Ecclesiastes 12:8-13

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:8-13

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

 8 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.” 9 Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. 10 The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly.^[a]

 11 The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd^[b] drives the sheep.

 12 But, my child,^[c] let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.

 13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

Background/Insight:

• Having demonstrating the limitations of human efforts and human wisdom, Solomon revisits the theme with which he opened the book, “everything is meaningless.”  
• As Solomon begins making his closing statements his focus is turned from the meaningless of man’s pursuits to the fullness of trusting God and the eternal perspective.
• This is the end of Solomon’s book and where he gives his final perspective.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. What are some “cattle-prod” words that have helped you?
• What does Solomon say is of ultimate importance in the end?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

 1 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3 Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

 4 Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

 5 Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

 6 Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7 For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

Background/Insight:

• The words, “Remember your creator” mean to be faithful to him, to serve him responsibly, and remember that because he created people, everyone owes their life to him.  
• The repeated calling God, “your creator” emphasizes him as the author of life who gives and takes it away.   

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Do you remember “your Creator”?  
• What are some of the common lures that distract you from the creator?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 11:7-10

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

 7 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning. 8 When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.

 9 Young people,^[d] it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.

Background/Insight:

• These are words of perspective. Enjoy and treasure each day.  Take the good and the bad.  
• Even is Solomon’s day youth came with a sense of arrogance and superiority.   

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Do you find that you have a perspective like this?  
• Why do you think that American culture is so fascinated with youth and so fearful of death?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

1 Send your grain across the seas,
      and in time, profits will flow back to you.^[a]
 2 But divide your investments among many places,^[b]
      for you do not know what risks might lie ahead. 3 When clouds are heavy, the rains come down.
      Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.

 4 Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
      If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

 5 Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb,^[c] so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

 6 Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.

Background/Insight:

• The proverb in verses one and two seem especially applicable to today’s roller-coaster of a market. 
• Diligence in the face of unexpectedness and trust in God’s greater wisdom are the thrust of verses 4-6.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Think about how little of our future and our stuff is out of our control.  Why do you think we work so hard to pretend that it is?
• What does this passage say about the greatness of our God and our relationship with Him?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Ecclesiastes 10:5-20

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 10:5-20

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

 5 There is another evil I have seen under the sun. Kings and rulers make a grave mistake 6 when they give great authority to foolish people and low positions to people of proven worth. 7 I have even seen servants riding horseback like princes—and princes walking like servants! 8 When you dig a well,
      you might fall in.
   When you demolish an old wall,
      you could be bitten by a snake.
 9 When you work in a quarry,
      stones might fall and crush you.
   When you chop wood,
      there is danger with each stroke of your ax.

 10 Using a dull ax requires great strength,
      so sharpen the blade.
   That’s the value of wisdom;
      it helps you succeed.

 11 If a snake bites before you charm it,
      what’s the use of being a snake charmer?

 12 Wise words bring approval,
      but fools are destroyed by their own words.

 13 Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions,
      so their conclusions will be wicked madness;
    14 they chatter on and on.

   No one really knows what is going to happen;
      no one can predict the future.

 15 Fools are so exhausted by a little work
      that they can’t even find their way home.

 16 What sorrow for the land ruled by a servant,^[a]
      the land whose leaders feast in the morning.
 17 Happy is the land whose king is a noble leader
      and whose leaders feast at the proper time
      to gain strength for their work, not to get drunk.

 18 Laziness leads to a sagging roof;
      idleness leads to a leaky house.

 19 A party gives laughter,
      wine gives happiness,
      and money gives everything!

 20 Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts.
      And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom.
   For a little bird might deliver your message
      and tell them what you said.

Background/Insight:

• This is a continuation of the proverbial saying Solomon started at the end of chapter 9.  
• Verses 10 and 11 build off of each other.  A wise man knows to sharpen his ax. But even the greatest wisdom does little if it is not applied first, like the snake charmer.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Where have you seen and experienced wisdom like this?  Where have you witnessed foolishness like this?
• Do you find yourself saying things in private that you would never say to anyone in public.  What can we learn from these proverbs in that area of life?  
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Ecclesiastes 10:1-4

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 10:1-4

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

 1 As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink,
      so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor.

 2 A wise person chooses the right road;
      a fool takes the wrong one.

 3 You can identify fools
      just by the way they walk down the street!

 4 If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit!
      A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.

