No Answers

• 1^st – Little mistake… vs. 1-4
  • No more options…
    • Solomon had exhausted his wisdom – there was nowhere else to look…
    • He realized that he had FAILED in his mission to find MEANING in life…
    • The WISEST man ever – could not answer the MOST important question…
    • Which is why he turns a sad corner – to address his legacy…
    • He did a lot of GOOD in his life – but he would be remembered for his FAILURE!
  • Little Folly… vs. 1
    • Dead flies putrefy the perfumers ointment and cause it to give off a foul odor.
    • So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor!
    • Very EXPENSIVE [יָקָר] perfume will [hiphil] STINK if flies [זְבוּב] die in it…
    • [מִ] in the same way it only takes a LITTLE [מְעַט] mistake to ruin a WISE reputation…
    • Solomon realized that for ALL of his WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE…
    • What he was going to be remembered for – was what he did NOT do…
    • He could NOT find the MEANING of life – he did NOT know what God expects from us!
    • When we think about King David – we remember Bathsheba…
    • When we think about Peter – we remember the THREE denials…
    • When we think about Solomon – we remember he did NOT have the answer!
    • It is SAD but TRUE that we remember mistakes more than victories…
    • We can do a THOUSANDS things right – but people will remember the ONE we did WRONG…
    • The GOOD news is that Jesus chooses to FORGET all the BAD things we have done…
    • And He ONLY remembers that we put our FAITH in Him!
    • Hebrews 10:17 – “Their sins and…I will remember no more.”
  • Everyone knows… vs. 2-3
    • A wise mans heart is at his right hand – but a fools heart at his left!
    • Even when a fool walks along the way he lacks wisdom.
    • And he shows everyone that he is a fool!
    • The heart [לֵב] of a WISE [חָכָם] man knows which way to go [right way]
    • But the FOOL [כְּסִיל] does NOT know where to go [left]
    • [גַּם] Even as he is WALKING – his heart [לֵב] is still EMPTY…
    • His look of confusion and doubt – lets [sequential] EVERYONE [כָּל] know he is a FOOL…
    • Solomon understood that his FAILURE was obvious to anyone who was watching!
    • How many times have we been looking for a particular address…
    • And we get that BLANK stare on our face – we know we are LOST!
    • People can go through life PRETENDING like they have the ANSWERS…
    • They may do INTERVIEWS – call themselves INFLUENCERS [king]
    • But we all know just by looking at their MESSED up lives – they do NOT have a clue…
    • They are LOST – and we all KNOW it!
  • Rejected… vs. 4
    • If the spirit of the ruler rises against you do not leave your post.
    • For conciliation pacifies great offenses!
    • IF [אִם] the spirit of the [הַ] KING [מָשַׁל] gets ANGRY with you [rises up]
    • PLEASE [jussive] do NOT walk away from him…
    • Because [כִּי] being patient can HEAL [מַרְפֵּא] great SIN [חֵטְא]
    • Solomon knew his FAILURE would make people want to WALK away…
    • He is asking for them to instead be PATIENT – and HELP him heal!
    • Galatians 6:1 – “If a man is overtaken in any trespass – you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness!” 
    • When people make MISTAKES – or do NOT have the answers…
    • It is easy for us to REJECT them – and just WALK away…
    • But that is NOT the best solution – we should reach out to them and HELP them HEAL!
    • Galatians 6:2 – “Bear one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
• 2^nd – Poor leadership… vs. 5-10
  • Rewarding folly… 5-6
    • There is an evil I have seen under the sun as an error proceeding from the ruler:
    • Folly is set in great dignity – while the rich sit in a lowly place.
    • Solomon admitted he had seen an EVIL [רַע] in this world [under the sun]
    • It was a MISTAKE that came from the MOUTH [face] of the [הַ] KING [מָשַׁל]
    • He gave [niphal] the [הַ] FOOL [סֶכֶל] – great AUTHORITY…
    • BUT [וַ] those who were RICH [in wisdom] – he ignored [sit down]!
    • Solomon did NOT listen to those who gave him the WORD – Deuteronomy 17:17
    • He ended up listening to those who gave him the WISDOM of the WORLD…
    • Which led to him having a THOUSAND wives – who turned his heart from God – I Kings 11:4
    • There are only TWO sources for WISDOM – from ABOVE or from BELOW…
    • ANY wisdom that is NOT from the Word – is NOT from ABOVE…
    • And people who REJECT God – and put their TRUST in the WISDOM of this world…
    • End up building their life on an UNSTABLE foundation…
    • So that when the storms of life come – their foundation crumbles…
    • They are left CONFUSED – and LOST – as to why their life is in ruins!
    • Matthew 7:26 – “Like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”
  • Backwards country… vs. 7
    • I have seen servants on horses – while princes walk on the ground like servants!
