Wayside Gospel Chapel: Ecclesiastes 11

Showing posts with label Ecclesiastes 11. Show all posts

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #39 - A Dose of Reality for the Young (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10)

Series: Ecclesiastes

Sermon #39: A Dose of Reality for the Young

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

[Audio file from Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/Ecclesiastes119-10.]

⁹ Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. ¹⁰ Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Outline:

I. Positive Commands for the Young (11:9)

II. Negative Commands for the Young (11:10)

Transition:

On these verses see especially Matt Chandler, “Youth” (Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8), in The Scriptures Testify About Me: Jesus and the Gospel in the Old Testament, ed. D. A. Carson (Wheaton: Crossway, 2013), pp. 103-125; see esp. pp. 104-107, and 117-118. This is from an address presented 13 APR 2011 during the plenary session of the 2011 TGC National Conference in Chicago, IL. The video and audio of this address are on The Gospel Coalition at http://resources.thegospelcoalition.org/library/youth [accessed 14 AUG 2016].

I. Positive Commands for the Young (11:9)

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Four positive commands are found in the verbs of this verse: rejoice, let…cheer, walk, and know.

The first two are directly related as indicated by their sense, and by the two qualifying prepositional phrases associated with each verb respectively. The third command has two qualifying prepositional phrases. The fourth command serves as a caution or a warning related to the third command.

1. The First Two of Four Positive Commands for the Young

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth,

These first two positive commands are directly related as indicated by their sense, and by the two qualifying prepositional phrases associated with each verb respectively.

The two commands are: Rejoice….let thy heart cheer thee

The two qualifying phrases are: in thy youth…. in the days of thy youth

The emphasis on the young and youth is obvious. What may not be obvious in some translations is that the Hebrew words translated here as youth are actually two different words. The first is only found elsewhere in verse 10, and in Ps. 110:3. The second in this form is found only in Num. 11:28, but is directly related to the Hebrew word translated young man in the beginning of this verse. That is why some translations have differentiated them:

NASB: young man…childhood….young manhood

YLT: young man….childhood…. youth

Ps. 110:3 — Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

Num. 11:28 — And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

“The period of youth ought to be the time of joy and of ardently devoted love (Eccles.11.9; Jer.2.2; Ezek.16.43).”

— Hans Walter Wolff, Anthropology of the Old Testament, trans. Margaret Kohl (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1974; from Anthropologie des Alten Testaments, Munich: Chr. Kaiser Verlag, 1973), pg. 122, s.v. 3. Characteristics of youth.

Jer. 2:2 — Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

Ezek. 16:43 — Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.

Eccl. 2:10 — And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.

Eccl. 9:7 — Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

Eccl. 6:9 — Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

2. The Third of Four Positive Commands for the Young

and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes:

Remember: the third command has two qualifying prepositional phrases: in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes

Even when the NASB disagrees with the KJV in the translation it acknowledges in the notes that impulses is “Lit., ways,” and desires is “Lit., sights.”

There can be little doubt what is involved with the two spheres embraced by these two qualifying phrases.

1 Jn 2:16-17 — ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Is there an apparent contradiction within the Old Testament?

Num. 15:39 — And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

Job 31:7 — If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

3. The Fourth of Four Positive Commands for the Young

but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Remember: The fourth command serves as a caution or a warning related to the third command.

Robert L. Saucy:

“A personal judgment after death does appear to be the thought of the writer of Ecclesiastes, who after discussing certain actions during this life, concludes, “Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things” (11:9, NASB; cf. 12:13).”

— Robert L. Saucy, “The Eschatology of the Bible,” in The Expositor's Bible Commentary with The New International Version of the Holy Bible, Vol. 1, Introductory Articles: General, Old Testament, New Testament, gen. ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1979), pg. 124, s.v. III. The Eschatology of the Individual, B. The Final Judgment and Final Destiny.

John MacArthur:

“Rejoice…judgment. The two terms seem to cancel out the other. How can this be explained? Enjoy life but do not commit iniquity. The balance that is called for insures that enjoyment is not reckless, sinful abandonment. Pleasure is experienced in faith and obedience, for as Solomon has said repeatedly, one can only receive true satisfaction as a gift from God.”

— John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, rev. ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), pg. 938, note.

Notice the distinct difference here in the counsel to the young when compared to that to the old in the previous two verses. One is a backward look. This is a forward look. Both are necessary since they are not instinctive or preferred.

Eccl. 3:17 — I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

Mt. 12:36 — But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Rom. 14:10 — But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Rev. 20:11-15 — ¹¹ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. ¹⁴ And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. ¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Eccl. 12:1-8 — ¹ Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; ² While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: ³ In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, ⁴ And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; ⁵ Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: ⁶ Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. ⁷ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. ⁸ Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

Eccl. 13-14 — ¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. ¹⁴ For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

II. Negative Commands for the Young (11:10)

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Two negative commands followed by the reason

1. The Two Negative Commands for the Young

Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh

Two commands: remove, and put away

Two objects: sorrow (trans. vexation - ESV, NKJV note; grief and anger - NASB),

and evil (trans. pain - NASB, ESV, HCSB, NIV; NASB note: “Lit., evil”)

Two spheres: from thy heart, and from thy flesh

childhood is translated as youth (ESV, HCSB, NIV, NLT)

youth is translated as the prime of life (NASB, HCSB, NIV, NKJV note), and the dawn of life (ESV)

2 Cor. 7:1 — Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Tim. 2:22 — Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2. The Reason Given for the Two Negative Commands for the Young

for childhood and youth are vanity

Ps. 39:5 — Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.

