Proverbs & Ecclesiastes — Lesson 13

1. 0:00Lesson number 13. In this lesson we'll be covering chapters 10, 11, and 12. Study section number 1. Let's take a look now at Ecclesiastes chapter 10. Wisdom and the lack of it seen in contrast in several areas of life. Verse 1. Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor.
2. 0:28told us a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor. You ever heard of fly in the ointment? Fly in the buttermilk? Probably where it came from, right here. 1 Corinthians 5, 6, Paul said, Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? You know, it doesn't take much of something rotten to spoil something that is good. And also, it doesn't take much folly to spoil one's wisdom.
3. 1:00Verse 2, a wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left. The distinction is made in the Bible of the good and the proper course being on the right hand, and the evil and the wrong course being on the left hand. You can find this in Matthew 25, verses 31 to 33, and also Matthew 25, verse 41, also Luke 1, verse 11, Acts 7, verse 56.
4. 1:30We would say today that his heart is in the right place. What we mean is that his heart and his mind is directing him toward the right, proper course of action. He's making a wise decision. Did you know that for many years, left-handed people were considered sinister, shifty, and generally distrustful just because they were left-handed? The right hand has always represented a place of honor, while the left hand...
5. 2:01Now let's don't press that too far, however. Verse 3, Yea, also when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to everyone that he is a fool. One translation renders verse 3, Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. A fool has no sense of direction.
6. 2:28A fool follows the wrong course and consequently demonstrates to everyone that he's a fool. Verse 4, If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, leave not thy place, for gentleness alayeth great offenses. If a ruler rises up against you and you have wisdom, then don't change your position because truth doesn't change. If one moves from his position of wisdom, his only alternative,
7. 2:58is to follow the behavior of the fool. The Bible says gentleness, and in the margin it says calmness, gentleness allayeth great offenses. What does that mean? Well, it means the same thing as Proverbs 15, verse 1, where it says, A soft answer turneth away wrath, but a grievous word stirs up anger. You can catch more flies with honey than can with vinegar. You know, if you're kind and polite and considerate, you can win more people than being harsh and...
8. 3:30and just being harsh and rude. Just because someone goes wrong and does something wrong, that doesn't mean that we should do wrong. Verses 5-7 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler, set in great dignity, and the rich sit in the low place. I have seen servants upon the horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
9. 4:04So much damage can be done when things are out of place and when those in control lack wisdom. When wisdom is missing in the lives of people in prominent places, problems come. This is not teaching that servants should not strive and that rulers should not be humble. But it is teaching problems arise when things are not properly handled and when wisdom is absent from those in authority. Verse 8, He that diggest a pit shall fall into it.
10. 4:35And whoso breaketh, fight him. A good comment here on this verse, Proverbs 26, verses 26 and 27. The one who digs a pit is preparing for a downfall of someone. But he is not wisely doing it. As a consequence, he falls in his own pit that he dug for someone else. The old saying is very true. Everything we do will come back to us in time. The principle of retribution is taught in this verse and also Psalms.
11. 5:09verses 15 and 16, Psalm 57, verse 6, and Amos, chapter 5, verse 18 through 20. The Bible teaches in Ecclesiastes 12, 13 and 14, in Matthew 12, 36 and 37, in Romans 2, 16, in Jeremiah 32, 19, a lot of other passages, every deed that we've done, everything that we've said, will one day be judged and will come back to it. Verse 9, Whoso heweth out therewith, and he that cleaveth wood is endangered.
12. 5:46This verse is not talking about retribution. Rather, this verse deals with accidents which may result from common, everyday work when wisdom is not used in exercise. Verse 10. If the iron be blunt and one do not quet the edge, then must he put to more strength. But wisdom is profitable to direct. If the axe is dull, the harder you have to hit.
13. 6:16And the harder you hit, the duller the axe gets, and so you have a problem. Well, the obvious solution is sharpen the axe. There's a story told many years ago before the invention of all the modern machinery that we have today. The trees that came to the lumber mill were cut down by the woodsman and his axe. Once there was a lumberjack named Big Jim who made his living cutting timber with his axe. Big Jim was considered to be above and by far the best lumberjack in the area.
14. 6:46At one point in his career, his production of trees was slowly going down. His tally sheet became less and less every day. His boss was very concerned since Big Jim had always been his number one producer. Well, if you were an employer and your number one producer started declining, what would you do? Well, you'd probably call him in and talk to him, right? Well, that's exactly what Jim's boss did. The boss called Jim in and discussed the part.