    • When FOLLY is rewarded – it causes a nation to fall apart – it destroys a country…
    • Servants ride horses – while princes walk as servants [backwards]!
    • When Rehoboam [son of Solomon] rejected the counsel of the older [wise] men…
    • And instead listened to his younger [foolish] friends – I Kings 12:8
    • It divided the nation of Israel – and it would NOT be reunited until 1948!
    • Sadly – when people do NOT have the RIGHT answer to life [Jesus]
    • All they have to fall back on is their own ideas…
    • And that brings CONFUSION – and DIVISION – that can take a LONG time to HEAL!
  • Reciprocity… vs. 8-9
    • He who digs a pit will fall into it – whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent!
    • He who quarries stones may be hurt by them. He who splits wood may be endangered by it!
    • Solomon realized he made a MISTAKE in listening to FOOLS [rejecting the Word]
    • And gives FOUR examples that when we do – we end up HURTING ourselves…
    • FIRST – the one who DIGS a ditch [listens to the world] – will FALL into it…
    • SECOND – the one who BREAKS down the walls [rules meant to keep us safe]
    • Will end up getting bitten by the SERPENT [נָחָשׁ] – Genesis 3:1
    • THIRD – the one who PULLS out rocks – might be CRUSHED by it…
    • FOURTH – the one who CHOPS down the trees – might have it FALL on him!
    • God told Adam and Eve NOT to eat of the Tree of Knowledge – Genesis 2:17
    • God gave them that RULE [wall] – to keep them safe…
    • But they REJECTED the Word of God – and listened to the WORLD…
    • As a result – they dug a ditch [sin] and fell in – then were BITTEN by the SNAKE [satan]
    • The JUDGEMENT of God [rock] fell on them – and the Tree they wanted killed them!
    • The greatest LIE that satan has been using from the beginning…
    • Is that we should NOT listen to GOD – we should listen to the WORLD…
    • He tries to convince us there is something AMAZING that we are missing…
    • If only we would REJECT what God said – we could find it…
    • And people have believed this LIE for thousands of years…
    • They keep falling into the same SIN [pit] – keep breaking the RULES [snake]
    • Only to be JUDGED by God [rock] – and find their CHOICE [tree] kills them!
  • Hard life… vs. 10
    • If the ax is dull and one does not sharpen the edge.
    • Then he must use more strength – but wisdom brings success!
    • Just as a DULL ax require more EFFORT to cut with…
    • So also the man who REJECTS the WISDOM of God…
    • Solomon realized he was just making his life HARDER by NOT listening to the Lord!
    • God made life so easy – just FOLLOW Him – OBEY His Word…
    • But we convince ourselves that we have a BETTER plan – an EASIER way…
    • Only to find out that we have made things a LOT harder than they should have been!
• 3^rd – Foolish words… vs. 11-14
  • The tongue… vs. 11
    • A serpent may bite when it is not charmed. The babbler is no different!
    • Snake charmers WHISPER to the serpent to keep it from biting them…
    • But IF [אִם] the [הַ]SERPENT [נָחָשׁ] bites before he has a chance to SPEAK…
    • Then it means NOTHING [אִין] – to CONTROL [בַּעַל] the tongue [לָשׁוֹן]
    • Solomon realized that if the SERPENT [satan] was going to bite him anyways…
    • Then there was NO benefit to having WISE words!
    • While people can make EXCUSES for their SIN…
    • Their words can do NOTHING to take away their SIN!
  • Madness… vs. 12-13
    • The words of a wise mans mouth are gracious – but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up!
    • The words of his mouth begin with foolishness – and the end of his talk is raving madness!
    • While the WORDS of the WISE – will give GRACE [חֵן]
    • The LIPS of the FOOL [כְּסִיל] only seek to DESTROY [בָּלַע]
    • What begins with FOOLISH words – ends with EVIL [רַע] BOASTING [הָלַל]
    • Solomon might have started with the right MOTIVE – to impart GRACE…
    • But somewhere along the way PRIDE found its way in…
    • And he began to look for RECOGNITION – making his words FOOLISH!
    • The difference between WISDOM and FOLLY is not necessarily the WORDS…
    • It can also be the MOTIVE behind the WORDS…
    • True WISDOM seeks to give those who hear it GRACE…
    • FOOLISH words only seek to bring GLORY to the person who is speaking them!
    • Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth – but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
  • Too many words… vs. 14
    • A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be.
    • Who can tell him what will be after him?
    • The [הַ] FOOL [סָּכָל] is FULL of words…
    • Yet he does NOT know [יָדַע] what the FUTURE holds…
    • He does NOT know what will happen after he dies – because NO one can tell [hiphil] him…
    • Solomon recognized how FOOLISH it was to make assumptions…
    • Because no matter how WISE he thought he was – he could NOT see tomorrow!