[Sermon preached 14 AUG 2016 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Complete Outline:

I. Positive Commands for the Young (11:9)

1. The First Two of Four Positive Commands for the Young

2. The Third of Four Positive Commands for the Young

3. The Fourth of Four Positive Commands for the Young

II. Negative Commands for the Young (11:10)

1. The Two Negative Commands for the Young

2. The Reason Given for the Two Negative Commands for the Young

Select Sources on Ecclesiastes:

J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore The Book: A Basic and Broadly Interpretive Course of Bible Study from Genesis to Revelation, 6 vols. in 1 ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, n.d., 1960 printing).

William D. Barrick, Ecclesiastes: The Philippians of the Old Testament, Focus on the Bible series (Fearn, Ross-Shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2012). Barrick’s lecture notes (PDF files) and audio (mp3) are on Dr Barrick at http://drbarrick.org/teaching/ecclesiastes/ [accessed 3 FEB 2016].

Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Ecclesiastes (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1860); on Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/expositionofbook00bridrich [accessed 11 MAY 2015]; on Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=e4kOAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false [accessed 11 MAY 2015]; and linked on Precept Austin at http://preceptaustin.org/proverbs_commentaries.htm#cb [accessed 11 MAY 2015].

C. Hassell Bullock, An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books: The Wisdom and Songs of Israel (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979).

Franz Delitzsch, “Commentary on The Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes,” trans. M. G. Easton, in Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes, C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, Vol. VI: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon: Three Volumes in One (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., n.d., 1975 reprint), III:179-442.

Michael A. Eaton, Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary, Vol. 16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity, 1983).

ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008).

Sinclair B. Ferguson. The Pundit's Folly: Chronicles of an Empty Life (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1995).

Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Vol. 14, New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman, 1993).

Donald R. Glenn, “Ecclesiastes,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, eds. J. F. Walvoord, and R. B. Zuck (Wheaton, IL: Victor, 1985).

William Henry Green, “Scope and Plan of the Book of Ecclesiastes,” Biblical Reparatory and Princeton Review 29 (1857), pp. 419-40; on Gordon Faculty Online at http://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/Ted_Hildebrandt/OTeSources/21-Ecclesiastes/Text/Articles/Green-ScopeofEccl-1857.pdf [accessed 7 NOV 2015].[1]

Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Coping With Change: Ecclesiastes (Fearn, Roth-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2013).[2]

Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Ecclesiastes: Total Life, in Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979).

Derek Kidner, The Message of Ecclesiastes: A Time to Mourn, and a Time to Dance, in The Bible Speaks Today, Old Testament series ed. J. A. Motyer (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1976).

H. C. Leupold, Exposition of Ecclesiastes (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1952).

Tremper Longman III, The Book of Ecclesiastes, New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).

John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, rev. ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997).

Tim Mackie, “The book of Ecclesiastes explained with illustrations,” on The Bible Project at http://www.jointhebibleproject.com [accessed 18 JUN 2016]; includes downloadable full resolution video (700+ mb), and poster; for the video see also “Read Scripture Ecclesiastes” (10 JUN 2016), on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2wk [accessed 18 JUN 2016].[3]

Roland Edmund Murphy, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 23A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, 1992).

New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995).

John G. Reisinger, Studies in Ecclesiastes (Frederick, MD: New Covenant Media, 2008).

Philip Graham Ryken, Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters, in Preaching the Word, gen. ed. R. Kent Hughes (Wheaton: Crossway, 2010).

Philip G. Ryken, Why Everything Matters: The Gospel in Ecclesiastes (Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., 2015).

Benjamin Shaw, “On Reading Ecclesiastes,” in The Hope Fulfilled: Essays in Honor of O. Palmer Robertson, ed. Robert L. Penny (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2008), pp. 47-58.

Peter B. Steese, ed., Ecclesiastes, gen. ed. Leonard F. Dean (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc., 1966).

Tom V. Taylor, Studies in Ecclesiastes (Port Colborne, Ontario, CA: Gospel Folio Press, 2013). See also the “Thomas V. Taylor Library” on the Interdisciplinary Biblical Research Institute at http://www.taylorlib.ibri.org/ [accessed 27 NOV 2013].

Addison G. Wright, “The Riddle of the Sphinx: The Structure of the Book of Qoheleth,” in Reflecting with Solomon: Selected Studies on the Book of Ecclesiastes, ed. Roy B. Zuck (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994), pp. 45-66; originally published in Catholic Biblical Quarterly 30 (1968), pp. 313-334.

J. Stafford Wright, “Ecclesiastes,” in Psalms-Song of Songs, Vol. 5, Expositor's Bible Commentary, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991).

J. Stafford Wright, “The Interpretation of Ecclesiastes”, in Classical Evangelical Essays in Old Testament Interpretation, ed. Walter C. Kaiser Jr. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1972), pp. 135-150; from J. Stafford Wright, “The Interpretation of Ecclesiastes,” Evangelical Quarterly 18 (1946), pp. 18-34; on Rediscovering the Bible at http://rediscoveringthebible.com/InterpretationOfEcclesiastes.html [accessed 7 MAY 2015].

