Ecclesiastes 8: 1-17.
The Book Of Ecclesiastes:
Encourages Us To:
HONOR God, ( Give God Glory ).
OBEY His Commandments, ( Advance His Kingdom ).
ENJOY Life, ( Thank Him For Everything He Has Given You ).
SUMMARY OF BOOK:
God Has Precise Duties Under The Sun.
God Has Perfectly Planned All Things.
God Has Perfect Wisdom Disclosed When He Dictates.
God Has Postponed Judgment On Mankind.
THE VANITIES OF ECCLESIASTES:
QUICK REVIEW:
The Preacher Began His Search For Meaning In Life.
First:
Human Wisdom Is Like Grasping For The Wind.
Second:
True Living: Not Found In Achievement Without God.
Third:
God’s Gifts Will Never Answer The Desire For Meaning In Life.
Fourth:
The Mysterious Purposes Of God Are Incomprehensible.
Revelation From Scripture Is How To Discern God’s Purposes.
Fifth:
Contrast Between Love Of SELF vs. Love Of Others.
Sixth:
Right Priorities Always Begin With God.
Seventh:
The Things We Think Will Bring Us Joy Fail Us.
Eight:
Counsel For Better Living.
Counsel For Balanced Living.
A Good Reputation Finds Honor Before God And Men.
Do Things In Moderation.
Wisdom Alone Is Not The Answer:
NOW: CHAPTER 8:
ONE POSSIBLE OUTLINE:
1. KEEP THE KING'S COMMAND: 1-9.
HOW TO PRESERVE JOY THROUGH RIGHT ACTION.
Godly Wisdom Is For Enduring Life’s Vanities.
Godly Wisdom Is Counsel For Dealing With Life.
Counsel Guided By Wisdom Given Him By God.
Ecc 1:16.
Remember:
Counsel Gleaned From His Own Search For Meaning.
Ecc 7:27.
Counsel For Better Living.
Ecc 7:1-14.
Counsel For Balanced Living.
Ecc 7:15-29.
No Matter What We Do, There Are Some Things.
We Cannot Change.
We Cannot Escape The Inevitability Of Death.
We Must Endure The Governments Of Men.
BUT WISDOM CAN HELP.
Ecc 8:1.
ENDURING THE GOVERNMENTS OF MEN:
SUBMIT TO AUTHORITIES FOR GOD’S SAKE.
Obey The King’s Command.
Ecc 8:2-3.
Respect His Power, And You Will Be Unharmed.
Ecc 8:4-5a.
A Wise Man Will Understand That Judgment Will Come In It’s Own Time.
So Don’t Resort To Wickedness (Rebellion) To Alleviate Misery.
Ecc 8:5b-9.
Compare This Counsel With That Given To Christians:
1 Peter 2:13-17:
SUBMISSION TO AUTHORITY IS THE EMPHASIS HERE;
Again, BE SUBJECT TO AUTHORITY FOR THE LORD'S SAKE:
Be Subject TO EVERY HUMAN INSTITUTION:
WHETHER IT BE TO A King Or Emperor,
OR:
TO GOVERNORS SENT BY HIM TO PUNISH THOSE WHO DO EVIL AND TO PRAISE THOSE WHO DO GOOD.
FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD THAT BY DOING GOOD YOU SHOULD PUT TO SILENCE THE IGNORANCE OF FOOLISH PEOPLE.
LIVE AS PEOPLE WHO ARE FREE,
NOT USING YOUR FREEDOM AS A COVER-UP FOR EVIL,
BUT LIVING AS SERVANTS OF GOD.
And, HONOR EVERYONE. LOVE YOUR FAMILY. FEAR GOD.
GOD DESIGNED GOVERNMENTS TO RESTRAIN EVIL AND REWARD GOOD.
GOVERNMENTS LOSE THEIR GODLY PURPOSE WHEN THEY ALLOW EVIL, PRAISE EVIL, RESTRAIN GOOD.
GOVERNMENTS GIVE UP THEIR AUTHORITY FROM GOD WHEN THEY PRACTICE AND PROMOTE THIS UPSIDE DOWN PRINCIPAL.
2. THOSE WHO FEAR GOD WILL DO WELL: 10-14.
HOW TO PRESERVE JOY BY AVOIDING WICKEDNESS.
ANTICIPATE WICKED RULERS:
There Will Be Times When Men Rule To Their Own Harm.
Ecc 8:9.
But They Will Soon Be Forgotten After Their Demise.
Ecc 8:10.
WHY DO SOME PERSIST IN THEIR EVIL RULE?
Because Their Judgment Does Not Occur Immediately.
Ecc 8:11.
Even So, It Is Still Better To Fear God.
Ecc 8:12-13.
Sometimes The Righteous Suffer, And The Wicked Prosper.
Ecc 8:14.
WE CANNOT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND
WHY THINGS HAPPEN THE WAY THEY DO.
3. MAN CANNOT KNOW GOD'S WAYS: 14-17.
LIFE REMAINS INCOMPREHENSIBLE.
EXPECT TO BE PERPLEXED:
ENJOY LIFE:
Delight In The Fruits Of Your Own Labor.
Ecc 8:15.
THIS ADVICE IS GIVEN THROUGHOUT THIS BOOK.
There Is Nothing Better For A Person Than That He Should Eat And Drink And Find Enjoyment In His Toil.
Ecc 2:24-26.
God Created Us For Four Main Reasons:
To Give Him Glory.
Psalm 96:3.
To Have Fellowship With Him.
1 Corinthians 1:9.
To Bear Fruit.
John 15:8.
To Do Good For His Glory.
Ephesians 2:10.
Now:
There Is Hope In Fighting The Inequities In The Governments Of Men.
HOWEVER, As Long As There Are Imperfect Men, There Will Be Imperfect Governments.
Be Careful That The Mission Of The Church Is Not Derailed.
It Is Our Priority To Make Sure To Obey The Laws, Do Good, Trust In God, Advance His Kingdom, And Enjoy The Fruits Of One’s Labor.
SO WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED:
This Chapter Is About Divine Authority.
This Chapter Teaches To Submit For God's Sake.
This Chapter Teaches That Death Comes To Us All.
So To Fear And Obey God Is The Wisest Choice.
Solomon Comes To Recommend Wisdom To Us.
It is The Most Powerful Antidote Against The Temptations That Arise From The Vanity Of The World.
A. The Benefit And Praise Of Wisdom.
B. Some Particular Instances Of Wisdom Prescribed:
1. Submit To The Government God Has Set Over Us.
2. Get Ready For Sudden Evils And For Sudden Death.
3. Arm Ourselves Against The Temptation Of An Oppressive Government.
4. Do Not Think An Oppressive Government Is Strange.
The Freedom Of Oppressors Makes Them More Daring.
In The End, It Will Be Well With The Righteous And Not Well For The Wicked.
The Present Prosperity Of The Wicked And Afflictions Of The Righteous Should Not To Be A Stumbling-Block.
5. Cheerfully Use The Gifts Of God's Providence.
6. Agree In The Will Of God With Complete Trust.
Humbly And Silently Love The Depth Of His Unsearchable Counsel.
Being Assured They Are All Wise, Just, And Good.
This Lesson Title: THE PROBLEM OF EVIL:
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