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1st – Everyone dies… 1-6

  • 1st – No Guarantee… vs. 1
    • Accepted by God…
      • For I considered all this in my heart so that I could declare it all: 
      • That the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. 
      • People know neither love nor hatred by anything they see before them!
      • Solomon had been trying one thing after another – he did NOT rest…
      • Because [כִּי] he had put [perfect] ALL [כָּל] of these things in his HEART [לֵב]
      • Hoping that he could make CLEAR [בּוּר] to us the MEANING of life – but what he found was:
      • The DEEDS of the [הַ] RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] and the [הַ] WISE [חָכָם] are in the hand of God [אֱלֹהִים]
      • His assumption being – if we are doing GOOD and WISE things – God is happy…
      • But [גַּם] NO [אֵין] man KNOWS [יָדַע] whether God will LOVE them or HATE them!
    • No one knows…
      • How much GOOD must we do in order to make God HAPPY [love]
      • And how much BAD is allowed before it makes Him MAD [hate]
      • Solomon said no [אֵין] MAN [אָדָם] knows the answer – which is TRUE…
      • But God does know the answer – and He told us – Matthew 5:48
      • I have been working with Hallel on her MATH…
      • She is quick to become impatient – and tries to RUSH the answer…
      • But I tell her MATH is unforgiving – all it takes is ONE mistake the answer is WRONG!
      • It does NOT matter how GOOD we are – it ONLY take one mistake to FAIL…
      • That is why Jesus came to save us – because we could NEVER be good enough!
  • 2nd – No Difference… vs. 2
    • Death…
      • All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked.
      • To the good [and bad] – the clean and the unclean.
      • To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice.
      • As is the good so is the sinner. He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath!
      • EVERYONE [כָּל] goes through the same trials in life – and in the end EVERYONE [כָּל] DIES…
      • It does NOT matter if they are RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] or WICKED [רָשָׁע]
      • It makes NO difference if someone is GOOD [טֽוֹב] or BAD [κακός] – PURE or UNCLEAN…
      • Whether someone is RELIGIOUS [sacrifices] – or has NEVER [אֵין] gone to church…
      • AS [כַּ] it happens to the GOOD [טֽוֹב] man – it also happens to the SINNER!
    • Not the end…
      • Keep in mind – Solomon was unable to SEE beyond this life…
      • So he saw ALL men as coming to the same END – everyone DIES…
      • But DEATH is not the END – it is the BEGINNING!
      • When I was in high school one of my classmates called Christianity a DEATH cult…
      • He said this because he noted how Christians seem to focus on DEATH…
      • He was NOT a believer – and to him death was the END…
      • What he could NOT see is that death is just the doorway to ETERNAL life!
      • While it is TRUE that no matter how we live our life – we will all DIE…
      • What happens after death is VERY different depending on what we do with Jesus…
      • To those who are RIGHTEOUS – who put their faith in God – they will go HEAVEN…
      • To those who are WICKED – who rejected Jesus – they will end up in HELL!
  • 3rd – No Hope… vs. 3
    • Excuses…
      • This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. 
      • Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil. Madness is in their hearts while they live.
      • And after that they go to the dead!
      • Solomon saw this as UNFAIR [רַע] – that DEATH happens [niphal] to EVERYONE [כָּל]
      • He argued this is what fills the heart of men with EVIL [רַע] – and makes them act CRAZY…
      • Because they know that no matter what they do – they will DIE!
    • Warning…
      • Imagine if we could eat ANYTHING we wanted without consequences…
      • No worrying about SUGAR – or FAT – just eat whatever we like…
      • This is how many people DO live – but before long they have HEALTH problems…
      • Those PROBLEMS are our bodies way getting our attention before it is TOO late [death]!
      • This is the same truth when it comes to living a RIGHTEOUS life…
      • If someone thinks that DEATH is the end – there are no ETERNAL consequences…
      • Then it does tend to make them live an EVIL life – gives them license to be CRAZY…
      • But those who live life that way – will end up with LOTS of PROBLEMS [sin is destructive]
      • Those PROBLEMS are GODS way of trying to get our attention – before it is TOO late [hell]!
  • 4th – No Time… vs. 4-6
    • Hope… vs. 4
      • But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope.
      • For a living dog is better than a dead lion!
      • [כִּי] – FOR it is better to be a living DOG [weak] – rather than a dead LION [strong]! 