Ronald F. Youngblood, “Qoheleth's 'Dark House' (Eccl. 12:5),” in A Tribute to Gleason Archer, eds. Walter C. Kaiser and Ronald F. Youngblood (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), pp.211-228; also published in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 29:4 (DEC 1986), pp. 397-410; on Biblical Studies at http://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/29/29-4/29-4-pp397-410_JETS.pdf [accessed 4 APR 2016].

Notes:

[1] Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. inexplicably refers to this as an “unsigned article” on at least two occasions in his commentary despite the facts that: 1) William Henry Green is clearly indicated as the author under the title on the first page of the article (pg. 419), and 2) one of his own faculty members (Ted Hildebrandt) has posted the article on the school’s web site where Kaiser served as both faculty member and President. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Ecclesiastes: Total Life, in Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979); and Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Coping With Change: Ecclesiastes (Fearn, Roth-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2013).

[2] Although not indicated on the copyright page, this appears in all respects to be a revised edition (2nd ed.) of the Moody Press 1979 original. The relationship to the original is referenced in the “Preface,” where the author mentions the inclusion of his own translation of Ecclesiastes in this revision as one significant change. “Dale Ralph Davis compares the two and says, “the ‘bones’ are much the same but the whole has been updated and expanded.” Source: Tim Challies, “Best Commentaries on Ecclesiastes” (18 NOV 2013), on Challies at http://www.challies.com/resources/best-commentaries-on-ecclesiastes [accessed 7 NOV 2015].

[3] “This video explores the main ideas and flow of thought of the book of Ecclesiastes.

The Bible Project is a non-profit creating animated videos that explain the narrative of the Bible. These videos are free to use for personal and educational purposes. Download a full resolution version of this video along with a study guide at www.jointhebibleproject.com.”

“About the author: Tim Mackie is a Pastor of Door of Hope church and a Professor at Western Seminary - timmackie.com”

Friday, September 9, 2016

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #38 - Years to Rejoice — Days to Remember (Ecclesiastes 11:7-8)

Series: Ecclesiastes

Sermon #38:

Years to Rejoice — Days to Remember

Ecclesiastes 11:7-8

[Audio file from Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/Ecclesiastes117-8.]

⁷ Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: ⁸ But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Outline:

I. Years to Rejoice (11:7)

II. Days to Remember (11:8)

I. Years to Rejoice (11:7)

Truly the light is sweet,

and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:

The emphasis here is on the modifying adjectives: “…sweet….pleasant…”

“sweet”[1] trans. “pleasant” by NASB

“pleasant”[2] trans. “good” by NASB and YLT

“1268c מָתוֹק (mātôq) sweet, sweetness.

1268d מַמְתַּקִּים (mamtaqqîm) sweetness (Neh 8:10: Song 5:16).

A stative verb (on the pattern of qāṭōn “be small”) appearing eight times in the OT, all in the Qal stem except for Job 20:12, “If evil gives a sweet taste in his mouth” and Ps 55:14 [H 15], “We used to take sweet counsel together.” Both are Hiphil.

The precise definition of this root is seen in its frequent juxtaposition, for purposes of contrast. to one of the Hebrew words for honey or honeycomb. something quite palatable. Thus Ps 19:10 [H 11] asserts God’s judgments are “sweeter than honey (dĕbaš) and the honey that drips from the comb (nōpet ṣûpîm).” A similar idea is expressed in Ps 119:103, although the word there for “sweet” is the verb mālaṣ “he smooth, agreeable.” In response to Samson’s riddle the people say, “What is sweeter than honey?” Ezekiel (3:3) says God’s word was to him “as honey for sweetness” (cf. Rev 10:10). Kindred ideas are found in Prov 16:24; 24:13.

It should be recalled that honey (dĕbaš) in the OT not only refers to bee’s honey but also to date syrup. There are at least two references, however, to bee’s honey: (1) Samson in Jud 14:8ff.: (2) Jonathan in I Sam 14:24–30. Along with leaven it was banned in the burnt offering (Lev 2:11). Naturally, its quality of sweetness caused it to be used figuratively for gracious and pleasant things including God’s Word (Ps 19:10 [H 11]), the wisdom of the Torah (Prov 24:13), and the speech of a friend (Prov 16:24).

Waters also might be sweet (Ex 15:25; Prov 9:17): the lack of insomnia (Eccl 5:12 [H 11]); the fruit of an apple tree (Song 2:3); the light of day (Eccl 7:11).”

— V. P. Hamilton, “1268 מָתֹק,” in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, eds. R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., and B. K. Waltke (Chicago: Moody, (1999), pp. 537-538.

Note: You cannot really “behold the sun.” It is not literally “a pleasant thing…for the eyes to behold the sun.” That is because you cannot look directly at the sun without doing damage to your eyes.

“Never look directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun at any time, including during an eclipse, can lead to solar retinopathy, which is damage to the eye's retina from solar radiation.”

— David Turbert, “The Sun, UV Radiation and Your Eyes” (28 AUG 2014), on American Academy of Ophthalmology at http://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/sun [accessed 5 AUG 2016].

That being the case, what is the point? It is actually the light of day, lightened by the sun, that is being described as pleasant, just as the initial clause simply describes light as sweet. It is sunlight that is here presented as a pleasant sight for the eyes. Sunshine and sunny days are sweet compared to the alternatives.

Eccl. 6:1-6 — ¹ There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: ² A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. ³ If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. ⁴ For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. ⁵ Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. ⁶ Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

Eccl. 7:11 — Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.