    • We like to THINK we are in CONTROL of our lives…
    • We make PLANS – and even tell others what they NEED to do…
    • But the simple truth is we have NO idea what is going to happen!
    • James 4:13 – “You who say: Today or tomorrow we will… make a profit – [but you] do not know what will happen tomorrow.”
• 4^th – Foolish nation… vs. 15-20
  • Lost… vs. 15
    • The labor of fools wearies them for they do not even know how to go to the city!
    • The WORK of the [הַ] FOOL [כְּסִיל] makes them really [piel] TIRED…
    • Because they are really LOST – and do NOT even see [יָדַע] how to go to the CITY…
    • CITIES are the easiest thing to find – they can be SEEN from miles away…
    • Solomon was TIRED of being LOST – not being able to find the ANSWER!
    • I got a TEXT from a university student talking about her PHILOSOPHY [φιλοσοφία] class…
    • She was disheartened as they used worldly WISDOM to try and justify SIN [abortion]
    • It was EXHAUSTING as they looked for answers – but were obviously LOST!
    • Romans 1:22 – “Claiming to be wise [σοφός] they instead became utter fools.” [NLT]
  • Inexperienced… vs. 16-17
    • Woe to you O land – when your king is a child – and your princes feast in the morning!
    • Blessed are you O land – when your king is the son of nobles.
    • And your princes feast at the proper time – for strength and not for drunkenness!
    • WOE [אִי] to the nation that has an IMMATURE [child] king [מֶלֶךְ]
    • Whose LEADERS like to have FEASTS early in the morning [rather than working]
    • But HAPPY is the nation that has a KING who has been tried by FIRE [חָרַר]
    • And whose LEADERS feast at the proper times – because being DRUNK is NOT the answer!
    • When king Xerxes had a FEAST for 180 days – Esther 1:4
    • The end result was a drunken request for the queen to appear [naked]
    • When she refused [rightly] – he ended up banishing her in ANGER!
    • Esther 2:1 – “But after Xerxes anger had subsided he began thinking about [the queen].”
    • The Bible does NOT say we cannot drink – it does say it is SIN to be drunk – Ephesians 5:18
    • Because we will inevitably regret the choices we make!
  • Lazy… vs. 18-19
    • Because of laziness the building decays – and through idleness of hands the house leaks!
    • A feast is made for laughter – and wine makes merry – but money answers everything!
    • When someone is LAZY – they do NOT [niphal] maintain a building….
    • And because they refuse to get to WORK – the roof will LEAK [דָּלַף]
    • In the same way – it is TRUE that people LAUGH as long as there is RICE [לֶחֶם]
    • And life seems GOOD when there is something to DRINK [wine]
    • But if they do NOT get to WORK – they will NOT make MONEY!
    • We learn from experience [fire] that everything has a PROPER time…
    • While it might be more FUN to go out to EAT – go to PARTIES…
    • Those things are NOT going to pay the BILLS – we need to WORK!
  • No cursing… vs. 20
    • Do not curse the king – even in your thought. Do not curse the rich even in your bedroom.
    • For a bird of the air may carry your voice – and a bird in flight may tell the matter!
    • BUT [גַּם] – PLEASE [jussive] do NOT even THINK of CURSING [piel] the KING [מֶלֶךְ]
    • Or when you are in BED – CURSE [piel] those who are RICH…
    • Because [כִּי] someone [bird] might HEAR – and go and tell your MASTER [בַּעַל]!
    • Solomon knew people were TALKING about him…
    • He had FAILED – his WISDOM had NOT given him the answer…
    • He might have even earned a reputation as a being immature [drunk] – Ecclesiastes 2:3
    • But the people would be WISE to be careful what they THOUGHT…
    • Even if they were ONLY saying things in their bedroom to their SPOUSE…
    • They never knew when a little BIRD [kids – servant] might overhear…
    • And their words would get back to the KING – their MASTER!
  • In the bedroom…
    • When the king of Syria thought he had SPY in his court…
    • He challenged his servants to see who was betraying him…
    • Because every decision he made – the king of Israel seemed to know about…
    • But it was NOT a disloyal servant – it was the prophet Elisha [and the God of Israel]
    • II Kings 6:12 – “None my lord O king. But Elisha the prophet who is in Israel tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
    • We all know people like Solomon – those who are LOST…
    • We live in a world full of leaders who are INEXPERIENCED – and LAZY…
    • But we do need to be careful what we THINK – because it will come out…
    • We need to be cautious what we SAY – even in our secret [I am just telling you]
    • Because even if no one else knows – God is still there listening…
    • We are NOT called to spread GOSSIP [διάβολος]
    • These are people who are BLINDED by their SIN – and need help finding the ANSWER…

We are called to come along side of them – and point them to Jesus!