      • [כִּי] – BECAUSE whoever [מִי] is still ALIVE has HOPE [בָּטַח]
      • We are SAVED by FAITH [πίστις] – Ephesians 2:8
      • Yet the word FAITH is rarely used in the OT [only two times] – Habakkuk 2:4
      • HOPE [בָּטַח] – also translated as TRUST – is an OT equivalent of FAITH [πίστις]!
      • While ANYONE can chose at ANYTIME to be put their HOPE [faith] in God…
      • We only have until we DIE – after that our choice is sealed – Hebrews 9:27
    • Running out… vs. 5
      • For the living know that they will die – but the dead know nothing.
      • And they have no more reward for the memory of them is forgotten!
      • [כִּי] – BECAUSE those who are still ALIVE – know [יָדַע] that they are DYING [imperfect]
      • [וְ] – BUT the DEAD do NOT [אֵין] know [יָדַע] anything…
      • [וְ] – AND for them there is no longer any CHOICE [reward]
      • [כִּי] – BECAUSE they made their DECISION and are FORGOTTEN!
      • We all KNOW we are on a clock – every day it counts down to the inevitable…
      • We KNOW that NO one is going to live forever – our time is LIMITED…
      • Yet rather than making sure our ETERNITY is secure…
      • Most try and ignore the truth by keeping themselves busy with things that do NOT matter!
    • Not important… vs. 6
      • Also their love – their hatred – and their envy have now perished.
      • Nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun!
      • Also [גַּם] – the things that people think DEFINE their lives…
      • Their LOVE – and HATRED – their ENVY for things that do NOT last [אָבַד]
      • Are ALL [כָּל] gone [אֵין] once they leave this life [under the sun]!
      • If you ask a young person what is most important to them…
      • They will say their education – who they will marry – or what they want to buy…
      • Yet NONE of those things last – they are ALL temporary!
      • The ONLY thing that matter in LIFE – is making sure we have Jesus…
      • Everything else is a distraction that BLINDS us to what is MOST important…
      • Because our relationship with Jesus is the ONE thing that we can keep after DEATH!
  • 2nd – Enjoy life… 7-12
    • 1st – Merry heart… vs. 7-10
      • Be Happy… vs. 7
        • Go… with a merry heart. For God has already accepted your works!
        • As Solomon saw it as UNFAIR that both the GOOD and SINNER died…
        • Causing men to do EVIL – and be CRAZY – because they all had the same END…
        • His command [imperative] was to ENJOY life – he assumed this PLEASED [רָצָה] God [אֱלֹהִים]!
        • This again is where we need to take the WISDOM of Solomon in context…
        • He was a man BLINDED by sin – who could NOT see beyond this life – I Kings 11:4
        • He was trying to find MEANING – apart from knowing God [אֱלֹהִים]
        • Which we see emphasized in how he NEVER uses the name of the LORD [יְהוָה] in this book!
        • What is powerful about the FOUR things that Solomon gave…
        • They are the same FOUR things we see people still look to TODAY…
        • The things people use to try and FILL the God shaped HOLE in their lives…
        • But they can NEVER make us CONTENT – we will still be THIRSTY…
        • And they can do NOTHING for us after we die – they CANNOT save us!
      • Eating… vs. 7
        • Eat your bread with joy and drink your wine
        • Therefore – if DEATH comes to all – and we ONLY have this life…
        • FIRST – enjoy eating [imperative] and drinking [imperative]!
        • We all LOVE to EAT – but some people LIVE to EAT…
        • All they talk about is their favorite RESTAURANT – the best FOOD…
        • Others LOVE to DRINK – they cannot wait to get DRUNK…
        • For them there is NOTHING better than for ALCOHOL to help them FORGET their problems!
        • While there is NOTHING wrong with enjoying a meal [Jesus loved to eat]
        • No matter how good the FOOD is – we will be hungry again – John 6:51
        • And while it is NOT wrong to have a glass of wine [do NOT get drunk] – Ephesians 5:18
        • No one has ever found that answer to life at the bottom of that glass!
      • Clothing… vs. 8
        • Let your garments always be white – and let your head lack no oil!
        • SECOND – make sure to look GOOD…
        • Keep [imperative] your clothes CLEAN [white] – and smell GOOD [anointed head]
        • We live in a world that is OBSESSED with outward appearances…
        • People spend HOURS every week in the GYM just to LOOK good – I Timothy 4:8
        • Yet in the end we all still get OLD – and WRINKLY – and then DIE…
        • People also spend outrageous amounts of money on DESIGNER clothes [purses]
        • Yet NONE of these things last – the best clothes still wear out – Matthew 6:19
        • That is what we are told to NOT focus on the EXTERNAL!
