Ecclesiastes
Lesson 8Ecclesiastes 9:1-18
In this lesson, we will be examining Ecclesiastes Chapter 9, as Solomon begins to address the fact that man does not know what will happen to him. From here through the early verses of Chapter 11, Solomon considers the fact that we as individuals do not know what the future holds; and this knowledge, i.e., that no one knows what is coming in their future, should influence how we live out our lives.
Solomon realizes that man cannot know how the future will turn out, whether they will succeed or fail, or whether good or bad awaits them. He then looks begins a look in Chapter 9 to discern what affect this uncertainty has on man. In studying this section of Ecclesiastes, we will be able to determine what the important issues are in our lives and which ones are not. We will also see how this knowledge should affect how we live our lives, how we do our work, and how we view our Savior, and how this view sets us apart from the world around us.
Let’s read Chapter 9 then consider the following:
- In verses 1 through 3, Solomon states that all mankind share a common destiny. What is it?
- What does Solomon say about the righteous and the wise and what they do in these same verses?
- What does Solomon say is wrong with everything that happens under the sun?
- How does Solomon’s statement in verses 4 through 6 differ from other world views today?
- In verses 7 through 9, how does Solomon say we are to live life today given what he has learned in all of his wisdom?
- In verse 8, Solomon tells us to live our lives "clothed in white" and to always "anoint your head with oil." How can we do that today? How do we live a righteous life today? (See Romans 12:1-2)
- Compare verse 10 with Colossians 3:23 what are these two verses telling us to do?
- Read verses 11 and 12, then write down examples you have seen in the world around you that point to what Solomon is saying, even today his words are as true now as they were then.
- In the closing verses of the chapter Solomon again talks about the value of being wise and listening to the wise. During times of turmoil and uncertainty it is easy to get caught up in the emotion of the moment, Solomon counsels us to listen to the wise and not pay attention to what may be the shouts of the foolish. In summary Solomon tells us in this chapter to live each day as though it is the only one God has given us and to live it in a way that gives God the glory and honor. Read Colossians Chapter 3 and list below the ways in which Paul tells us we can live the kind of life Solomon is telling us to live.
Let’s pray this week that God will show us how to improve the way we live so that it may better reflect Him living within us. Taking each day as it comes doing all that we do so that it brings glory and honor to Him.
In Christ,
Wes
[2017]