This week, we shall finish the study of the book of Ecclesiastes in the
Old Testament.
5:15-17—The Evil of Wealth (continued)—it appears that the evil of v. 16ff is related to the foregoing (v. 14)
(1) Solomon seems to echo what Job said (Job 1:21) in v. 15:
a. Is it a blessing or a curse?
b. Why could Job give praise to the Lord for this very fact?
(2) Is 5:17 an accurate picture of most people? Why or why not? (Note: Eating in darkness may simply refer to having dinner only after a long, hard day in the relative darkness of the ancient time in the absence of electricity.)
(3) Given what is said in vv. 16-17, do you think this is a greater evil to the poor or to the rich? Why?
5:18–6:9—Enjoyment of One’s Wealth—Solomon contrasts two kinds of people with wealth.
(4) Who belong to the first kind that Solomon sees as “good”? (5:18-20)
(5) Who belong to the second kind? (6:1-2)
a. In what way are they similar to the first kind?
b. In what way are they different?
c. Does Solomon explain what contributes to their different fates? What do you think?
(6) How can one have prosperity (i.e. wealth, possessions, honor [v. 2] and even many children [v. 3]) but cannot enjoy it and will not even receive a proper burial?
a. Have you come across someone like this?
b. Why does Solomon compare such a person to a stillborn child? (vv. 4-6)
(7) The bottom line is this (according to Solomon), whether one is wise or a fool, poor or rich (vv. 7-9):
a. “Everyone’s toil is for their mouth”: How true is this statement?
b. “yet their appetite is never satisfied”: Why is it?
c. His conclusion is thus, “Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite”. What does he mean? Do you agree?
d. Why then even this is meaningless and a chasing after the wind?
6:10-12—Conclusion on Wealth—Note that in his observation about wealth and enjoyment (or the lack of it), Solomon does not see one’s sin or wickedness as a contributing factor at all. All seems to be arbitrary:
(8) Who is the one stronger (than man)?
(9) Since “whatever (referring to things?) exists has already been named”, and whoever (i.e. humanity) “is has been known”, and we cannot contend with our Maker, what implication does he draw concerning all the words he has said? (v. 11)
(10) V. 12 is his conclusion “under the sun”, representing man’s view without regard to eternity:
a. How will you take it as a Christian?
b. Does it help you gain any insight into the life of a person without God?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
7:1-10—Antithesis of What is Better—What Solomon opines here is sometimes just the opposite of what we normally think:
(1) Name versus perfume: (v. 1a)
a. What is common between a good name and fine perfume?
b. What might be the differences between the two? (including its source, its value and its longevity etc.)
(2) Death versus birth, in the context of this small section (vv. 1-4)
a. In what way(s) is the “day” of death better than the “day” of birth? (vv. 2, 4)
b. Honestly, which one do you prefer to attend: a memorial service or a birthday party?
c. Why?
d. What attitude should you have when you attend a memorial or funeral service?
(3) Of course, we do not like frustration and sadness: How does Solomon's advice in v. 3 help us to deal with them?
(4) We do not enjoy being rebuked: How does v. 5 help you deal with rebukes?
(5) How then should we greet praises as a wise person? (vv. 5-6)
(6) V. 7 is not a contrast but a straight forward proverb:
a. Under what circumstance(s) might even a wise person resort to “extortion” (or torture)?
b. Under what circumstances(s) might even a wise person resort to “bribery”?
(7) Why are the “end” and the “beginning” of a matter likened to “patience” and “pride”? (v. 8) Why then is the “end” better?
(8) Given the proverb in v. 9, do you understand why Paul admonishes Titus not to appoint someone with a “quick temper” as a church leader? (Tit. 1:7)
(9) We love to say all the time, “The good old days”. Why is not wise to say that? (v. 10)
7:11-12—The Praise of Wisdom
(10) In what way(s) is wisdom like an inheritance and money?
(11) What advantage does having wisdom have over the two? (v. 12)
7:13-18—The Fear of God
(12) Since no one can change what God has done
a. How then should we face good times and bad times? (v. 14)
b. Why?
(13) What is meant by being “over-righteous” and being “over-wise”? (v. 16)
(14) Why would they destroy us?
(15) Why does Solomon say that “Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes”?
(16) How can you apply this truth to yourself?
7:19-29—No One is Righteous
(17) Consider that there is not a righteous person of earth (v. 20).
a. Who should be responsible: men or God, the Maker? (v. 29)
b. Why does Solomon appear to say that more women are wicked than men? (vv. 27, 28)
c. Is that his bias or is this a fact?
