Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #12 - Watch Your Step! (Ecclesiastes 5:1-8)

Series: Ecclesiastes

Sermon #12: Watch Your Step!

Ecclesiastes 5:1-8

[Audio file from Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/Ecclesiastes51-8.]

¹ Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. ² Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. ³ For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words. ⁴ When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. ⁵ Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. ⁶ Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? ⁷ For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God. ⁸ If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Introduction:

The nature of the middle sections of Ecclesiastes

Note: There are noticeable differences in paragraphing involving this section evident in various translations. Many modern translations seem to link verse 9 with verse 8, rather than seeing verse 9 as beginning a new paragraph.

Outline:

I. Few Words (5:1-3)

II. Paid Vows (5:4-5)

III. Fear God (5:6-7)

IV. Marvel Not (5:8)

I. Few Words (5:1-3)

¹ Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. ² Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. ³ For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

1. Watch your step! (5:1a)

Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God

2. Watch your mouth! (5:1b-3)

and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. ² Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. ³ For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.

God is in heaven, and you are upon earth! If that doesn’t put man in his place, I am certainly missing something here! Could this be at least one of the central thoughts or propositional pivots of this book of Ecclesiastes??? God is in heaven! You are on earth!

The Ministry Of A Closed Mouth

By Leslie Vernick

We live in a culture of talk and tweets. We’re encouraged to express our feelings, hold nothing back. We’ve all seen in national news how people’s unrestrained talk and tweets can get them into public hot water. Every day I see the relational fallout that comes from thoughtless, deceitful, and cruel words.  

Hear me. There are times we ought to keep our negative thoughts and emotions to ourselves and refuse to give them a voice. The Bible warns us that our tongue can be a mighty weapon, for good and for evil. (James 3:1-12). 

Proverbs warns us, “Reckless words pierce like a sword” (Proverbs 12:18). We can damage a person’s spirit, family, or reputation by blurting out negative thoughts and feelings without any thought or prayer. Yes, it might temporarily feel better to blurt them out when we’re mad or hurt, but I liken blurting to vomit. Vomit belongs in the toilet and not on another person.

But it’s not only good for the other person that we learn not to blurt our negative thoughts and feelings during moments of great intensity. It is also good for us. 

Proverbs 21:23 says, “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”   

Proverbs 13:3 says, “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” 

1 Peter 3:10 says, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”  

Imagine how much better you would feel if you weren’t always complaining or critical of something wrong in your life? How would your relationships be improved if the people you loved didn’t feel angry with you by your reckless or deceitful words? How different would you feel about yourself if you weren’t so captured by your own negative feelings and thoughts?

Here are three things you can do to develop the ministry of the closed mouth*.   

1.  Decide: No matter how negatively you feel you make a conscious decision that you will not vomit your toxic emotions out on others. (Don’t get me wrong – you may have to speak some hard word at times, but hard words need not be harsh words). The psalmist determined, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence” (Psalm 39:1). 

2.  Acknowledge the struggle: In Psalm 39 despite his vow to keep silent, the psalmist found keeping quite pretty tough. Silence didn’t bring the psalmist satisfaction but more anguish (see verses 2 and 3). During this time of anguish and temptation write a no-send letter venting out your feelings or praying them out to God until you can get a better perspective and calm down.   

3.  Remember the big picture: It’s crucial that you understand that YOU are much more than your temporal thoughts and feelings. We all have negative thoughts and feelings but it’s important to not allow them to have us. Instead of getting stuck in your mood or negative thoughts, remind yourself that you are more than your feelings and you will have to give an account for how you handled adversity.

Remember your goals (I don’t want to vomit on people), your deeper desires (I want to be a godly person, or I don’t want to have regrets later) or your values (I want to treat people as I would like to be treated). This practice helps us develop the muscle of restraint and self-control so that we don’t become a slave to our emotions.

