2. Eccl 7:13 refers to God making something straight that He first made crooked. Surely God only wants a straight path. How is it that He makes things crooked. The answer is that God is sovereign and nothing can thwart His plan, therefore rejoice regardless of the season, vs 14. We may think the thing is crooked, but the Lord has a clear purpose in it all, Rom 8:28. What ‘crooked’ path has the Lord made in your life that ended up being a blessing for you and others?
3. Eccl 7:15-18 are interesting verses. Why would the Lord say “Do not be overly righteous…or wise”. This refers to self-righteousness and worldly wisdom. The Pharisees were righteous, and the Greeks were wise, both ideologies were anti-Christ. The Lord wants a resolved ‘realness’ as we worship Him – no fakes allowed. He sees right through us. As Solomon goes onto say ‘you know how many times you have cursed others’, Eccl 7:22. Let’s be real with God and each other and not be easily offended in the process.
4. God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes, Eccl 7:29. Isn’t that the truth. Admasn and Eve were sinless, but rebelledOnly the Lord can reverse this situation. Indeed He has by sending His Son to redeem a people back to Himself. Praise the Lord that He sometimes sends seasons of revival. Keep praying folks.
5. Those in political leadership are accountable to God for how they rule, Eccl 8:2. We often hear that we get the government we deserve. Praise God for the installation of a man who knows Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. Pray he governs well and that his faith affects his decisions as Prime Minister. May he be led by the Holy Spirit.
6. Eccl 8:8 is a sobering verse. We have no power over the day or time of death. Like the completion of a war, there is no discharge until it is over. The key of course is to be prepared for that day – only achieved through accepting Christ as the Saviour who has defeated the enemies of sin and death.
7. I often wonder how more reformed morally our society would be if the observation in Eccl 8:11 was adhered to in our legal system. Some cases take years to be decided and as such crime is often considered as a viable option to some.
8. Eternity is the setting around Eccl 8:12, 13. We lament when the wicked rule or prosper, even when they seem to live long lives of apparent blessing. But death and the day of judgement come to all. The shadow for the wicked does not extend in the day of judgement and eternity.
9. How true is Eccl 8:15. Be joyful and praise God for what He has given you. Solomon goes on to say that we will never fully know the ways of God, vs 17, so let’s praise God with the understanding that we do have regarding the Lord’s character and His love for His children.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “Living each day as your last” – Reading 1 Thess 4:13-5:11.
1. Jesus is returning to the earth. It is called the Day of the Lord. While we don’t know the exact time and that He will come like a thief, it will be universal. Have you ever given any thought to this or the day of your own death?
2. When this Day occurs, the dead in Christ will rise first. How certain are you of the resurrection of Christ and even you own resurrection. Do you have any evidence to support your claims.
3. What do you understand about the rapture? When and how will it occur?
4. Does this practically relate to the gospel and our witness to others?
Prayer Points
1. The right choice for a full time Youth and Young Adults Pastor to start Jan 2023.
2. Some away through sickness.
3. Ministry leaders within the church.
4. Sunday’s members meeting.
5. Peace to rest over Ukraine.
6. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
7. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Many returning back to full health.
2. Worship on Sunday – thankyou Gina, Suzy, Zac, Richard and Maddison looking after Kidz at Church. Bec doing the words. Fiona and Suzy in café always do a stellar job. Thankyou for those who welcomed at the door.
3. All those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
4. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Remember to check your duty rosters.
2. Members’ meeting 28th August after the morning service.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism question for August...
Q. 7. What is hell? A. A place of dreadful and endless punishment & torment.