15. 7:16with him and went over the situation of how that Jim had always been the number one producer and that Sally Sheep was declining, you know, day by day. And so then the boss started asking Jim some questions. He said, Jim, how do you feel? Are you sick? Jim said, no, I feel as best as I've ever been. Well, Jim, do you have any personal problems at home? How is your home life? How is your home situation?
16. 7:46Jim said, things are just great. It just really couldn't be better. I really have no personal problems at home. Then Jim's boss said, well, Jim, what's the timber like? Is it really harder this year? Jim said, no, the timber's just fine. Nothing wrong with that. Then Jim's boss said, well, Jim, have you been working hard and really getting with it? Jim said, he said, I have been working as hard as I've ever been. Well, neither Jim nor his boss could figure it out.
17. 8:17Then his boss said, Well, Jim, let me ask you one last question. When was the last time you sharpened your axe? Jim said, I'm just sharpened my axe. I've got too much work to do. Upon hearing that, his boss examined his axe and found the blade very dull. Then his boss said, Jim, sharpen your axe. So there's a lot of truth in that and a lot of wisdom to that. Ecclesiastes 10.10 says, If the edge of the axe is blunt, dull, and needs sharpening,
18. 8:51then it's going to take more and more strength to get the job done. The Bible says wisdom is profitable to direct. The word direct comes from the Hebrew word K-A-S-H-E-R, and it means to make right. Wisdom would cause one to say, let's stop and evaluate and look things over. Wisdom realizes that small things are important and need to be attended to.
19. 9:20Who have ever had to cut wood, hoe weeds, or chop cotton know that one of the most profitable things one can do is to sharpen the blade. It's a small thing, but oh, it's so important. You know, when we get so busy that we fail to stop and evaluate what we're doing, what's going on around us, and where we're going, we just don't get very far. Because of thinking, we waste time and energy. I have to throw this story in. I'll tell you one.
20. 9:53For not on these tapes. Cousins hear this. They may get upset at me. But I have two cousins. One was a boy. One was a girl. And the girl, I don't know, maybe nine or ten or something like that. And so making ice cream one time for a get-together. The parents, the two kids to make the ice cream. I'm going to crank it. I'll let you crank it. So he put it all on and everything and just started looking. And she cranked. And she cranked. And she cranked. And she cranked. And she cranked for about an hour.
21. 10:42It still didn't seem like it was getting hard. Well, what had happened was her cousin had not told her that you have to put salt in the ice cream to make it hard. And so she went to her daddy and said, Daddy, something's wrong. It's not getting hard. And he went out there and looked the situation over and said, well, the reason it's not getting hard is because you don't have any salt in it. Well, now she realized after an hour that something was wrong. So that's what caused her to... Wait a minute. A lot of times it's...
22. 11:16pays, not get too big of a hurry, and sit back and say, what's going on? And let's make sure we're doing this right. Verse 11. If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer? If one has the wisdom and knowledge by which to charm the snake, but does not use it, and is bitten by the snake, what benefit does he gain from having such wisdom? The answer is nothing. There is no advantage.
23. 11:48There is no advantage to having wisdom unless wisdom is exercised. The lesson for us is, use wisdom. Verses 12 and 13. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is mischievous. Please go now to tape number 14, side A. As we continue our study.
24. 12:21Wisdom will demonstrate itself in speech. You know, if one starts talking foolishness, starts thinking foolishness, and the more he thinks foolishness, the more it will lead him into thinking about doing it, and that will just lead him into trouble. The obvious solution is don't think about it. You know, the Bible teaches that in Proverbs 23, 7, For as a man thinketh in his heart so is he, if you let your mind dwell on certain things, you will eventually be led into that direction. Verse 14,
25. 12:52A fool also multiplies words, yet man knoweth not what shall be and that which shall be after him. Who can tell him? The multiplying of a fool's words implies boasting about tomorrow. When he boasts about tomorrow, he is speaking of that which he knows the least. Proverbs 27 verse 1 and James 4 verse 13 bring this out. No man can predict the future with any certainty. How foolish to boast of what one will do.
26. 13:22in the future the word fool in the hebrew is the word f-a-k-a-l and it means thick-headed stubborn dense confused thinker the fool the thick-headed person will not listen consequently he will be the one that will be hurt some good commentaries on this are proverbs 15 2 proverbs 18 13 and matthew 13 verses 13 through 15. verse 15 the labor of fools wearieth
27. 13:50Every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city. Here we have two marks of a fool. Number one, the fool labors and toils, but there is no profit from his labor. As a result, everyone is wearied from his activity. Number two, the fool has no common sense. He is so void of understanding that he doesn't know his way home. In America, we would say, he doesn't know enough to come out of the rain. Verse 16.