Dietrich Bonheoffer said, “Often we combat our evil thoughts most effectively if we absolutely refuse to allow them to be expressed in words…It must be a decisive rule of every Christian fellowship that each individual is prohibited from saying much that occurs to him.”

Let’s make 2016 a year that we use our tongue and our tweets to build up and encourage one another.

*I first read this phrase “Ministry of the Closed Mouth” in The Life You’ve Always wanted by John Ortberg

Source: Leslie Vernick, “The Ministry Of A Closed Mouth” (5 JAN 2016), via email; also on Leslie Vernick at https://un184.infusionsoft.com/app/hostedEmail/2350388/999ed915aedf9a84/ [accessed 29 JUL 2016].

II. Paid Vows (5:4-5)

⁴ When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. ⁵ Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

There is more going on in these verses than merely keeping your word.

And, while this may be appropriate to consider on the issue of “New Year’s Resolutions,” that is not what is under consideration here either!

1. What impresses God (5:4)

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.

2. Caution is in order (5:5)

Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

III. Fear God (5:6-7)

⁶ Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? ⁷ For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Reasons to fear God:

1. The anger of God - God as a God of anger - the angry God

wherefore should God be angry at thy voice

2. The destruction of God - God as a God of destruction - God the destroyer

and destroy the work of thine hands

IV. Marvel Not (5:8)

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

1. Two possible occasions for amazement:

1) the oppression of the poor

2) violent perverting of judgment and justice

Kaiser’s note on the use of the Hebrew word for “province” here!

2. Two absolute bases not to marvel:

1) he that is higher than the highest regardeth

2)  there be higher than they

[Sermon preached 3 JAN 2016 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Complete Outline:

I. Few Words (5:1-3)

1. Watch your step! (5:1a)

2. Watch your mouth! (5:1b-3)

II. Paid Vows (5:4-5)

1. What impresses God (5:4)

2. Caution is in order (5:5)

III. Fear God (5:6-7)

1. The anger of God - God as a God of anger - the angry God

2. The destruction of God - God as a God of destruction - God the destroyer

IV. Marvel Not (5:8)

1. Two possible occasions for amazement

2. Two absolute bases not to marvel

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).

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).

F. Delitzsch, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, trans. M. G. Easton, Vol. VI in C. F. Kiel and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes, trans. James Martin (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, n.d., 1975 reprint).

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].

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

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

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).

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).

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).

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #11 - Two Are Better Than One (Ecclesiastes 4:7-16)

Series: Ecclesiastes

Sermon #11: Two Are Better Than One

Ecclesiastes 4:7-16

[There was no audio recording of this sermon.]

⁷ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. ⁸ There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. ⁹ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. ¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. ¹¹ Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? ¹² And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.  ¹³ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. ¹⁴ For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. ¹⁵ I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. ¹⁶ There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Introduction:

The nature of the middle sections of Ecclesiastes

Outline:

I. Labor Not For Labor’s Sake (4:7-8) - Work For One Another

II. Alone Is Not Good (4:9-12) - Help One Another

III. One Thing Makes the Difference (4:13-16) - Listen To One Another

Transition:

There is a numerical issue in these verses.

⁷ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. ⁸ There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. ⁹ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. ¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. ¹¹ Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? ¹² And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.  ¹³ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. ¹⁴ For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. ¹⁵ I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. ¹⁶ There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

There is a theme that binds these verses together.

I. Labor Not For Labor’s Sake (4:7-8) — Work For One Another

⁷ Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. ⁸ There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

1. The Introduction to the Next Series of Epigrams (4:7)

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.

Compare the other usages of “Then I returned, and I saw…” in this chapter in 4:1, 4, and 15.

2. The First Epigram — One Alone (4:8)

There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

Compare the various translations on verse 8! Did he, or didn’t he???

NASB: There was a certain man without a dependent, having neither a son nor a brother, yet there was no end to all his labor. Indeed, his eyes were not satisfied with riches and he never asked, “And for whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure?” This too is vanity and it is a grievous task.