(18) While Solomon recognizes that “whatever wisdom may be” it is far from him, what then does he focus his search on? (v. 25) Why?
(19) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Obey the King, Good or Bad (8:1-9)
(1) Consider that commentators in general do not have a fixed opinion about what v. 1 has to do with the following verses:
a. Why can wisdom brighten a person’s face and change his hard appearance?
b. How then can wisdom help a person before a perhaps unreasonable command of a king?
(2) In admonishing us to obey a king’s
command (in ancient times, the king had absolute authority), consider the following:
a. What is the foundational reason given? (v. 2)
b. What is the ethical reason given? (v. 3)
c. What is the practical reason given? (v. 4)
d. What is the functional reason given? (v. 5)
e. What is meant by “a proper time and procedure", especially when one is “weighed down by misery”? (v. 6)
f. How should the uncertainty about the outcome of a matter, especially death, influence our attitude toward the king’s command? (vv. 7-8)
(3) How does Solomon also use the absolute power of the king in not releasing a person of his military duty as an analogy of the consequence of practicing wickedness? (v. 8)
(4) As a king, how does Solomon counsel another monarch with absolute power? (v. 9)
8:10-15—The Wicked and the Righteous
(5) What kind of wicked persons does Solomon describe in v. 10?
(6) What does Solomon attribute to as the reason for increased wickedness (v. 11)?
(7) How may we learn from this as one of the ways of containing crimes in our city?
(8) What observation does Solomon make about the fate of a wicked person? (vv. 12-13)
(9) Is that always the case? (v. 14)
(10) Since it is not, what does Solomon advise us to do? (v. 15)
(11) Do you agree? Why or why not?
8:16-17—The Limitation of Human Wisdom
(12) What observation does he make in v. 16?
(13) Why does it lead him to recognize the limitation of human wisdom?
(14) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
9:1-12—A Common Destiny?
(1) The righteous and the wise (v. 1):
a. What is meant by “what they do are in God’s hands” in contrast to the wicked and the fool?
b. Yes, no one knows what lies ahead of them, but does it really matter to the righteous and the wise? Why or why not?
(2) The good and the bad (vv. 2-3)
a. Of all the contrasts in v. 2, why does Solomon include, “those who take oaths and those who are afraid to take them” (v. 2) ? What’s wrong with being afraid to make commitments?
b. Is Solomon really saying that the hearts of all peoples are full of evil and madness? (see Jer. 17:9)
(3) Advantage of the living (vv. 4-10)
a. What advantage does the living have over the dead? (vv. 4-6)
b. For this to be an advantage, what must the living do, as implied by Solomon in vv. 5-6?
c. While all share a common destiny which is death, why then is it an evil? (v. 3)
d. Solomon seems to conclude that since all share a common destiny, life is thus meaningless (v. 9).
- What advice does he give to the living? (vv. 7-10)
- Do you think he is being sarcastic or serious? Why?
(4) Something else (vv. 11-12)
a. What two realities in life does he observe?
b. Do these observations validate his conclusion in vv. 7-10? Why or why not?
9:13-18—An Example of Wisdom
(5) Are you equally impressed with the wisdom of this poor man? Why or why not?
(6) Why did the people of the city despise his wisdom and no longer heed his words?
(7) What lesson might you learn from this example?
(8) What lesson has Solomon learned? (vv. 17-18)
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
This chapter is a collection of (unrelated) proverbs; let’s consider the meaning and application of each:
(1) V. 1 seems to be connected with 9:18b in ideas and should be considered together. How should we guard against “a little folly”, so that it would not ruin all the good that we have done?
(2) Vv. 2-3 (see Note below): Can a fool hide his folly? Why or why not?
(3) V. 4: What is the best way to deal with an angry person?
(4) Vv. 5-7: Such a phenomenon is not unique to Solomon’s observation.
a. Is it necessarily a bad thing?
b. If this is indeed “an error”, from your own observation, how will such an error be corrected?
(5) Vv. 8-9 and 11: There are inherent risks in everything we do:
a. Does it mean that we should avoid doing it?
b. Or, should we be careful in doing it?
(6) V. 10: What does this “common-sense” observation teach us?
(7) Vv. 12-14: Words matter
a. What marks the words of the wise? (v. 12)
b. What marks the words of the fool? (v. 14a)
c. What do the words of the fool lead to?
(8) V.15: Most of us are wearied by our toil and labor.
a. What sets the fools apart in this respect?
b. Why?