Background/Insight:

• This is a continuation of the proverbial saying Solomon started at the end of chapter 9.  
• I chose to separate it in the Pipeline because of the chapter break and to add emphasis to a truth that affects all of us.  A little sin can over-run a lot of good.  
• In verse 4 Solomon adds some new perspective.  Just as a little sin can overshadow wisdom.  Consistent wisdom can overcome great sin.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Have you seen something that should have been good, go sour because of someone’s mistakes? 
• When those things happen to you, what is your typical response?  What does verse 4 say to the way that we should respond?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

13 Here is another bit of wisdom that has impressed me as I have watched the way our world works. 14 There was a small town with only a few people, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. 15 A poor, wise man knew how to save the town, and so it was rescued. But afterward no one thought to thank him. 16 So even though wisdom is better than strength, those who are wise will be despised if they are poor. What they say will not be appreciated for long. 17 Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person
      than the shouts of a foolish king.
 18 Better to have wisdom than weapons of war,
      but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

Background/Insight:

• Solomon’s observation in this section could be boiled down to this truth: Though wisdom deserves attention, it’s value can be nullified by even a little sin.  
• The Hebrew words for “outweigh” and “honor” are both words used for weight and value.  The emphasis here is on how such a little amount of sin can outweigh a great deal of wisdom.  

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Have you ever witnessed an act of wisdom avert a tragedy?  Or a word of wisdom that silenced a growing fight?  
• Have you ever seen the opposite, where one little folly/sin has destroyed in a minute what great wisdom had built over time?  What does this tell us about the nature of people and sin?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Ecclesiastes 9:1-12

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 9:1-12

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

1 This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God’s hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor.2 The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad,^[a] ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don’t. 3 It seems so tragic that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. That is why people are not more careful to be good. Instead, they choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway. 4 There is hope only for the living. As they say, “It’s better to be a live dog than a dead lion!”

 5 The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. 6 Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth. 7 So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! 8 Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne!

 9 Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. 10Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave,^[b] there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.

 11 I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.

 12 People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.

Background/Insight:

• You do have to wonder sometimes if Solomon struggled with depression.  Here again he returns to the great meaningless discussion.  Whether a good man or an evil one, their fate is the same… death. 
• It’s important to note that this book is written to give a bigger, more eternal perspective.  It is also a great reminder of how small and trivial even the biggest of our struggles when put into perspective. 
• One of the most famous verses in Ecclesiastes is in verse 11.  The fastest runner does not always win the race and the strongest warrior does not always win the battle. 

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. What are the issues that seem huge today?  Does putting them into Solomon’s perspective change the way that you see them?  
• Why doesn’t the fastest always win, or the smartest always prosper?  What do you think Solomon is getting at?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Ecclesiastes 8:9-17

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 8:9-17

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

 9 I have thought deeply about all that goes on here under the sun, where people have the power to hurt each other. 10 I have seen wicked people buried with honor. Yet they were the very ones who frequented the Temple and are now praised^[a] in the same city where they committed their crimes! This, too, is meaningless. 11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. 12 But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. 13 The wicked will not prosper, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows. 14 And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!

 15 So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.

 16 In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. 17 I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.

Background/Insight:

• Solomon answers what is a common question today. If God is so good, why does he allow people to do such bad things.  The answer is that their day of judgement is coming.   
• He also notes what seems to be an eternal principal that the good are treated as bad and the bad as good.  This too will be righted when all things come to an end.  
• He recommends that people enjoy this life for what it is.  That is a jewel that few people find.    

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Does it answer the big question for you?  Why does God allow the evil to prosper?  
• Where in your life do you see God’s grace?  
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.

Ecclesiastes 8:1-8

Today’s Passage: Ecclesiastes 8:1-8

(See the Intro to Ecclesiastes here)

 1 How wonderful to be wise,
      to analyze and interpret things.
   Wisdom lights up a person’s face,
      softening its harshness.

 2 Obey the king since you vowed to God that you would. 3 Don’t try to avoid doing your duty, and don’t stand with those who plot evil, for the king can do whatever he wants. 4 His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it. 5 Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, 6 for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble. 7 Indeed, how can people avoid what they don’t know is going to happen? 8None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will certainly not rescue the wicked.

Background/Insight:

• The author again returns to his focus on the power of death.  Who can resist it?   
• The setting of this is a day when kings had absolute authority and to obey him was to keep from falling under his wrath.  This same understanding was applied to the following of God and is likely the reason it is talked about here in conjunction with a discussion on death.   

For your thought/discussion:

• Read through and reflect on the text again. Do you see God as the absolute authority and power or do you tend to ask him to yield to your authority?
• What perspective does this passage bring to your everyday worries and issues?
• Spend some time in confession and prayer.  Ask God to give you his perspective on this life.

Feel free to share any additional insights and prayers with everyone by commenting.