ESV: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

HCSB: There is a person without a companion,  without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches.  “So who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself from good?” This too is futile and a miserable task.

NIV: There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil,

yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is meaningless—a miserable business!

NLT: This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

YLT: There is one, and there is not a second; even son or brother he hath not, and there is no end to all his labour! His eye also is not satisfied with riches, and he saith not, ‘For whom am I labouring and bereaving my soul of good?’ This also is vanity, it is a sad travail.

Ask the question!

Who are you working, laboring, serving for?

II. Alone Is Not Good (4:9-12) — Help One Another

⁹ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. ¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. ¹¹ Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? ¹² And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Gen. 2:18 — And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

No man is an island, nor ought he to be!

“Ten survival experts are dropped off in separate and extremely remote locations on Northern Vancouver Island. Equipped with only limited gear, their years of wilderness experience, and cameras to self-document their journeys, the men are completely isolated from one another as they struggle to live in the wild for as long as they can. Attempting to survive unaided in a thick and desolate rainforest presents immediate challenges to everyone. While each character battles to simply enter the dense forest and find a suitable base camp, they must also find water and make a shelter before night falls and temperatures drop. As the sun goes down, a new challenge presents itself: relentless rains and the struggle to build a fire without matches. Even worse, some find that water, shelter and fire are the least of their worries when the island's large predators wake from their dens and begin to stalk their new neighbors.”

— History at http://www.history.com/shows/alone [accessed 25 DEC 2015].

“Ten men try to survive as long as they can in the Vancouver Island wilderness, carrying only what can fit in a backpack. Alone in harsh, unforgiving terrain, these men must hunt, build shelters and fend off predators, all while documenting the experience themselves. It's the ultimate test of man's will.”

— IMDb at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4803766/ [accessed 25 DEC 2015].

You’ll never walk alone? Really? If you walk with the Lord, true, you will never walk alone, but is that the point of this well known show tune?

“”You'll Never Walk Alone” is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein  musical Carousel. In the second act of the musical, Nettie Fowler, the cousin of the female protagonist Julie Jordan, sings “You'll Never Walk Alone” to comfort and encourage Julie when her husband, Billy Bigelow, the male lead, is killed when trying to escape capture after a failed robbery attempt when he falls and lands on his knife. It is reprised in the final scene to encourage a graduation class of which Louise (Billy and Julie's daughter) is a member. The now invisible Billy, who has been granted the chance to return to Earth for one day in order to redeem himself, watches the ceremony and is able to silently motivate the unhappy Louise to join in the song.”

— Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27ll_Never_Walk_Alone [accessed 25 DEC 2015].

1. Reason #1 — Help in Time of Need (4:9-10)

⁹ Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. ¹⁰ For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

2. Reason #2 —Warmth in a Time of Cold (4:11)

Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

3. Reason #3 — Defense in a Time of Battle (4:12)

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

III. One Thing Makes the Difference (4:13-16) — Listen To One Another

¹³ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished. ¹⁴ For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor. ¹⁵ I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead. ¹⁶ There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

A different drummer? Going your own way?

1. The One Reason Why (4:13)

Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.

2. The Ascent and the Descent (4:14)

For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

3. The Second Child (4:15)

I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.

4. No Joy (4:16)

There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.

“U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

In air intercept, a code meaning, “I have been unsuccessful,” or, “I have no information.”

“When a controll [sic] tower advises a pilot that he has an approacing aircraft. If the pilot does not see the approacing [sic] aircraft, after a few seconds, he can reply “no joy.”

— Urban Dictionary at http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=No+Joy [accessed 25 DEC 2015].

“From military aviation. A pilot reports "no joy" when an attempt to establish visual or radio contact with another aircraft is unsuccessful; or when an attempt to acquire a target - either visually or on tactical radar - is unsuccessful.”

— The Online Slang Dictionary at http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/no-joy [accessed 25 DEC 2015].

“No Joy
Failure to make visual sighting; or inability to establish radio communications.”

