INSIGHTS INTO THE

MEANING OF LIFE

ECCLESIASTES 9:1-18

JUDGMENT OF MEN, ENJOYMENT OF LIFE—

VALUE OF WISDOM

ECCLESIASTES 9:1

“For I considered all this in my heart, so that I could

declare it all: that the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. People know neither love nor hatred by anything

they see before them."

ECCLESIASTES 9:2

“All things come alike to all: One event happens to the

righteous and the wicked; to the good, the clean, and the

unclean; to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good,

so is the sinner; he who takes an oath as he who

fears an oath."

ECCLESIASTES 9:3

“This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of

evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and

after that they go to the dead."

ECCLESIASTES 9:4,5

“But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. For the living know that

they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they

have no more reward, for the memory of them is

forgotten."

ECCLESIASTES 9:6

“Also their love, their hatred, and their envy

have now perished; Nevermore will they

have a share in anything done under

the sun."

JUDGMENT COMES TO ALL MEN

• Death is a universal destiny• Treatment of God is the question• Circumstances in life we cannot

discern the Lord’s attitude with us• Prosperity and success aren’t

invariable signs of God’s approval• Suffering and poverty aren’t

invariable signs of God’s disapproval• God determines the dispersal of His

gifts– Job 1:20,21

JUDGMENT COMES TO ALL MEN

• “All” - the majority of mankind• No rules that guarantee one certain

desired result• “One event” happens to the

righteous and the wicked• Contrast:

– Clean and unclean– Those who sacrifice—those who

don’t– Good and the sinner– Oath taker—one who refrains

JUDGMENT COMES TO ALL MEN

• The righteous are not favorably delivered by providence or the wicked always dealt death and punishment and early grave

• Death does not discriminate• Death is the result of Satan’s work

– Hebrews 2:14; Romans 5:12• Ignoring the evidence of God not

an excuse– Romans 1:18-20

LIVING CAN PREPARE

• There is still hope—while one lives• Can make something out of their life• Illustration: Even though lions

exalted and dogs despised—live dog better than dead lion

• Dead know nothing about what is going on with the living

• “Memory is forgotten”—death erases that memory in time

• Living - an advantage needed to be used

DEATH RESULTS

• Our emotions die with us– Love, hatred, envy—have perished

• Our ability to influence is gone• No more share of life “under the sun”

– No more profit from our work• Death takes away our opportunity

– Isaiah 55:6– Hebrews 3:13– 2 Corinthians 6:1,2

ECCLESIASTES 9:7,8

“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for

God has already accepted your works.

Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil.”

ECCLESIASTES 9:9

“Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the

sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your

portion in life, and in the labor which you perform

under the sun.”

ECCLESIASTES 9:10

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with

your might; for there is no work or device or

knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are

going.”

ENJOY LIFE WHILE ITS OURS

• Believer turns life over to God— get on with it

• Go eat our bread/wine with joy• Imperative—enjoy God’s blessings• Man’s life is a gift from his Creator• If one seeks God’s kingdom first—

all else accepted– Matthew 6:33– James 1:17– John 10:10

ENJOY LIFE WHILE ITS OURS

• Do things that make us comfortable• Enjoy God’s blessings while available

to us• Enjoy our hard work

– Feasting, marital relations, occupation

• Enjoy our marriage– Affection– Happiness– Life-long commitment– Romans 12:11; Colossians 3:23

OUR OPPORTUNITY…

• Verse 7—contentment• Verse 8—comfort• Verse 9—companionship• Verse 10—give 100% effort• We have control over all these

things• Do with all our might• No work in Hades can be

accomplished– Proper priority necessary– Does God come first?

ECCLESIASTES 9:11

“I returned and saw under the sun that-The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor

riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to

them all.”

ECCLESIASTES 9:12

“For man also does not know his time: like fish

taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, so

the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly

upon them.”

ECCLESIASTES 9:13,14

“This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me: There

was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares

around it.”

ECCLESIASTES 9:15

“Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and

he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no

one remembered that same poor man.”

ECCLESIASTES 9:16

“Then I said: Wisdom is better than strength. Nevertheless the poor

man's wisdom is despised, and his words

are not heard.”

ECCLESIASTES 9:17,18

“Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be

heard rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.Wisdom is better than

weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much

good.”

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LIFE

• Race is not to the swift• Nor the battle to the strong• Nor bread to the wise• Nor riches to men of

understanding• Nor favor of men of skill• But time and chance happen to

all!– Nothing guaranteed in life!– Amos 2:14,15

UNPREDICTABLE

• Man does not know his time• Fish taken in cruel net• Birds in a snare• Seasons of life have three

qualities:– Unpredictable-man does not

know his time– Inescapable-what will happen– Abrupt-just happens suddenly.

VALUE OF WISDOM

• Solomon experienced this wisdom “under the sun”

• We learn by observation• “Best illustrations” glean from

what has been seen• People from all walks of life have

“wisdom” if they are observant

VALUE OF WISDOM

• Solomon here presents an illustration of a city with two negatives– It is small–Few men to protect it

• City facing what logic would say is an unbeatable foe– Great king with large army– Build embankments, mounds and

high wooden towers to go over the wall taking the city…

VALUE OF WISDOM

• Poor wise man in the city• By his “wisdom” he delivered the

city• Biblical example in 2 Samuel

20:22ff– Joab attacking city– Wise woman wondered “why”– Joab wanted one man, not the

wealth of city—Bichri head threw over the wall—city saved!

– Point—poverty has nothing to do with ignorance

WISDOM UNHEEDED

• Wisdom is better than strength• Correct translation (along w/v.15)

wise counsel was rejected• Poor man’s words are despised

and rejected• People today can gain “wisdom”

from many in life• Wisdom unrewarded—another

vanity among mankind

WISE COUNSEL

• Quietness—person replies in a calm way—indicates wisdom

• Ruler shouts to be heard• Other implies confidence and

assurance• Loudmouth chattering often

comes from “fools”• Consider example of Jesus

– Matthew 12:15-21

WISE COUNSEL

• Wisdom is better than weapons of war

• “Pen mightier than the sword”• Wisdom is powerful but not as

much as influence of a sinner• Satan uses such sinful practices

and men to further his work

• Wisdom can neutralize powerful weapons—but a sinner can undo whatever good could be accomplished!

CONCLUSION

• Need to keep things in proper perspective

• True wisdom can be found only in the hands of prudent men (earthly viewpoint)

• Life presents us with choices and those choices can be helpful/hurtful

• Learn from Solomon’s “research” and “mistakes”