        • I Peter 3:3-4 – “Do not be concerned about the outward beauty… clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within.” [NLT]
      • Marriage… vs. 9
        • [Look at life] with the wife whom you [loved].
        • All the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun – all your days of vanity.
        • For that is your portion in life and in the labor which you perform under the sun!
        • THIRD – Look [רָאָה] at life with your wife [not with joy as some translations interpret]
        • We know that women were a PROBLEM for Solomon – he had THOUSAND wives…
        • This was his SIN – he disobeyed the command of God – Deuteronomy 17:17
        • As a result we can see the BITTERNESS it brought out of him…
        • Look [imperative] at life with the WIFE that you [past tense] LOVED [perfect]
        • ALL [כָּל] of the days of your EMPTY life [repeated twice for emphasis]
        • [כִּי] BECAUSE – she is your REWARD [חֵלֶק] in this life…
        • And is with you in your TROUBLE [עָמָל] that you SUFFER [עָמֵל] under the SUN!
        • It used to be that the world painted marriage as HAPPILY ever after [Disney]
        • Now they has changed their tune to – why bother getting married it will not last!
        • Marriage is a blessing – it is part of the perfect plan of God – Genesis 2:18
        • But anyone who has been married for more than a few hours – knows marriage is HARD…
        • When you put two sinner together – it causes a LOT of TROUBLE…
        • Which is why if we think MARRIAGE is the answer – we will be DISAPPOINTED!
      • Working… vs. 10
        • Whatever your hand finds to do – do it with your might.
        • For there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going!
        • FORTH – Work hard while you still can…
        • Solomon connects his work to what his WIFE wants…
        • EVERYTHING [כָּל] your WIFE finds [feminine] for your hand to do – DO it [imperative]
        • [כִּי] BECAUSE there is NO [אִין] – work – planning – knowledge – or wisdom once we are DEAD!
        • I have to say first of all – I LOVE that Solomon connects his work to his wife…
        • Anyone who is married knows how important the HONEY – do – list is!
        • But seeking to find MEANING from WORK [money] is empty…
        • Because all of our efforts ONLY last for this life – we CANNOT take anything with us…
        • Therefore all of our WORK is WASTED – if we are just trying to get things!
        • Luke 12:15 – “Life is not measured by how much you own.” [NLT]
    • 2nd – Not in control… vs. 11-12
      • All Chance… vs. 11
        • I returned and saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift.
        • Nor the battle to the strong. Nor bread to the wise. Nor riches to men of understanding.
        • Nor favor to men of skill – but time and chance happen to them all!
        • Something caused Solomon to rethink [שׁוּב] his conclusion [enjoy life]
        • He realized life is NOT based on MERITOCRACY [how hard we try]
        • The FASTEST runner does NOT always win the race…
        • The STRONGEST soldier does NOT always win the battle…
        • The WISEST man can go hungry – the SMARTEST man can be poor…
        • Even those who SEE [יָדַע] that this is true – may not find GRACE [חֵן]
        • [כִּי] BECAUSE – TIME and CHANCE are what decide ALL [כָּל] things!
        • LUCKY [chumba] – being at the right place at the right time…
        • Life is NOT fair – being blessed or cursed seems to just be an ACCIDENT!
        • This is the perspective of someone who does NOT know the Lord…
        • Because – although it is true that we are NOT in control…
        • That does NOT mean life is random – NOTHING happens by accident…
        • The Lord is the one who is SOVEREIGN over EVERYTHING!
        • Ephesians 1:11 – “He makes everything work out according to his plan.” [NLT
      • No warning… vs. 12
        • For man also does not know his time: 
        • Like fish taken in a cruel net. Like birds caught in a snare.
        • So the sons of men are snared in an evil time when it falls suddenly upon them!
        • [כִּי] FOR – man [אָדָם] also [גַּם] does NOT see [יָדַע] the time of his death…
        • LIKE [כַּ] a fish or bird that is caught [niphal] by an EVIL net…
        • So also [כַּ] are the sons of men caught [pual] in an evil TIME when they do NOT expect it!