— “Aviator Slang” on Tailhook Association at https://www.tailhook.net/AVSLANG.htm#N [accessed 25 DEC 2015].

“Aircrew does not have visual contact with the target/bandit/landmark. Opposite of TALLY.”

— Brevity: Multi-Service Brevity Codes, FM 1-02.1 (FM 3-54.10), MCRP 3-25.B, NTTP 6-02.1, AFTTP(I) 3-2.5 (15 JUN 2005), II-27; on Federation of American Scientists (FAS) at https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm1-02-1.pdf [accessed 25 DEC 2015].[1]

Conclusion:

In order to function with wisdom while in this fallen world East of Eden and West of Glory groaning in the bondage of corruption the principles in these verses should never be far from our thoughts or the intents of our hearts.

[Sermon preached 27 DEC 2015 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Complete Outline:

I. Labor Not For Labor’s Sake (4:7-8) - Work For One Another

II. Alone Is Not Good (4:9-12) - Help One Another

III. One Thing Makes the Difference (4:13-16) - Listen To One Another

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).

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).

F. Delitzsch, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, trans. M. G. Easton, Vol. VI in C. F. Kiel and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes, trans. James Martin (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, n.d., 1975 reprint).

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].

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

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

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).

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).

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).

---

Note:

[1] This has most recently been revised to Brevity: Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, And Procedures For Multi-Service Brevity Codes, ATP 1-02.1 (20 SEP 2012; and then 23 OCT 2014). It is once again being revised (as of 18 AUG 2015) according to “…its two-year life cycle. Changing operations and combat environments require revision of the MTTP on a continuous basis.”

— Air Land See Application (ALSA) Center memorandum, dated 18 AUG 2015, from COL Michael E. Kensick, USAF, Director, SUBJ: Project Approval Package (PAP) on Multi-Service Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (MTTP) for Multi-Service Brevity Codes., to DIR, MCCOE; DIR CDD, MCCDC; COMNAVWARDEVCOM, and LEMAY CENTER/CC; on Air Land Sea Application Center at http://www.alsa.mil/library/mttps/current/brevity_pap_2015.pdf [accessed 25 DEC 2015].

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #10 - A Handful of Quietness (Ecclesiastes 4:1-6)

Series: Ecclesiastes

Sermon #10: A Handful of Quietness

Ecclesiastes 4:1-6

[audio file from Internet Archive at https://archive.org/details/Ecclesiastes41-6]

¹ So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. ² Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. ³ Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. ⁴ Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. ⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. ⁶ Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

Introduction:

Reminders:

1) the unique aspects of Ecclesiastes that must be observed to appreciate what the author has done

2) the inspired and inerrant nature of Ecclesiastes as the Word of God

3) the impact of Ecclesiastes on proud unregenerate philosophers and mankind in general

Where we have been, and where we have come to in our study of this book

What we have learned along the way so far

Outline:

I. The Universal Lack of Comfort (4:1)

II. The Ultimate Despair of Life (4:2-3)

III. The Unreasonable Basis of Envy (4:4)

IV. The Understandable Conclusion of Qoheleth (4:5-6)

I. The Universal Lack of Comfort (4:1)

So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side[1] of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.

II. The Ultimate Despair of Life (4:2-3)

² Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive. ³ Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

“Give me liberty, or give me death!”

— Patrick Henry[2]

“Death before dishonor!”

“'Death before Dishonour' is the motto of 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, of the Australian Army. It's also the motto of 90 Armoured Regiment, of the Indian Army.”

— Iain Morrison, “Who uses the motto death before dishonor?” on Answers at http://www.answers.com/Q/Who_uses_the_motto_death_before_dishonor [accessed 13 DEC 2015].