28. 14:19Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child and thy princess eat in the morning. When the ruler behaves as a child, the nation is in for trouble. It does not mean that a young king would be a curse to a land. Josiah proved to be a blessing to Israel when he was only eight years old. The lesson is, when wisdom is disregarded by the rulers of the land, the people will have to endure injustices. Verse 17.
29. 14:48Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength and not for drunkenness. In verse 17, the opposite picture is presented. Here you have a land that is blessed and rejoices because it has wise rulers. The Bible teaches us in 1 Timothy 2 to pray for the rulers of the land, that they may rule wisely, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful and tranquil life.
30. 15:16And so today we need to pray for the rulers of our country that they may rule wisely. And if we don't have wise rulers, then our country is going down just like any other country. Verse 18, By slothfulness the root sinketh in, and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh. In the context, this is talking about nations. What is true of people in respect to houses is true of lazy leaders in respect to the nation.
31. 15:46A lazy person says, when the sun is shining, there is no need to fix through. And when it's raining, he can't get out and fix it. So what happens? He never fixes it. When the sun's shining, he says, there is no need. And when it's raining, he says, I can't get out and do it. It's raining. And so he's just in a perpetual problem. When a nation has rulers like this, it will always have many problems that will never be solved.
32. 16:15Verse 19, A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life, and money answereth all things. The officials and rulers spend their time in feasts, wine, and money instead of the affairs of state. And so consequently you have problems when you have leaders in the nation like that. But this is irony when it says money answereth all things. That's a perversion. That's sarcasm. That's not true.
33. 16:441 Timothy 6 teaches that. Proverbs is taught that all the way through the book of Proverbs. Money doesn't answer all things, but this is sarcasm when it's saying that in the Bible. The philosophy that money will resolve every problem and supply the answer to every desire is the expression of the ungodly, not the righteous. Verse 20, revile not the king, no, not in thy thought, and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber.
34. 17:13For a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. You ever heard the statement, the little bird told me? It's exactly where it came from, right here. Why should a person revile not the king even in one's thought? Now the word revile in the Hebrew means to speak lightly of. Why should a person revile not the king even in one's thought? Because it might get back to him and then that person would be...
35. 17:44And a lot of trouble. Words spoken in confidence often find wings and fly to the ears of those spoken about. Have you ever said something, somebody don't tell anybody, and then it gets back to you, and then you get in trouble? Well, a lot of times that happens. That's all of our discussion on Ecclesiastes chapter 10. Ecclesiastes chapter 11, study section number 2. As we consider our own labor and our own limitations.
36. 18:14It causes us to look to the Lord. Chapter 11, Ecclesiastes, verse 1. Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days. This saying in Proverbs is in existence today. Did you ever wonder where the old folks got the information? They got it from the book. The old folks' conversation revealed what they read.
37. 18:41The reason young folks don't talk like the older folks is because they aren't reading the same book. The word bread here is the Hebrew word lachem, L-E-C-H-E-M, and it means food, bread, or substance. In Isaiah 28-28 and Isaiah 30-23, bread is used for seed through which the bread comes. It was an Old Testament custom to throw seed on the waters, and as the waters receded,
38. 19:13The seed would settle in the soil, Isaiah 32, 20. The main idea of this verse is we may not see the end result, but labor anyway. God will bless us. I have a note here on 2 Corinthians 9, 6-10. 2 Corinthians 9, 6-10. Paul said, But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
39. 19:45Let each man do according as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly nor on necessity. For God loves the cheerful giver, and God is able to make all grace abound unto you, that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work. As it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor, his righteousness abideth forever. And he that supplies seed to the store, and bread for food,
40. 20:12shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the fruit of your righteousness. God is saying if we give to him, he'll give back to us. That's exactly what this, in a principle this is teaching. Cast your bread upon the waters, it'll come back to you in many days. You'll be blessed if you'll put your life in the right direction. Galatians 6-7 says, Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
41. 20:43Galatians 6, 9, And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. The Lord assures us we will be blessed by our labor. Notice when, though? Many days. Not immediately, but after many days. If we give to those in need, then when we are in need, we will be taken care of.