******************************************************************************

Jackie Gleason, “How sweet it is!”

James Bacon, How Sweet It Is: The Jackie Gleason Story (St. Martins, 1986).

“In 1962, he resurrected his variety show. He also added another catchphrase to the American vernacular: "How sweet it is!" (he first uttered the phrase in the 1962 film Papa's Delicate Condition).

Since the Honeymooners was much ealier [sic] than that (51-55) it safe to say he never used the line on that show.

He was also fond of saying AND AWAY WE GO

It's carved on his grave.”

Source: Yahoo Answers at https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080527064024AAvqJrL [accessed 5 AUG 2016]. See also Find A Grave at http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pif&GRid=1596&PIgrid=1596&PIcrid=72416&ShowCemPhotos=Y& [accessed 5 AUG 2016].

******************************************************************************

“Sunny days keepin' the clouds away

I think we're coming to a clearing and a brighter day

So far away. Still I think they say

The wait will make the heart grow stronger or fonder”

— Jars of Clay, “Sunny Days;” written by Charlie Lowell, Dan Haseltine, Matt Odmark, Stephen Daniel Mason (Universal Music Publishing Group, 2003); on Google Play Music at https://play.google.com/music/preview/T5mkyq4ygulvxnkz6e67unsqzyu?lyrics=1&pcampaignid=kp-lyrics&u=0# [accessed 5 AUG 2016].

II. Days to Remember (11:8)

But if a man live many years,

and rejoice in them all;

yet let him remember the days of darkness;

for they shall be many.

All that cometh is vanity.

The emphasis in this verse may lie in the repetition of “many”: “…many years….they shall be many…”

Many years of life including many days of darkness.

“Good Times, Bad Times, you know I've had my share”

— “Good Times, Bad Times,” by Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham (1969); on Led Zeppelin (1969); see AZ Lyrics at http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ledzeppelin/goodtimesbadtimes.html [accessed 5 AUG 2016]; and Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Times_Bad_Times [accessed 5 AUG 2016].

Why are we not counseled by God in His Word to remember the good times?

Or, to put it another way:

Why is the injunction to “remember the days of darkness”?

Many seem to assume that this is a call to contemplate the death that awaits us in the future.

E.g., Tremper Longman III, The Book of Ecclesiastes, New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998), pg. 260; cited by Philip Graham Ryken, Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters, in Preaching the Word, gen. ed. R. Kent Hughes (Wheaton: Crossway, 2010):

“Some commentators think the Preacher is confused here, that he is “giving the contradictory advice that his reader should both enjoy life but also remember that he is going to die.” This is not confusion but clarity.”

For examples, see the following comments and notes:

“In the first part (11:7–8) Solomon called for enjoyment of life in view of the darkness of death.”

“Solomon wrote metaphorically of light and darkness as figures of life (cf. Job 3:20; 33:30) and death (cf. Ecc. 6:4–5; Job 10:20–22; 18:18)….Solomon encouraged his readers to enjoy life as long as they live because life, like the pleasant light of the sun, should be enjoyed before the coming of the dark night of death which will last forever. The words, the days of darkness … will be many, is an intentional understatement (cf. 12:5 where the grave is called one’s “eternal home”; also cf. Job 7:9; 14:10–12).”

— Donald R. Glenn, “Ecclesiastes,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, eds. J. F. Walvoord, and R. B. Zuck, 2 vols. (Wheaton, IL: Victor, 1985), I:1003.

“I. He applies himself to the aged, writes to them as fathers, to awaken them to think of death, v. 7, 8.”

“2. A caution to think of death, even in the midst of life, and of life when it is most sweet and we are most apt to forget death…” But who are those that live many years and rejoice in them all? Alas! none; we have but hours of joy for months of sorrow.”

“Note, [1.] There are days of darkness coming, the days of our lying in the grave; there the body will lie in the dark; there the eyes see not, the sun shines not. The darkness of death is opposed to the light of life; the grave is a land of darkness, Job 10:21. [2.] Those days of darkness will be many; the days of our lying under ground will be more than the days of our living above ground.”

— Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary On The Whole Bible: Complete And Unabridged In One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), pg. 1053.

“light…darkness refers to the contrast between life and death.”

— ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), pg. 1208, note on Eccl. 11:7-8.

This is understandable, but wrong. In some contexts “darkness” certainly would be interpreted as signifying death. Remember Eccl. 6:1-6 —

¹ There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: ² A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. ³ If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he. ⁴ For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness. ⁵ Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other. ⁶ Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?

Ps. 23:4 — Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Job 10:22 — Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

Job 15:23 — He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.

Jer. 13:16 — Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

The Day of the Lord:

Joel 2:1-2 — 1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

But not here! No! Consider the context!

1) years vs. days

2) singular vs. plural

3) light vs. darkness

4) Remember what is past vs. consider what is future

Perhaps the answer to this question is only possible if we correctly understand the answer to another related question.

What are “days of darkness”?

What are “days of darkness” when considered “under the sun”?

What are “days of darkness” when considered “under heaven”?

Now let us ask the question again:

Why are we not counseled by God in His Word to remember the good times?

Or, to put it another way: Why is the injunction to “remember the days of darkness”?

Eccl. 7:14 — In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

John MacArthur gets it!

“11:7 light. Good times in contrast to “darkness” (v. 8), meaning bad times. Cf. 12:1.”