“This saying comes from the Duchy of Brittany, for over a millenium an independent state, a very wealthy country defended by strong, professional armies, navies and marines corps. Brittany's motto is "Kentoc'h mervel eget bezañ saotret", meaning "Rather death than dishonour". 
The phrase came into English usage with the Bretons who accompanied William the Conqueror. Their leader, Count Alan Rufus, de facto Earl of East Anglia and of York and commander of King William's household cavalry, built up Boston in Lincolnshire (by 1200, part of England's largest complex of seaports), from which Boston in Massachusetts was settled. Alan was also a "praeceptor legis" (law professor) who founded a seminary which became the University of Cambridge, and academics from Cambridge founded Harvard.”

— Zoe, on Yahoo Answers at https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080626221741AAyqQwr [accessed 13 DEC 2015].

“The exact date of the origin of the phrase cannot be determined, because it comes from the Latin and was used by Roman soldiers as a "battle cry."   

The Latin phrase is "MORS ANTE INFAMIAM."  "Infamiam" literally means "infamy," and "dishonor" is a synonym.  The Latin philosopher and dramatist Seneca [and tutor of the emperor, Nero] used a variation of the phrase in his writing.

Another version of the phrase is "POTIUS MORI QUAM FOEDARE," which means "rather to die than to be dishonored."

I mentioned above that the phrase was a "battle cry."  It was also used immediately before a Roman centurion committed suicide.  When he knew that he was defeated and would die at the hands of the enemy, he would "fall on his own sword."

The emperor Tacitus condemned this suicidal ritual as "heathenistic" in the third century A. D.

The phrase can be found at the Merriam-Webster Latin Dictionary Online:

http://www.websters-dictionary-online.org/translation/Latin/mors+ante+infamiam”

— Ted Nesbitt, “Origin of phrase “death before dishonour”” (6 JUN 2008), on AllExperts at http://en.allexperts.com/q/Etymology-Meaning-Words-1474/2008/6/Origin-phrase-death-dishonour-1.htm [accessed 13 DEC 2015].

III. The Unreasonable Basis of Envy (4:4)

Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

“cruel competitiveness”

— Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Ecclesiastes: Total Life, in Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979), pg. 73.[3]

The concluding refrain

IV. The Understandable Conclusion of Qoheleth (4:5-6)

⁵ The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh. ⁶ Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

A non-alternative!

A gracious answer

[Sermon preached 13 DEC 2015 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Complete Outline:

I. The Universal Lack of Comfort (4:1)

II. The Ultimate Despair of Life (4:2-3)

III. The Unreasonable Basis of Envy (4:4)

IV. The Understandable Conclusion of Qoheleth (4:5-6)

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).

William D. Barrick, Ecclesiastes: The Philippians of the Old Testament, Focus on the Bible series (Fearn, Ross-Shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2012).

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).

F. Delitzsch, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, trans. M. G. Easton, Vol. VI in C. F. Kiel and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes, trans. James Martin (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, n.d., 1975 reprint).

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].

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

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

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).

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).

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] NKJV note: “Lit. At the hand.”

[2] Source: William Wirt, Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry (Philadelphia, 1836), as reproduced in The World's Great Speeches, eds. Lewis Copeland and Lawrence W. Lamm (New York, 1973); on Colonial Williamsburg at http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm [accessed 13 DEC 2015].

See also:

“Patrick Henry - Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death,” on The Avalon Project in the Lillian Goldman Law Library (Yale Law School) at http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/patrick.asp [accessed 13 DEC 2015],

“Patrick Henry’s Speeches” on The Patrick Henry Center at http://www.patrickhenrycenter.com/Speeches.aspx [accessed 13 DEC 2015], and,

Evan Andrews, “Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” Speech, 240 Years Ago” (22 MAR 2015),  on History at http://www.history.com/news/patrick-henrys-liberty-or-death-speech-240-years-ago [accessed 13 DEC 2015].

[3] “…men can be as cruel and inhuman to each other in unnecessary competition as they can be  in oppression (4:4-6). Often the rule in the business world is the law of the jungle. Every success is greeted with envy instead of the expected praise.” — Kaiser, op. cit., pg. 72.

