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Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes. The Great Experiment Chapter 12. Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8. Rejoice Being young is a blessing from God and it provides opportunities for enjoyment. Joy, though, should be found in items that please God because we have to give an account. Remove

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Ecclesiastes

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  1. Ecclesiastes The Great Experiment Chapter 12

  2. Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 • Rejoice • Being young is a blessing from God and it provides opportunities for enjoyment. • Joy, though, should be found in items that please God because we have to give an account. • Remove • “Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body…” Advice to the Young

  3. Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 • Remember • “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them;’” • Evil days are not wicked days, but a phrase describing the grievances and inconveniences of old age. • No pleasure means that the difficulties of old age make it difficult to look forward to each day. (Reference Barzillai in 2 Samuel 19:35) • The wise man goes on to provide numerous illustrations on the difficulties associated with aging. Advice to the Young

  4. Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 • Illustrations of Aging • “…keepers of the house tremble…” • The hands and the arms weaken. • “…strong men are bent…” • The legs become frail. • “…grinders cease because they are few…” • The teeth become weak and fall out. • “…those who look through the windows are dimmed…” • Eyes become weak and it is hard to see. • “…doors on the street are shut…” • Loss of hearing • “…sound of the grinding is low…” • Speech becomes hard to hear • “…one rises up at the sound of a bird…” • Sleep is difficult and easily awakened. Advice to the Young

  5. Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 • Illustrations of Aging • “…all the daughters of song are brought low…” • Voice no longer able to sing • “…afraid also of what is high…” • Fearful of many things because of feebleness. • “…terrors are in the way…” • Fearful of many things because of feebleness. • “…almond tree blossoms…” • Description of white hair. • “…grasshopper drags itself along…” • Unable to “hop”, difficult to move. • “…desire fails…” • Fleshly desires wane. • Please note that these should all help to remind us of the coming death and judgment. Advice to the Young

  6. Ecclesiastes 12:8-14 • “…the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” • All men go the same way in that they all die physically. At that time, the body returns to the dust where it was originally created from. • The spirit – the eternal side of man – returns to God who gives life. • Vanity of vanities… • Having searched through all of these things, the preacher ends with the same conclusion that he began the book with – all earthly pursuits end the same way. Conclusion

  7. Ecclesiastes 12:8-14 • Wisdom • Preacher shared his wisdom • Preacher made the words pleasant, when possible, but he did not avoid telling the truth • Wisdom is good for… • Guidance • Like goads used to drive oxen in the right direction, wise words will keep us on the right path. • Strength • As nails firmly fixed in the wall, wise words are true at all times. • We can spend too much time and energy looking for earthly wisdom and knowledge. Conclusion

  8. Ecclesiastes 12:8-14 • “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” • The wise man has looked at every aspect and potential path in life. The whole duty – and the only path that has real and lasting value – is to fear God. • Ecclesiastes 3:14 • Ecclesiastes 5:7 • Ecclesiastes 7:18 • Ecclesiastes 8:12 • This explains one of the reasons why we should fear God and keep His commandments – because God will judge our deeds. Conclusion

  9. Ecclesiastes Conclusion

  10. “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, ESV Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

  11. The Theme • The goal is to answer one question – “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3) • What is the goal of life? What is the purpose of life? • The book then is a description of the experiment that the Preacher conducts to answer this question. It is this quest for the good life – a satisfied and profitable life – that Solomon presents to us. Conclusion

  12. The Theme Wisdom? Great Works Laughter Wisdom is greater than folly, but… “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, ESV Pleasure What is the meaning of life? Successful physical toil cannot be taken past the grave… Great Possessions Conclusion Enjoy the blessings – work, family, possessions – that God has given, but… Wine

  13. Ecclesiastes The Great Experiment

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