— John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, rev. ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), pg. 938, note on Eccl. 11:7.

Philip Ryken gets it also:

“…we will taste what is bitter in life as well as what is sweet. Sooner or later we will suffer loss, disappointment, injustice, and grief.”

“Ecclesiastes give us a realistic view of life that is joyful about its happy pleasures while at the same time sober about its many sorrows. The book steadfastly refuses to show us anything less than the whole of life as it actually is.”

— Philip Graham Ryken, Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters, in Preaching the Word, gen. ed. R. Kent Hughes (Wheaton: Crossway, 2010).

Trace the theme of joy and enjoyment throughout Qoheleth’s book! Also notice where we are counseled to “remember”!

Eccl. 2:22-26 —²² For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? ²³ For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity. ²⁴ There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God. ²⁵ For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I? ²⁶ For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Eccl. 7:14 — In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Eccl. 9:7 — Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.

Eccl. 12:1-7 — ¹ Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; ² While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: ³ In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, ⁴ And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; ⁵ Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: ⁶ Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. ⁷ Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

"....Joseph's extreme sufferings were not immediately alleviated. The Lord purposely suffered him to be reduced to extremity, that he might bring him back as from the grave. We know that as the light of the sun is most clearly seen when we are looking from a dark place; so, in the darkness of our miseries, the grace of God shines more brightly when, beyond expectation, he succors us."

— John Calvin, Commentaries on the First Book of Moses Called Genesis, 2 vols., trans. John King, s.v. Gen. 39:21; on Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom02.xvii.i.html [accessed 9 SEP 2016]; and on Christianity.com at http://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=clvn&b=1&c=39 [accessed 9 SEP 2016].

[Sermon preached 7 AUG 2016 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Complete Outline:

I. Years to Rejoice (11:7)

II. Days to Remember (11:8)

Select Sources on Ecclesiastes:

J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore The Book: A Basic and Broadly Interpretive Course of Bible Study from Genesis to Revelation, 6 vols. in 1 ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, n.d., 1960 printing).

C. Hassell Bullock, An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books: The Wisdom and Songs of Israel (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979).

Michael A. Eaton, Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary, Vol. 16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity, 1983).

ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008).

Sinclair B. Ferguson. The Pundit's Folly: Chronicles of an Empty Life (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1995).

Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Vol. 14, New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman, 1993).

Donald R. Glenn, “Ecclesiastes,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, eds. J. F. Walvoord, and R. B. Zuck (Wheaton, IL: Victor, 1985).

Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Coping With Change: Ecclesiastes (Fearn, Roth-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2013).[4]

Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Ecclesiastes: Total Life, in Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979).

Derek Kidner, The Message of Ecclesiastes: A Time to Mourn, and a Time to Dance, in The Bible Speaks Today, Old Testament series ed. J. A. Motyer (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1976).

H. C. Leupold, Exposition of Ecclesiastes (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1952).

Tremper Longman III, The Book of Ecclesiastes, New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).

John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, rev. ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997).

Roland Edmund Murphy, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 23A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, 1992).

New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995).

John G. Reisinger, Studies in Ecclesiastes (Frederick, MD: New Covenant Media, 2008).

Philip Graham Ryken, Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters, in Preaching the Word, gen. ed. R. Kent Hughes (Wheaton: Crossway, 2010).

Philip G. Ryken, Why Everything Matters: The Gospel in Ecclesiastes (Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., 2015).

Benjamin Shaw, “On Reading Ecclesiastes,” in The Hope Fulfilled: Essays in Honor of O. Palmer Robertson, ed. Robert L. Penny (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2008), pp. 47-58.

Peter B. Steese, ed., Ecclesiastes, gen. ed. Leonard F. Dean (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc., 1966).

J. Stafford Wright, “Ecclesiastes,” in Psalms-Song of Songs, Vol. 5, Expositor's Bible Commentary, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991).

Notes:

[1] “4966 מָתֹוק [mathowq, mathuwq /maw·thoke/] adj n m. From 4985; TWOT 1268c; GK 5498; 12 occurrences; AV translates as “sweet” eight times, “sweeter” twice, and “sweetness” twice. 1 sweet. 2 sweetness, pleasant (thing).” Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[2] “2896 טָבַב, טִבָּה, טֹוב, טֹוב, טֹוב, טֹובָה [towb /tobe/] adj n m f. From 2895; TWOT 793a; GK 3176 and 3177 and 3201 and 3202 and 3205 and 3208; 559 occurrences; AV translates as “good” 361 times, “better” 72 times, “well” 20 times, “goodness” 16 times, “goodly” nine times, “best” eight times, “merry” seven times, “fair” seven times, “prosperity” six times, “precious” four times, “fine” three times, “wealth” three times, “beautiful” twice, “fairer” twice, “favour” twice, “glad” twice, and translated miscellaneously 35 times. 1 good, pleasant, agreeable. 1A pleasant, agreeable (to the senses). 1B pleasant (to the higher nature). 1C good, excellent (of its kind). 1D good, rich, valuable in estimation. 1E good, appropriate, becoming. 1F better (comparative). 1G glad, happy, prosperous (of man’s sensuous nature). 1H good understanding (of man’s intellectual nature). 1I good, kind, benign. 1J good, right (ethical). 2 a good thing, benefit, welfare. 2A welfare, prosperity, happiness. 2B good things (collective). 2C good, benefit. 2D moral good. 3 welfare, benefit, good things. 3A welfare, prosperity, happiness. 3B good things (collective). 3C bounty.” Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

[3] Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. inexplicably refers to this as an “unsigned article” on at least two occasions in his commentary despite the facts that: 1) William Henry Green is clearly indicated as the author under the title on the first page of the article (pg. 419), and 2) one of his own faculty members (Ted Hildebrandt) has posted the article on the school’s web site where Kaiser served as both faculty member and President. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Ecclesiastes: Total Life, in Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979); and Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Coping With Change: Ecclesiastes (Fearn, Roth-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2013).