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #9 - The Difference in the Mix (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22)

Series: Ecclesiastes

Sermon #9: The Difference in the Mix

Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

¹⁶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 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. ¹⁸ I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. ¹⁹ For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. ²⁰ All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. ²¹ Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? ²² Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Introduction:

Reminders:

1) the unique aspects of Ecclesiastes that must be observed to appreciate what the author has done

2) the inspired and inerrant nature of Ecclesiastes as the Word of God

3) the impact of Ecclesiastes on proud unregenerate philosophers and mankind in general

Where we have been, and where we have come to in our study of this book

What we have learned along the way so far

Outline:

I. Man in the Mix of Wickedness and Righteousness (3:16-17)

II. Man in the Mix of Created Beings (3:18-21)

III. Man in the Mix of Future Uncertainty (3:22)

I. Man in the Mix of Wickedness and Righteousness (3:16-17)

¹⁶ And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 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.

1. The Present Mix of Wickedness and Righteousness (3:16)

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.

The operative phrase in understanding this paragraph (3:16-22) is “under the sun.”

This 3:16 is not quite along the lines of John 3:16, is it?

2. The Future Difference in God’s Time (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.

there — Where?

Horatius Bonar, Come Lord, and Tarry Not[1]

Come Lord, and tarry not; Bring the long-looked-for day; O why these years of waiting here, These ages of delay? Come, for Thy saints still wait; Daily ascends their sigh: The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come": Dost Thou not hear the cry? Come, for creation groans, Impatient of Thy stay, Worn out with these long years of ill, These ages of delay. Come, for Thy Israel pines, An exile from Thy fold; O call to mind Thy faithful word, And bless them as of old! Come, for thy foes are strong; With taunting lip they say, "Where is the promised Advent now, And where the dreaded Day?" Come, for the good are few; They lift the voice in vain: Faith waxes fainter on the earth, And love is on the wane. Come, for the truth is weak, And error pours abroad Its subtle poison o'er the earth, - An earth that hates her God.

Come, for love waxes cold, Its steps are faint and slow: Faith now is lost in unbelief, Hope’s lamp burns dim and low. Come, for the grave is full; Earth's tombs no more can hold: The sated sepulchres rebel, And groans the heaving mould. Come, for the corn is ripe, Put in Thy sickle now, Reap the great harvest of the earth; Sower and Reaper Thou! Come in Thy glorious might, Come with the iron rod, Scattering Thy foes before Thy face, Most mighty Son of God! Come, spoil the strong man's house, Bind him and cast him hence; Show Thyself stronger than the strong, Thyself Omnipotence. Come, and make all things new; Build up this ruined earth; Restore our faded Paradise, Creation's second birth. Come, and bring Thy reign Of everlasting peace; Come, take the kingdom to Thyself, Great King of Righteousness.

II. Man in the Mix of Created Beings (3:18-21)

¹⁸ I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. ¹⁹ For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. ²⁰ All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. ²¹ Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

1. In one sense, there is no difference between mankind and animals. (3:18-20)

¹⁸ I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

 ¹⁹ For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

 ²⁰ All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

The leveling effect of the curse of Genesis 3!

Once again putting fallen mankind in his place, and slapping him in the face of the reality of mortality!

2. In another sense, there is a great difference between mankind and animals. (3:21)

Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

There is a significant translation issue involved in understanding the meaning of this verse that has to do with whether it should be a question or not.

Every translation that I checked translates it as a question, but Kaiser following Leupold argues otherwise convincingly. See Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Ecclesiastes: Total Life, in Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1979), pg. 71; and H. C. Leupold, Exposition of Ecclesiastes (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1952), pp. 97-100. Kaiser cites pg. 99; op. cit., pg. 71, note 3.

Another issue is whether it should be understood as a conditional statement involving “if” (HCSB, NIV).