42. 21:07The Bible teaches this in Deuteronomy 15, 9-11, Proverbs 19, 17, Matthew 10, 42, Luke 6, 38, 2 Corinthians 9, 6-10, and Galatians 6, 2. Verse 2, Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight, for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. The number seven represents a perfect number and a complete number. The number eight suggests an unlimited amount.
43. 21:36We don't know when evil may befall us, so let us do good while we have the opportunity. Paul said in Galatians 6.10, So then as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith. There are certain things in this life we don't know or control, can't control, that have a tremendous effect on our lives. So let us do good while we have the opportunity.
44. 22:07Verse 3, If the clouds be full of rain, and I wish they were, if the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth. And if a tree falleth toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be. One law over which man has absolutely no control is the fact that when the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth. The laws of nature are fixed so that man should use his present opportunities.
45. 22:37while he has them before some action of nature, which is unseen and unavoidable, cuts off the opportunity. We cannot control too much rain or too little rain or the direction of a falling tree, whether it's north or south. Again, this is emphasizing that we're limited. Verse 4, He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
46. 23:05The wind may threaten to blow away the seeds at harvest time, and the clouds may threaten to damage or destroy the harvest. But we can't let these fears stop us from doing what we can. In other words, a person may see the wind and say, well, I'm not going to sow because of the wind. And he might see the clouds coming and think it's going to rain. Well, I'm not going to gather the harvest because the rain's coming. Well, if he takes that attitude, he'll never get anything done.
47. 23:34Just because there are circumstances beyond our control, we shouldn't stop working. If we would have to see certain success before we start, seed would never be sown. Despondency causes people to do nothing. People say, what's the use? Nothing will work anyway, so they just sit and do nothing. Well, that's exactly what this verse is teaching again.
48. 24:01The Bible is teaching here, Solomon is teaching here, and God is teaching here. Don't have that attitude. The Bible teaches us what we want by faith, not by sight. The Bible teaches us to cast our bread upon the water. It will return to us. And don't make excuses for what may happen. Just go ahead and do the best you can. And work with those circumstances and against those circumstances. Verse 5, As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind,
49. 24:30nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child. Even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all. There are some things man does not know and cannot know. Deuteronomy 29.29 says, The secret things belong unto Jehovah, our God. But the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. God is teaching here there are some things we cannot know.
50. 25:01But the things we can know have been revealed to us. We may not know everything, but our Father does. So if we'll just walk by faith, trust in Him, leave the unknowable things to God, we don't have to worry. We don't need to know everything. You know, I don't know how a black cow can eat green grass and produce white milk and yellow butter, but I accept it. I don't know how God answers prayer, but the Bible tells me He does, therefore I accept it. Verse 6.
51. 25:32In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand. For thou knowest not what shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they boast, shall be alike good. Again, the admonition is to hard work. Repetition is a technique used in effective teaching. Jesus used it. Solomon used it. Paul used it. Any good gospel preacher will use it. Any master teacher will use repetition.
52. 25:59The Bible says in here in the morning, sow thy seed. And that refers to getting up in the morning and doing what you can to get the seed in the ground and so forth. And then it says in the evening, withhold not thy hand. And that refers to harvest. It's teaching that if you get up and get with it and do what you can and so forth, you will be blessed. Your seed will come back to you after many days. The teaching is to get busy, work hard, and let God handle the outcome. God help.
53. 26:27Those who help themselves. If we don't do anything. God can't help us. Verse 7. Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing. It is for the eyes to behold the sun. No matter how difficult tasks may become. Or how sad the circumstances surrounding life. It is still a good thing to be. The same teaching is found in Ecclesiastes 3 verses 12 and 13. Excuse me.
54. 26:58Verse 8, Yea, if a man lived many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity. We need to develop through the dark days. James says in James 1, 2-4, Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations, knowing that the trial of your faith worketh patience, and let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.
55. 27:26James says, Count it all joy when you fall into manifold temptation. We grow in hard times. A muscle not put under any tension cannot grow strong. In like manner, spiritually, we can only grow strong when we are placed under spiritual hardship, spiritual persecution, and spiritual tension. Philippians 4.11, Paul says, I have learned in all things whatsoever to be content. Paul learned contentment. It didn't come.
56. 27:59Verse 9, Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart and in the sight of thine eyes. But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Notice the Bible says rejoice. God wants a young man to rejoice. God wants a young man to have a good time when he's young. But we must remember God in the judgment.