[4] Although not indicated on the copyright page, this appears in all respects to be a revised edition (2nd ed.) of the Moody Press 1979 original. The relationship to the original is referenced in the “Preface,” where the author mentions the inclusion of his own translation of Ecclesiastes in this revision as one significant change. “Dale Ralph Davis compares the two and says, “the ‘bones’ are much the same but the whole has been updated and expanded.” Source: Tim Challies, “Best Commentaries on Ecclesiastes” (18 NOV 2013), on Challies at http://www.challies.com/resources/best-commentaries-on-ecclesiastes [accessed 7 NOV 2015].

[5] “This video explores the main ideas and flow of thought of the book of Ecclesiastes.

“About the author: Tim Mackie is a Pastor of Door of Hope church and a Professor at Western Seminary - timmackie.com”

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #37 - Go With What You Know! (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6)

Series: Ecclesiastes

Sermon #37: Go With What You Know!

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

[Audio file from Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/Ecclesiastes111-6.]

¹Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. ² Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. ³ If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. ⁴ He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. ⁵ As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. ⁶ In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Introduction:

There are 5 unknowns in these verses that must be considered and confessed.

However, the thrust of the context is that these unknowns must not paralyze motivation by producing fatalism or pessimism.

Ecclesiastes puts man in his place, exposing him for what he is in all the limitations of his creatureliness, while confronting him just as clearly with his responsibilities.

As so often in the inspired Wisdom literature we are taught the way between that of the fool, and a blasphemous desire for omniscience. The way of wisdom puts man precisely where he belongs upon earth, under the sun and under the heaven, east of Eden and west of glory.

Outline:

I. Give While the Giving is Good (11:1-2)

II. There It Is; Que Sera, Sera (11:3)

III. You Can Take This To The Bank Hank! (11:4)

IV. What We Don’t Know Would Fill The Universe! (11:5)

V. An Optimistic Expectation of Success Motivates Industriousness (11:6)

Transition:

Sometimes I find it helpful to rephrase or paraphrase Scriptures. You may find this helpful as well. When we restate what we find in God’s Word the very exercise of doing so may be instructive as to the meaning of the words we are confronted with there.

I. Give While the Giving is Good (11:1-2)

¹Cast thy bread upon the waters:

for thou shalt find it after many days.

² Give a portion to seven, and also to eight;

for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Here is the first of the 5 unknowns in these verses:

You don’t know when disaster will strike.

Possible Paraphrases:

“Give to others, and after awhile what you have shared will return to you.”

“Now is the time to be especially generous — to go above and beyond in giving — since you have no idea what tomorrow will hold, or how bad things may get.”

¹ Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

“Possibly a reference to Solomon’s grain trade by sea.”

— New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), pg. 999, note on vs. 1.

See also the note on vs. 1 in the ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), pg. 1208:

“…a metaphor without any contemporary parallels, so interpreters are uncertain about its meaning. Three suggestions are most common: (1) It refers to maritime commerce. (2) It refers to taking steps to spread out one’s financial resources in multiple directions. (3) In older Jewish and Christian interpretation, it was taken to refer to giving to the poor, in which case finding it again represents others being kind in return.”

New International Version (NIV) — 1 Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. 2 Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

New Living Translation (NLT) — 1 Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you. 2 But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.

“Take a calculated and wise step forward in life, like a farmer who throws his seed on the wet or marshy ground and waits for it to grow (cf. Is. 32:20).”

— John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, rev. ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), pg. 937, note on vs. 1

Is. 32:20 — Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.

Dt. 15:7-11 (1-15) — ⁷ If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: ⁸ But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. ⁹ Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. ¹⁰ Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. ¹¹ For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Pr. 19:17 — He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Mt. 10:38-42 — ³⁸ And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

³⁹ He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. ⁴⁰ He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. ⁴¹ He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. ⁴² And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Lk. 14:14 (1-24) — And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

2 Cor. 9:8 (1-15) — And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Gal. 6:7-10 — ⁷ Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ⁸ For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ⁹ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ¹⁰ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Heb. 6:10 — For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

² Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

“An admonition to spread the risks you take.”

“Uncertainty is a reason for diversity in financial management. See v.6.”

— New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), pg. 999, note on vs. 2.

Give a portion

Ps. 112:9 (1-10) — He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

Mt. 5:42 — Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. [PP: Lk. 6:30 — Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.]

1 Tim. 6:17-19 — ¹⁷ Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; ¹⁸ That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; ¹⁹ Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

to seven, and also to eight

Job 5:19 — He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

Pr. 6:16 — These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Mic. 5:5 — And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Eccl. 11:8 — But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.

