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ECCLESIASTES – LESSON THREE

I. THERE IS A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE (Chapter 3)

A. Antithetical events in life occur in their time (3:1-8)

1. Time to be born – die

2. Time to plant – pluck up

3. Time to kill – heal

4. Time to break down – build up

5. Time to weep – laugh

6. Time to mourn – dance

7. Time to cast away stones – gather stones

8. Time to embrace – refrain from embracing

9. Time to seek – time to lose

10. Time to keep – time to cast away

11. Time to rend – time to sew

12. Time to keep silence – time to speak

13. Time of love – time to hate

14. Time for war – time for peace

B. Antithetical events cause one to contemplate: What profit is there from my labor?

(3:9-10)

                  C.  God makes everything beautiful in its time (3:11-15)

                        1.  God has made man with the ability to think in terms of the past and future- set

                             eternity in his heart (3:11)

                             (a).  But man cannot discern God’s providential work.

             2.  Nothing better to do than to rejoice in the fruits of one’s labor and do good

                  (3:12-13)

             3.  Noting can be added to nor taken away from God’s works – should cause

                  reverence for God (v. 14).  

             4.  God is behind history repeating itself (v. 15).

        D.  There is a time for God’s judgment (3:16-22).

               1.  Wickedness, though seen where justice and righteousness should be , will be

                    dealt with in God’s time (v. 16-17).

               2.  God allows the disorders to occur to cause man to see himself as a beast (v.

                    18-21).

                    (a).  Death occurs to both.

                    (b).  Bodies of both return to dust.

                    (c).  Unseen spirit – breath of life departs for both.

                3.  No better thing to do than rejoice in the fruits of one’s labor, for who can

                     bring him back to do so in the future (3:22).

   

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the Divine purpose for knowing there is a time to be born and a time to die?

2. “He hath made everything ______________________ in its _______________________.”

3. What is meant by “eternity” being set in man’s heart?

4. Though eternity is set in man’s heart, what can man not find out?

 5. There is nothing better than to do what, as man lives his life on earth?

6. What is a gift of God of which we should make sure we receive?

7. What understanding should cause man to fear God?

8. Why is the following a true observation:  “History repeats itself?”

9. What should comfort us when we see injustice in the places justice should be?  

10. What does God allow that has a purpose for making us see we are like beasts?

11. How are we like beasts? How are we different from beasts?

12. What is our portion that we can take from this life?

13. What fact should cause you to enjoy your portion today?

ECCLESIASTES – LESSON FOUR

I. OBSERVATIONS REGARDING LIFE UNDER THE SUN (Chapter 4).

A. The sadness of experiencing oppressions with no helper (4:1-3)

1. The dead and those who have never been born are praised for not to

experience this evil (v. 2-3)

B. The frustration of skillful work being met with envy (4:4-6)

1. Yet, foolish to be idle for it produces ruin (v. 5)

2. Having little with contentment better than having much with discontentment (v. 6).

C. The rewards of sharing life with another (4:7-12)

1. Labor just for self is not satisfying (v. 8-9).

2. The benefits of companionship (v. 10-12)

a. One can pick up another when one falls (v. 10)

b. Two together can produce warmth in times of danger (v. 12).

c. Two or more can better withstand times of danger (v. 12)

D. The passing of time and circumstances regarding those in power (4:13-16)

1. An old and foolish king will fall (v. 13)

2. A cunning youth can rise even though poor and imprisoned (v. 14-15).

3. Yet, he too can be despised by later generations (v. 16).

QUESTIONS:

1. What did the writer see in life that caused him to praise the dead?

2. Does the writer praise suicide in certain situations?

3. What is a sad reality in life concerning the skillful work one may do?

 

4. Understanding this reality, what however is still foolish?  Why?

5. What makes one handful better than two?

6. How is one deprived of good regarding his labor?

7. Will a greedy spirit ever be satisfied?

8. What THREE benefits are there in sharing life with another?

9. What TWO facts cause the king to lose favor with his people?

10. What can take his place?

11. If having “power” is your goal in life, what should you consider?