57. 28:27God wants every young man to realize that he's going to have to give an account of his life. Solomon is encouraging us to rejoice, to enjoy life, and to have pleasure. But coupled with this is an awareness that God will bring all our activities into judgment. We must not forget that God will bring all deeds into judgment. Ecclesiastes 12, 14, Romans 4, 14, 10 and 12, Jeremiah 32, 19, 2 Corinthians 5, 10.
58. 28:57Revelation 20, verses 12 and 13. Now this verse deals with all people, but specifically it deals with young people. You know when people are young, they have a tendency to forget God. They have a tendency to believe that they don't need God. Because Proverbs is teaching us when a young man is growing, he's strong, he has his physical strength, he gets to thinking and feeling he doesn't need God. And that's sad that that's often true. But what happens is he gets to thinking that...
59. 29:28And then when he's old, he realizes he's going to have to give account of those deeds done. One man said, and I don't know who said it, he said the sins of our youth will stick painfully in our throats when we are old. Isn't that true? Can you reflect on some misdeed that you did when you were young and you could wish anything that you could go back and change that?
60. 29:58Don't you? The sins of our youth will stick painfully in our throats when we're old. Of course, Solomon is trying to teach us here. Realize, young man, have fun in your youthful days, but remember, God's going to bring you into account. You know, I used to think when I was young that God wouldn't hold anything accountable against me because I was young. And I looked at my daddy and my mother, and they were older and so forth. And I got to thinking, well, you know,
61. 30:29God's not going to hold me accountable for what I do and so forth. Then I found this verse, and I just wiped that out. Just did away with that. Young people need to realize they're going to have to give account of their life. Verse 10, Solomon says, Therefore remove Saul from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity. The Bible says, Therefore, this becomes the plea God wants.
62. 31:00Solomon says, Remove sorrow from my heart and put away evil from our flesh. Again, this is repetition. He said this before. Solomon wants us to realize that while we're young, when we do things, we're going to have to bring those into account. Now, he said that in verse 9 of chapter 11, but he's going to really emphasize that again in verses 13 and 14 of the last chapter. The whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes chapter 12, verses 1 through 14.
63. 31:33Let's join John in the classroom again now as he concludes our study in the book of Ecclesiastes. Verse 1. Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. This is kind of like chapter 11, verse 9.
64. 32:02where Solomon has said, Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes. But know thou that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. So Solomon is saying in verse 9 and also verse 1 here that
65. 32:27A young man is to remember his creator in the days of his youth. He wants him to rejoice. He wants him to have a good time. But he needs to realize that he's going to have to give account of his life. And so he better take some serious consideration to his life and realize that at the end of his life, he's going to have to give account of his life. Young people are to have fun, but they are also to keep in mind who made them and why they were made.
66. 32:56There's an old saying that goes like this. As the twig is bent, so the tree is inclined. There are tender years when the twig can be bent and directed. As it becomes older, this becomes harder and harder to do. So the admonition is to young people, while they are young, to get their lives in the right direction. Stay on the path before there comes a time when they've hardened their heart.
67. 33:26and refused to follow the Lord. When a person's young, he has the capabilities, his heart is tender, and it's not so hard for him to be approached by the gospel. It's not so hard for him to mold his mind, but the older person becomes, the harder his mind is set on doing what he wants and going the direction he wants. My aunt, Lottie Beth Hobbs, and another girl in Otis Gatewood won a campaign for Christ one time, way back in, I guess, in the...
68. 33:5630s or 40s, and they were up in Utah, and they were having a conversation with a man, and the man said, my heart is so hard, I can't repent. And he said, I admire you all for your dedication, and you're trying to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. But he said, my heart is so hard, that I just cannot repent. I cannot turn back.
69. 34:25Now that's a terrible situation to be in. Now the Bible does tell us that there does come a point of no return. The Bible teaches that in the book of Hebrews. Now I may not know when that point is, but I know one thing, that point does exist. A person can get to the point that he hardens his heart where he cannot be touched by the gospel. When the Bible says here, before the evil days come, I think this refers to the time when one hardens.
70. 34:56His heart. I think that's what the evil days refer to, to the point where he gets, where he hardens his heart and he can't straighten his way. He can't get on the right path. Psalm 90 verse 10 says, The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years. Psalm 90 verse 12 says, Because of that, So teach us to number our days that we may get us a heart of wisdom. We're not here very long.
71. 35:26We're here 70 or 80 years, and then we're gone. What's the point? The point is we better straighten our lives and get us a heart of wisdom and realize since we're not here very long, let's get on the right path. Psalm 102 verse 11 says, My days are like a shadow that declines, and I am withered like grass. James 4.14, James says, Whereas ye know not what shall be on them all, what is your life?