YLT — Who knoweth the spirit of the sons of man that is going up on high, and the spirit of the beast that is going down below to the earth? [2]

NASB — Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? [3]

ESV (and RSV) — Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? [4]

NIVC84 note — Or Who knows the spirit of man, which rises upward, or the spirit of the animal, which [5]

NKJV note — LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg. Who knows whether the spirit … goes upward, and whether … goes downward to the earth? [6]

III. Man in the Mix of Future Uncertainty (3:22)

²² Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

[Sermon preached 6 DEC 2015 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Complete Outline:

I. Man in the Mix of Wickedness and Righteousness (3:16-17)

1. The Present Mix of Wickedness and Righteousness (3:16)

2. The Future Difference in God’s Time (3:17)

II. Man in the Mix of Created Beings (3:18-21)

1. In one sense, there is no difference between mankind and animals. (3:18-20)

2. In another sense, there is a great difference between mankind and animals. (3:21)

III. Man in the Mix of Future Uncertainty (3:22)

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).

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).

F. Delitzsch, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, trans. M. G. Easton, Vol. VI in C. F. Kiel and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes, trans. James Martin (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, n.d., 1975 reprint).

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].

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

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

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).

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).

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).

---

[1] Horatius Bonar, Kelso Tracts (May 1846), and Hymns of Faith and Hope, First Series (1857).  Included in Christ in Song: Hymns of Immanuel Selected from all Ages, compiled by Philip Schaff, Classic Reprint Series ed. (Vestavia Hills, AL: Solid Ground Christian Books, n.d.; 2004 reprint of 1870 ed. by Sampson Low, Son & Marston), pp. 308-309.  On Cyber Hymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/l/cltarryn.htm [accessed 17 DEC 2012].  According to Hymnary.org at http://www.hymnary.org/text/come_lord_and_tarry_not [accessed 17 DEC 2012] it has been published in 131 hymnals.  “Come, Lord, and tarry not. H.Bonar. [Second Advent desired.] Printed in May, 1846, at the end of one of the Kelso Tracts, and again in his Hymns of Faith and Hope, 1857. It is in 14 stanzas of 4 lines, with the heading “Come, Lord,” and the motto from St. Augustine, “Senuit mundus.” Centos, varying in length and construction, but all beginning with stanza i., are in extensive use in America. In Great Britain it is less popular. A cento, beginning with stanza ii., “Come, Lord; Thy saints for Thee,” is also given in Kennedy, 1863, No. 22.  --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907).” Source:  Hymnary.org, ibid. See also: Mike Pohlman, “All Things New” (20 AUG 2011); on Permanent Things at https://michaelpohlman.wordpress.com/2011/08/20/all-things-new/ [accessed 4 DEC 2015]; and Trevin Wax, “Come, Lord, And Tarry Not” (12 DEC 2010); on The Gospel Coalition at http://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/trevinwax/2010/12/12/come-lord-and-tarry-not/ [accessed 4 DEC 2015].

[2] Young, R. (1997). Young’s Literal Translation (Ec 3:21). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

[3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995 (Ec 3:21). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ec 3:21). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

[5] The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1984. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[6] The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Pastor's Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes (series), #8 - Inexplicable Beauty, Gracious Joy, and the Basis for Fear — all from the Eternal Sovereign (Ecclesiastes 3:9-15), Part 2: Gracious Joy, and the Basis for Fear — all from the Eternal Sovereign (Ecclesiastes 3:12-15)

Series: Ecclesiastes

Sermon #8: Inexplicable Beauty, Gracious Joy, and the Basis for Fear — all from the Eternal Sovereign

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

Part 2: Gracious Joy, and the Basis for Fear

 — all from the Eternal Sovereign

Ecclesiastes 3:12-15

¹² I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. ¹³ And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. ¹⁵ That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

Introduction:

Reminders:

1) the unique aspects of Ecclesiastes that must be observed to appreciate what the author has done

2) the inspired and inerrant nature of Ecclesiastes as the Word of God

3) the impact of Ecclesiastes on proud unregenerate philosophers and mankind in general

Where we have been, and where we have come to in our study of this book

What we have learned along the way so far

Outline:

III. The Certainty of God’s Grace (3:12-13)

IV. The Certainty of God’s Success (3:14-15)

III. The Certainty of God’s Grace (3:12-13)

¹² I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. ¹³ And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

1. The Possibility of Joy and Goodness in Life (3:12)

¹² I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

NASB (cp. ESV, HCSB, NIV, and NLT) — “…nothing better for them than…”

Cp. 2:24 — 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.

