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tangles under the sun Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:16 November 14, 2010
INTRODUCTION The backside of a tapestry and Abraham Genesis 22:12 ESV He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." Hebrews 11:17-19 ESV By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, (18) of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." (19) He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
SUMMARY OF TEXT Show context of the entire book. Last Week – Sovereignty of God as the Root of Joy – FAITH This passage gives several (six) obstacles or challenges or objections that are brought to the table in the context of God’s goodness and absolute sovereignty. Ecclesiastes 3:14 ESV I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.
MAIN POINTS
Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 ESV (16) Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. (17) I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. Wrong Response: Trust in Judges or self to take revenge or harbor bitterness Right Response: Trust in God and His coming Justice – see verse 17 and 12:14 Ecclesiastes 12:14 ESV For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 3:18-22 ESV (18) I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts. (19) For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. (20) All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. (21) Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upward and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth? (22) So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him? Wrong Response: Fear, anxiety or trust in Drs, diet, good works, actions Right Response: Enjoying the presents gifts of the Lord in faith Ecclesiastes 12:7 ESV and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 ESV Again I saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power, and there was no one to comfort them. (2) And I thought the dead who are already dead more fortunate than the living who are still alive. (3) But better than both is he who has not yet been and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun. Wrong Response: Trust in power or protection over oppressors Right Response: Trust in God and do not be surprised by the wickedness of man – He will judge righteously and will bring vengence
Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 ESV Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. (5) The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. (6) Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Wrong Response: Trust your own work, striving, security and selfishness Right Response: Work hard and enjoy the toil God gives you and the rest He give by faith Psalms 127:2 ESV It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 ESV (7) Again, I saw vanity under the sun: (8) one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business. (9) Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. (10) For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! (11) Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? (12) And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Wrong Response: Trust in companionship – means of identity and comfort Right Response: Enjoy the goodness of community but it is not our ultimate meaning and identity
Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 ESV (13) Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. (14) For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. (15) I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place. (16) There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Wrong Response: Needing the approval and praise of people Right Response: Trusting and fearing God
CONCLUSION Jesus and all the Tangles = HE IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH He faced the full force of all this and trusted the Father. He is our Rock who gives us the foundation to stand on – or to lie down on. Hebrews 2:9-10 ESV But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (10) For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. |