Eccl. 12:1 — Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Eph. 5:16 (14-17) — Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Lk. 16:1-14 — ¹ And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. ² And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. ³ Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. ⁴ I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. ⁵ So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? ⁶ And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. ⁷ Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. ⁸ And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. ⁹ And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. ¹⁰ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. ¹¹ If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? ¹² And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? ¹³ No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ¹⁴ And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

Eccl. 11:6 — In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Eccl. 9:1 — For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.

Eccl. 9:11 — I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Eccl. 10:14 — A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

II. There It Is; Que Sera, Sera (11:3)

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth:

and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north,

in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

Paraphrase:

“When the rain clouds are ready the rain will fall on the earth.

Whichever way a tree falls is where it will be.”

Let’s go for a walk. Oh, look! The clouds are getting darker. It looks like it might rain. I wonder when it is going to rain. I know when that will happen. How do I know. The Bible tells me so!

Oh, look, that big tree got blown down by the wind. It must have fallen to the north because it was a great storm with a strong south wind that blew it down. I wonder where that tree will be tomorrow? Not really! I know where that tree will be tomorrow. How do I know? The Bible tells me so!

Are those two realities really the point of these inspired proverbial statements?

What we have here are some simple and natural knowns that must be contrasted with the unknowns in the context.

The point in these simple, natural knowns must not be left at that level, but in the context must be considered as a bridge between verses 1-2 and 4-6.

“Do not use uncertainty as an excuse for laziness.”

— New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), pg. 1000, note on vv. 3-4.

See also John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, rev. ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), pg. 938, note on vv. 3-6.

III. You Can Take This To The Bank Hank! (11:4)

He that observeth the wind shall not sow;

and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

Here is the next set of knowns. You can take these two related truths to the bank Hank!

Possible Paraphrases:

“Don’t worry about the weather, focus on your work. If you fixate on what is coming instead of what you should be doing, then you will have nothing to show for it.”

“Wind watchers don’t plant.

Cloud gazers don’t harvest.”

“You can’t watch the wind and plant at the same time.

You can’t stare at the clouds and bring in a harvest simultaneously.”

“Too much time spent trying to “read the skies” will only distract one from the task at hand, and those who always wait for the “perfect” time to begin a project will not sow and will not reap.”

— ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), pg. 1208, note.

If you insist on doing A, you will not do B.

Get off the couch!

An encounter in the beginning of the movie, We Were Soldiers (expletives deleted):

“SGT Ernie Savage: Beautiful morning, Sergeant![1]

SGM Basil Plumley: What are you a … weatherman now?”[2]

What are you doing, watching paint dry?

Acts 1:9-11 and the “cloud gazers”:

⁹ And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; ¹¹ Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

IV. What We Don’t Know Would Fill The Universe! (11:5)

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit,

nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child:

even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

3 of the 5 unknowns in these verses are found here in verse 5:

1) You don’t know the way of the spirit.

2) You don’t know how a child’s bones grow in the pregnant woman’s womb.

3) You don’t know the works of God who made everything.

On the textual issue in this verse: “There is variation in the Hebrew manuscripts at this point…”

— ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), pg. 1208, note on “the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb” (emphasis mine). The ESV footnote on this verse explains: “Some Hebrew manuscripts, Targum; most Hebrew manuscripts As you do not know the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb”

Paraphrase:

You don’t know the way of the wind. You don’t know how another human being grows in the womb of a pregnant woman. And if you don’t know either of those things, you certainly don’t know what the Creator of everything does.

Whether this is understood as “wind” or “spirit/Spirit” you don’t know the way of either!

And just as you don’t know the way of either the wind or the Spirit, or how a human being develops between conception and birth, even so you do not know the works of the God the universe’s Creator.

“Here again is an affirmation of God’s incomprehensible secret counsel.”

— New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), pg. 1000, note.

As thou knowest not

Eccl. 1:13 — And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

Eccl. 3:10-11 — ¹⁰ I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. ¹¹ He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Eccl. 8:17 — Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

what is the way of the spirit,

Eccl. 1:6 — The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

Jn. 3:8 — The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child:

Ps. 139:13-16 — ¹³ For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. ¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. ¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

On the parallel passage Ps. 139:13-18 see especially Donald R. Glenn, “An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Psalm 139,” in Tradition and Testament: Essays in Honor of Charles Lee Feinberg, eds. John S. Feinberg and Paul D. Feinberg (Chicago: Moody Press, 1981), pp. 174-178.

“In addition to reiterating in verse 15 the idea of the Lord’s painstaking care in his formation in his mother’s womb, David emphasizes the Lord’s awareness of him in this prenatal state. Though the child in the womb (cf. Eccles.11:5) is hidden from man, nonetheless God is aware of David even there.”

— Glenn, op. cit., pg. 175.

even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

“The “Preacher” of Ecclesiastes does, indeed, point to the only possible resolution of the enigmas of life. The key is to be found with God. This philosophic author of Ecclesiastes contrasts the emptiness of human labor with the hidden work of God (Eccl. 8:17; 11:5). He confesses that the wisdom of God is unfathomable, and counsels men to fear God and keep His commandments, trusting Him for what they cannot understand (12:13-14). Yet the sober faith of this answer points powerfully to a fuller answer to come, an answer that is unfolded in the prophets. There is more to come: a greater rest than rest from Philistine invaders, a greater peace than Solomon could provide, a greater inheritance than the land of promise. There is more to come, because God is to come.”

— Edmund P. Clowney, The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament, 2nd ed. (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 1988, 2013), pg. 177.