        • Just as LIFE seems to be RANDOM – so also does DEATH…
        • Yet among the top TEN most common ways for people to DIE…
        • Heart disease [1] – stroke [5] – diabetes [8] – and cirrhosis [9] – are all diet related…
        • Therefore why do we act surprised when people DIE – as if it was unexpected!
        • It is true we do NOT know the number of our days…
        • No one knows when they will die – though we should NOT live foolishly…
        • But our confidence is the LORD does KNOW the number of our days…
        • And we will NOT die one day sooner than He plans!
        • Job 14:5 – “You have decided the length of our lives.” [NLT]
  • 3rd – Wise man… 13-18
    • 1st – Forgotten… vs. 13-16
      • Little city… vs. 13-14
        • This wisdom I have also seen under the sun and it seemed great to me:
        • There was a little city with few men in it – and a great king came against it.
        • Besieged it and built great snares around it!
        • Also [גַּם] – Solomon wanted to add a story to make his point [random life]
        • A wise EXAMPLE he had seen [רָאָה] that was IMPORTANT [גָּדוֹל] to him…
        • There was an SMALL city – with only a FEW people living in it…
        • [וּ] BUT – a great [גָּדוֹל] KING came and surrounded the city – and built towers to conquer it!
        • Although we do NOT know for sure which TOWN this was…
        • Some suggest it is the city of Abel Beth Maachah – II Samuel 20:14
        • After the rebellion and death of Absalom – the son of David…
        • A man called Sheba tried to lead Israel against the King…
        • JOAB – commanded of the army – pursued Sheba and he fled into Abel Beth Maachah!
      • Poor man… vs 15
        • Now there was found in it a poor wise man and he by his wisdom delivered the city. 
        • Yet no one remembered that same poor man!
        • The city was SAVED [piel] by the WISDOM of a poor MAN…
        • BUT [וְ] – no one remembered what he had done – because he was POOR!
        • A woman called out to JOAB from Abel Beth Maachah – what did he want…
        • JOAB only wanted the head of SHEBA – so the woman got the people to agree!
        • II Samuel 20:22 – “The woman in her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba… and threw it out to Joab.”
      • Biased… vs. 16
        • Then I said: Wisdom is better than strength.
        • Nevertheless the poor mans wisdom is despised and his words are not heard!
        • AND [וְ] – to Solomon this story said – WISDOM is better [טֽוֹב] than STRENGTH…
        • BUT [וְ] – the problem is that people NEVER [אִין] listen to the words of the POOR!
        • This might be a different story – a woman saved the city and NOT a man…
        • Or it might be exactly what Solomon was talking about…
        • The people FORGOT it even was a woman – because she was POOR!
        • We have a tendency to JUDGE a book by its cover…
        • If we want to get advice on being healthy – ask someone who is FIT…
        • If we want to get counsel on being RICH – ask someone who has MONEY…
        • We would question the words of a person who was UNHEALTHY and POOR…
        • But when it comes to SPIRITUAL things – it does NOT matter who gives us the WORD…
        • Because that WISDOM is NOT from men – it comes from GOD!
    • 2nd – Wise Words… vs. 17-18
      • Whisper… vs. 17
        • Words of the wise spoken quietly – should be heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools!
        • We are better off listening to a WISPER that is WISE [חָכָם]
        • Rather than [מִ] the SHOUTS of a LEADER who is a FOOL [כְּסִיל]
        • The point is the TRUTH does NOT need to try and get our attention [shouting]
        • It is something we should be seeking to find – because it is RIGHT!
        • Walk into a grocery store – and look at the ADVERTISING…
        • All of the food that is JUNK – has loud colors trying to get our attention…
        • But the food that is HEALTHY – sits quietly waiting for us to find it!
        • We will always find that FOOLISH things in life are the LOUDEST…
        • Because that is the only way they can convince us to listen to them…
        • But the TRUTH is much more soft spoken – we have to make the time to LISTEN to it!
        • I Kings 19:12 – “There was the sound of a gentle whisper.” [NLT]
      • The sinner… vs. 18
        • Wisdom is better than weapons of war – but one sinner destroys much good!
        • Wisdom is GOOD [טֽוֹב] – better than [מִ] the most powerful WEAPON…
        • BUT [וְ] – it only takes ONE sinner to RUIN a lot [רָבָה] of GOOD [טֽוֹב]!
        • Ironic that Solomon realized this – WISDOM is waiting for us to find it…
        • But what keeps that WISDOM hidden from us – is our SIN!
        • Psalm 119:11 – “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.”


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