(9) Vv. 16-20—About kings and princes
a. Solomon observes that good rulers are those who do not give themselves to drunkenness, pleasures and laziness (vv. 16-17). Why would he appear to condone feasting, wine and money? (v. 19)
b. What is the truth expressed in v. 20 (which is not necessarily confined to thoughts and criticisms against the rich and powerful)?
c. How may we apply this to our daily lives?
(10) What is the most meaningful message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
“In ancient Israel the right hand connoted power and deliverance; the right side, moral goodness and favor. Hence the place of honor was on the right side. The left hand usually symbolized ineptness and perversity.” (Crenshaw, 169)
11:1-6—Wise Investment Strategies
(1) What two investment strategies does Solomon advocate in vv. 1-2?
(2) In advocating a “long-term” investment (v. 1), what natural phenomenon does he use to denote that while it takes time for an investment to yield returns, the result will certainly come? (v. 3a)
(3) What does he use to tell us that success is not guaranteed? (v. 3b, v. 6)
(4) What might be the reasons that could prevent one from investing wisely? (vv. 4-5)
(5) What reason does he give to encourage us to diversify our investments and to work hard? (vv. 2, 6)
11:7-10—Enjoy Life, But…
(6) Let’s enjoy life (vv. 7-8): While telling us to enjoy life while we can (while the sun is shining), Solomon also reminds us to “remember” the days of darkness which are inevitable and many (v. 8).
a. What does “to remember” mean since these are dark days yet to come?
b. How will such a “remembrance” affect our attitude in life?
(7) Advice to the young (vv. 9-10)
a. How do most young people live their lives today?
b. Is the advice to “follow the way” of their hearts necessarily helpful to them?
c. If they take God’s judgment seriously, how will it affect the way they enjoy life? (v. 10; see Note below)
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
Luther translates v.10a as “banish sorrow from thy heart, and put evil from thy body” (K&D, 787).
As Solomon reaches the end of his thesis on life, he gives two very insightful conclusions that should be heeded by all:
12:1-8—Remember Your Creator—Solomon uses one of the most humorous images in the whole book to remind us the futility of life—the picture of one’s aging:
(1) Remembering our Creator when we are young (v. 1)
a. What does “remember your Creator” mean?
b. What impact should it have on those who are still young?
c. Is it hard to do for the young? Why or why not?
d. Is it easy then for the old to do? Why or why not?
(2) Solomon calls old age, “the days of trouble” in which we will “find no pleasure in them”, and he goes on to explain why. See if you agree (vv. 2-6).
a. V. 2: How does this verse depict our weakening body as a whole?
b. V. 3a: How does it depict our knees and legs in old age?
c. V. 3b: How does it depict our teeth and our weakening eyesight?
d. V. 4: How does it depict (on the one hand) our loss of hearing and (on the other hand) our early rising?
e. V. 5a: How does it depict our difficulties in crossing the street?
f. V. 5b: While not all almond trees bloom in white, Dachsel explains that “the almond tree with its reddish flower in late winter, which strews the ground with its blossoms, which have gradually become white like snow-flakes, is an emblem of the winter of old age with its falling silver hair” (Quoted in D&K, 796). What do you think?
g. V. 5b also describes a loss of desire: What might it include when one gets old?
h. Vv. 5c-6: Finally, death! See how vivid an image is used for dying.
- Silver cord: It likely refers to our spirit — severed from the body!
- Golden bowl (for oil, as in Zech. 4): It likely refers to our soul — broken, poured out!
- Spring and well denote the source of life: The pitcher and the wheel denote the body that used to contain it — shattered and broken!
(3) How does v. 7 harkens back to the curse God pronounced in Genesis 3:19? However, Solomon mentions something more in v. 7 compared to Gen. 3:19. What is it? Why?
(4) Should “old age” be called “days of trouble” in which one would find “no pleasure”? (v. 1)
(5) What lesson can one learn from the above?
(6) Should life then be meaningless? (v. 8) Why or why not?
12:9-14—Conclusion of the Matter
(7) To what does Solomon attribute the source of his wise words? (v. 11)
(8) Why does he warn others about writing and reading too many books?
(9) Having reflected on the meaning of life (or rather, the lack thereof), he concludes that the duty of all mankind is to (i) fear God and (ii) keep His commandments.
a. What reason does he give? (v. 14)
b. What then is the meaning of life?
c. Does he address it? Why or why not?
(10) What is the main message of the Book of Ecclesiastes to you and how may you apply it to your life?