V. An Optimistic Expectation of Success Motivates Industriousness (11:6)

In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand:

for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that,

or whether they both shall be alike good.

The final unknown of the 5 in these verses is here in verse 6. This unknown actually may be broken down into 3 parts:

1) You don’t know whether sowing your seed in the morning will prosper.

2) You don’t know whether giving in the evening will prosper.

3) You don’t know whether both will prosper.

Possible Paraphrases:

“Work in the morning, and share in the evening, because you don’t know which will be to your benefit, or whether both of them will.”

“Keep busy, be productive, and make generosity a daily habit with an optimistic view towards the future.”

“Begin your days with working, and end them with giving, since you do not know which will be the best in the long run, but with an expectation that one or both of these activities will have beneficial results,”

Eccl. 11:2 — Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Eccl. 10:14 — A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

If you can’t handle uncertainty then stay on the porch! But if you are going to live your life, then you must face up to uncertainty. You must acknowledge the vastness of what you do not and can not know. And then, in spite of that you must act. You must get off the porch, and live. You must act on what you know!

Act on what you know!

Get a move on!

Put one foot in front of the other, and get on with your life!

Eccl. 9:10 — Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Eccl. 7:18 — It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

Philip Ryken titled his sermon on these verses, “You Never Know!” It was tempting to go with that title, even after I realized that he had used it before I came up with it as a possibility on my own. However, it seems more appropriate given the thrust of the context to emphasize the positive with “Go With What You Know!”

What you know is undoubtedly very limited in the grand scheme of things, but you must act on that basis nevertheless. There are many things that are out of your control, but that doesn’t mean that everything is. Do you duty. Discharge your responsibilites. As we said many times in the military, “Git ‘er done!”

[Sermon preached 31 JUL 2016 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Complete Outline:

I. Give While the Giving is Good (11:1-2)

II. There It Is; Que Sera, Sera (11:3)

III. You Can Take This To The Bank Hank! (11:4)

IV. What We Don’t Know Would Fill The Universe! (11:5)

V. An Optimistic Expectation of Success Motivates Industriousness (11:6)

Select Sources on Ecclesiastes:

J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore The Book: A Basic and Broadly Interpretive Course of Bible Study from Genesis to Revelation, 6 vols. in 1 ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, n.d., 1960 printing).

C. Hassell Bullock, An Introduction to the Old Testament Poetic Books: The Wisdom and Songs of Israel (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979).

Michael A. Eaton, Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary, Vol. 16, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity, 1983).

ESV Study Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008).

Sinclair B. Ferguson. The Pundit's Folly: Chronicles of an Empty Life (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1995).

Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Vol. 14, New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman, 1993).

Donald R. Glenn, “Ecclesiastes,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, eds. J. F. Walvoord, and R. B. Zuck (Wheaton, IL: Victor, 1985).

Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Coping With Change: Ecclesiastes (Fearn, Roth-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2013).[4]

Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Ecclesiastes: Total Life, in Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979).

Derek Kidner, The Message of Ecclesiastes: A Time to Mourn, and a Time to Dance, in The Bible Speaks Today, Old Testament series ed. J. A. Motyer (Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1976).

H. C. Leupold, Exposition of Ecclesiastes (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1952).

Tremper Longman III, The Book of Ecclesiastes, New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997).

John MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, rev. ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997).

Roland Edmund Murphy, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 23A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, 1992).

New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995).

John G. Reisinger, Studies in Ecclesiastes (Frederick, MD: New Covenant Media, 2008).

Philip Graham Ryken, Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters, in Preaching the Word, gen. ed. R. Kent Hughes (Wheaton: Crossway, 2010).

Philip G. Ryken, Why Everything Matters: The Gospel in Ecclesiastes (Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., 2015).

Benjamin Shaw, “On Reading Ecclesiastes,” in The Hope Fulfilled: Essays in Honor of O. Palmer Robertson, ed. Robert L. Penny (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2008), pp. 47-58.

Peter B. Steese, ed., Ecclesiastes, gen. ed. Leonard F. Dean (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc., 1966).

J. Stafford Wright, “Ecclesiastes,” in Psalms-Song of Songs, Vol. 5, Expositor's Bible Commentary, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991).

Notes:

[1] SGT Clyde E. Savage was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, our nation’s second highest award for valor, for his actions during the Battle of Ia Drang. See “Hall of Valor” on Military Times at http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=4861 [accessed 3 SEP 2016]. His story was included for many years in the U. S. Army’s Field Manual Military Leadership, FM 22-100 (31 JUL 1990), pp. 18-19; see the PDF file on The US Army Organizational Effectiveness Program at http://www.armyoe.com/uploads/Military_Leadership_1990.pdf [accessed 3 SEP 2016]. When this edition was superseded 31 AUG 1999 this example was no longer included.

[2] SGM Basil L. Plumley’s part was played by the actor Sam Elliott in We Were Soldiers (2002). SGM Plumley passed away 10 OCT 2012.

[5] “This video explores the main ideas and flow of thought of the book of Ecclesiastes.

“About the author: Tim Mackie is a Pastor of Door of Hope church and a Professor at Western Seminary - timmackie.com”

Verse of the Day

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #39 - A Dose of Reality for the Young (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10)

Friday, September 9, 2016

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #38 - Years to Rejoice — Days to Remember (Ecclesiastes 11:7-8)

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #37 - Go With What You Know! (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6)