Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecclesiastes 7:29 - Memory verse for this week
You can get the lesson quarterly in pdf form for this weeks lesson here or here for the teacher's version.
You can find the entire chapter here courtesy of BibleGateway.com.
This is not a formal "article" just some notes that I have typed up for preservation's sake of our discussion and my thoughts.
Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecc 7:28-29
Solomon cannot figure out women. This is not a text against women, Solomon is not a woman hater. cf. Ecc 9:9, Pr 1-9
And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. Ecc 7:26
Solomon is bemoaning the extra wives that he had. Not women in general, but not being true to his first wife. That is what he is saying.
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Ecc 7:20
That is a lot like Paul, Rom 3:23, All have sinned...
All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ? Ecc 7:15-16
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. Ecc 7:29
God made us good; but we have messed it up. Yet, God has a plan for us to save us. John 3:16
Man was made upright flies in the face of evolution. Evolution man gets better; creation men becomes degraded.
A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. Ecc 7:1
A good name has something to do with a good reputation. CD Brooks' father sent him to college. His father didn't have much money to give him but he gave him a good name.
When we become a Christian we get a good name. Jacob had his name changed from trickster to overcomer, Prince with God.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Rev 2:17
God is going to give us a new name. In the 10 commandments, what is third commandment? Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Third Commandment is not in the New Testament; the fourth is. Cursing, and swearing, what does that really mean? When a woman gets married he takes her husband name; we take Christs name when we become a CHRISTian. We should represent his name well.
When a saved person dies when they are safe. When a Christian dies their battle is done; when someone is born they have 70 years of fighting before them.
It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Ecclesiastes 7:2-4
How can it be better to be at a funeral? We try to not think about death. We take the body away quickly, cover it with flowers, etc. We are headed toward death from birth. This life is to prepare for death. The goal is to die well, with no regrets.
In Florida, don't go to your own funeral: Alisa/Allison Matreya a 27-year-old said she had been diagnosed with cancer. Finally she had someone call and say that she was in hospice. She faked the whole thing so that she could go to her funeral and hear what people would say about her. "I knew I had to leave so I thought this would make it easier," she said.
Some people live for parties. You loose the purpose of life.
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. Amos 4:12
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. John 11:33-35
Why did Jesus weep? The others were weping; he wept for their mourning.
Prepare to meet your God every day. Jesus said he that "seeks to save his life shall loose it;and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it." Take up your cross daily.
Suicide is the dumbest thing you can do. Most suicide's awake in a lost condition. It permanently seals bad conditions. Death is the beginning of the real life.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity. Ecc 7:5-6
The rebuke of the wise man makes a better person.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart. Ecc 7:7
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Verse 8
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Rev 1:8
If you let him write on your life, he will finish it.
Prayer of patience?: "Dear God grant me patience right now!" Here is the patience of the saints. Eternal life is given to the patient.
Heb 6:12, Mat 24:13, Rom 2:7, Jam 5:11
Patience and endurance; when Moses delayed his coming off the mount the people needed patience. There are many who start well as a Christian and they loose patience.
There once was an oyster whose story I tell,
Who found that some sand had got into his shell.
It was only a grain, but it gave him great pain
For oysters have feelings although they're so plain.
Now, did he berate the harsh workings of fate
that brought him to such a deplorable state?
Did he curse at the government, cry for election,
And claim that the sea should have given him protection?
No- he said to himself as he lay on a shell,
Since I cannot remove it I shall try to improve it.
Now the years have rolled around, as the years always do.
And he came to his ultimate destiny: stew.
And the small grain of sand that had bothered him so
Was a beautiful pearl all richly aglow.
Now the tale has a moral, for isn't it grand
What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand?
What couldn't we do if we'd only begin
with some of the things that get under our skin.
- Anonymous
A pearl is garment of patience that endures an annoyance.
Patience= saved; proud=lost
The Devil was destroyed by his pride.
Pro 16:19, 27:2, Mat 23:11-12
Self-praise in their conversation; What were the disciples arguing about before the last supper?
Mark 9:33-34
We should not give preference to face, or race, or place
The operative word in the chapter is wisdom/wise, used 13 times
What brings wisdom? Humble heeds counsel wise. Pr 11:2
Can God learn anything?
Pr 15:33 Humility connected with wisdom.
Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this. Verse 10
Good old days; these are the good old days. Someday I will look back and say these were the golden years. The past is not always better.
The depression were the "Good old days"
Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the Excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. Verse 11, 12
Is inheritance good of bad? It is frequently not a good thing to those who don't know how to work.
A fool and his money will soon be parted. Did Solomon get an inheritance? Yes, from David, second only to Rehoboam.
Money as a defense - when a poor person is convicted of some crime without attorney, the rich have the defense of good lawyer.
Samuel's sons took bribes.
Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? Verse 13
A young tree grows as it is bent. Some people wait until they are too late in life to be saved
Leopard changes his spots.
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him. Verse 14
Matt 5:45 Jesus blesses and tries everyone. There will be ups and downs all through a persons life.
God is a God of the valleys and the God of the mountains. God is with us on the mountaintops and the valleys. When Jesus came off the mount of transfiguration he met the boy with a demon.
All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. Verse 15
Why do bad things happen to good people? Longest reigning king Manasseh. He repents in his old age and God forgives him. Why did that happen? Their blood was seed. Samson, more at death than in life.
Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ? Verse 16
Did the pharisees have the artificial righteousness? Pray to be seen, give to be seen. Do not be overly righteous.
When we are too smart to learn
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? Verse 17
Jeremiah 17:9
Whose hearts are wicked? The human heart, every heart. But are there some people who are given up to wickedness, more wicked than others? There are some who are struck down for their exceeding wickedness that their wickedness not increase: Ananias and Sapphira; Nadab and Abihu, etc.
Are there varying degrees of sin? There are varying degrees of punishment so there must be varying degrees of sin.
Do not multiply wickedness - Barnes translation?
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. verse 18, 19
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Verse 20
All have sinned
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. Verse 21, 22
Don't become distracted or upset about those that gossip about you. People don't mean everything they say. People have become so upset with what everyone says. If you throw mud you loose ground. Don't give someone a piece of your mind you could ill afford to loose.