3:22 — Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

8:15 — Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

rejoice

do good

2. The Source of Enjoyment of Good in Life (3:13)

¹³ And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

enjoy the good

it is the gift of God

Are you doing what God wants you to do?

Are you rejoicing in doing what God wants you to do?

If you are not then you need to ask yourself what is robbing you of the basis for joy in life!

Do you receive what you do as the gift of God?

Do you see the grace of God in the daily tasks and activities of life?

IV. The Certainty of God’s Success (3:14-15)

¹⁴ I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. ¹⁵ That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

1. The Difference In What God Does (3:14)

14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever:

The eternal God works eternal works!

nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it:

God is in absolute control of His works, acting according to His will and His nature, so that they cannot be improved on, there is no defect, they are perfect, and His good pleasure is satisfied in them.

and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

There is a reason why God does what He does in His works.

fear of God — cp. 5:7; 7:18; 8:12-13 (3x); 12:13

HCSB: “God works so that people will be in awe of Him.”

2. The Inevitability Of What God Requires (3:15)

¹⁵ That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

“God seeks out the pursued. This is what the Hebrew literally says, but no one has been able to make good sense of it. If “the pursued” is equivalent in meaning to “him who is sought,” the meaning of the clause might be coordinate with “what is to be already has been,” but the verse remains doubtful.”

— Robert Alter, The Wisdom Books: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, A Translation with Commentary (New York: W. W. Norton, 2010), pg. 356.

NASB: “…for God seeks what has passed by.”

ESV: “…and God seeks what has been driven away.” [Hebrew what has been pursued]

HCSB: “God repeats what has passed.” [Or God calls the past to account, or God seeks what is past, or God seeks the persecuted; lit God seeks [the] pursued]

NIV: “…and God will call the past to account.” [Or God calls back the past]

NLT: “…because God makes the same things happen over and over again.”

NKJV: “…And God requires an account of what is past.” [Lit. seeks] [what is pursued]

YLT: “…and God requireth that which is pursued.”

RSV: “…and God seeks what has been driven away.”

NRSV: “…and God seeks out what has gone by.” [Heb what is pursued]

ASV: “…and God seeketh again that which is passed away.”

Darby: “…and God bringeth back again that which is past.”

MLB: “…and God seeks out what has passed by.”

NEB: “…and God summons each event back in its turn.”

Revelation 20

Conclusion:

“Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet
            Thy blessed face to see;
For if Thy work on earth be sweet,
            What will Thy glory be!

Then shall I end my sad complaints,
            And weary, sinful days;
And join with the triumphant saints,
            To sing Jehovah's praise.

My knowledge of that life is small,
            The eye of faith is dim;
But 'tis enough that Christ knows all,
            And I shall be with him.”

— Richard Baxter

[Sermon preached 29 NOV 2015 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Complete Outline:

III. The Certainty of God’s Grace (3:12-13)

1. The Possibility of Joy and Goodness in Life (3:12)

2. The Source of Enjoyment of Good in Life (3:13)

IV. The Certainty of God’s Success (3:14-15)

1. The Difference In What God Does (3:14)

2. The Inevitability Of What God Requires (3:15)

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).

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).

F. Delitzsch, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, trans. M. G. Easton, Vol. VI in C. F. Kiel and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes, trans. James Martin (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, n.d., 1975 reprint).

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

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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].

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

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

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

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).

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).