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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:

1. In verses 1 through 3, Solomon states that all mankind share a common destiny. What is it?
   1. ANSWER: Death.
2. What does Solomon say about the righteous and the wise and what they do in these same verses?
   1. ANSWER: All that they do is in God’s hands; they have no control over the outcome or the future.
3. What does Solomon say is wrong with everything that happens under the sun?
   1. ANSWER: That the same end awaits them all—death in the end is the final destiny of everything on the earth and under the sun.
4. How does Solomon’s statement in verses 4 through 6 differ from other world views today?
   1. ANSWER: Many believe there is hope after death, in fact some religions teach life begins anew after death. People go on to populate planets or live with many virgins etc., etc., and reincarnation even teaches about coming back to this earth again and again and that how you live and act today affects how you will return in your next life or the life after that.
5. 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?
   1. ANSWER: We are to live this life with joy and we are to live it as God intended, clothed in righteousness.
6. 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)
   1. ANSWER: Through Christ. Only by allowing him to transform our lives can we live as we should glorifying God in all that we do.
7. Compare verse 10 with Colossians 3:23 what are these two verses telling us to do?
   1. ANSWER: That whatever our lot in life, whatever work or family or friends or situation God puts us in we are to glorify him. Even though we may not know the reason or the future outcome we should do all that we can to please God and honor Him in all that we say and do.
8. 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.
   1. ANSWER: For example we can find many very well educated people who never succeeded at anything and we can find many uneducated people who succeeded quite well.
9. 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]

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