72. 35:59For ye are a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanisheth away. We're not here very long, and that's why Solomon wants us to get our lives right when we're young, because there's going to come a point in time when we get older where it's just real hard to change our direction. Verse 2, Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain.
73. 36:28This verse is talking about the end of life under the sun. Notice this expression, sun, then the light, then the moon, then the star. This diminishing order of light is intentionally arranged to represent life from childhood to adulthood. The word clouds here are symbolic of trouble and could refer to judgment. Some passages on that are Exodus 19.9.
74. 37:01Matthew 26, 64, Matthew 24, 30, and several other passages. Notice this, though. Notice that the clouds return after the rain, not before. Maybe the rain refers to one who has used up his life, and the clouds refer to judgment that comes at the end of one's life. Maybe that's what it has reference to. Verse 3.
75. 37:30In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the window shall be darkened. This may refer to the wearing out of the human body. And I strongly believe it does. I believe that's what it has reference to. Specifically, it probably refers to the frailties of old age. The house here probably refers to the human body.
76. 38:01Now, the Bible talks about our body being a house, a tabernacle, in 2 Corinthians 5, verses 1 through 4, also 2 Peter 1, 13 and 14. So the house here probably refers to the body. The grinders here probably refer to the teeth, a person's teeth. And those that look out of the windows probably refer to a person's eyes. When old age comes, what happens to the body?
77. 38:32becomes old and feeble and the arthritis sets in. You know that. I have a grandmother now who's probably 75 plus and poor thing that arthritis is really sitting on her and it's very hard for her to walk and her bones are getting weaker. And so that's what happens. What happens to the teeth when you get old? Well, they start falling out. They start decaying and so forth.
78. 39:01And what happens to the eyes when a person gets old? Well, he'll have cataracts and have problems. And I had an aunt and uncle just in the last year that both had eye surgery. That's what happens. See what happens when a person becomes old, the body becomes frail, the teeth start falling out, decaying, and the eyes start decaying and getting less and less strong and so forth.
79. 39:31So I think verse 3 is talking about the human body and what happens when old age sets in. Verse 4, And the door shall be shut in the street when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low. This is figurative, describing the inactivity one faces in old age. The doors being shut.
80. 40:00probably refers to the inactivity of the old age. You know, when people get old, they don't care about going many places. They just would rather stay inside when the doors are shut, and they don't care about going a lot of places. The sound of the grinding being low probably refers to inactivity, not doing very much. And I think this is trying to point us to Ecclesiastes 12.1.
81. 40:29It says, remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth before the evil days come. In other words, before all this sets in. When it's too late to do anything about it, realize now what you have the opportunity. Do something now while you can do something about it. There's going to come a time, if you don't straighten up your life, that your heart's going to be so hardened, your life is going to be spent, evil days are going to come in.
82. 40:58And then it's going to be next to impossible to straighten up your life. Jesus said in John 9, 4, We must work the works of him that sent me while it is day. The night cometh when no man can work. Jesus was teaching we better work while we have the opportunity. You never know when it's your opportunity, or excuse me, you never know when it's your time to leave this earth. While we have opportunities, let's use them. Verse 5.
83. 41:28Yea, they shall be afraid of that which is high, and terror shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail, because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the street. Now when it talks about being afraid of high places and so forth, that may be talking about when one grows old, he often finds difficulty in descending steps.
84. 41:58or heels at my house we have a uh it's a two-story house at my parents house and it and uh my grandmother hates to climb those stairs she just hates to climb those stairs and so she makes sure that if she ever climbs those stairs she's got a good reason and she's not going to climb them very much well that's what happens in uh when old age sets in the energy is now missing
85. 42:29that one once had when they were young. And so that's why there's problem in climbing steps and descending and going up. Excuse me, not descending, I meant ascending, going up. Then the Bible talks about terrors in the way. That may refer to obstacles in the path of old people. It may refer to some old logs climbing over logs. But it may refer to robbers that often play on old people.
86. 43:00It disgusts me to no end. I wish I could get in a room and shut the door and see who comes out of it alive with some people that beat up on old people. I just want to get in a room, shut the door, and listen. Yes, he's been found in the way of righteousness. Now, what if he's not been found in the way of righteousness? I was trying to agree to him. When the Bible talks about the blood type of being abodent, I think it's the same condition of a dying man.
87. 43:31It's kind of a solid condition, and it's kind of hard to pick up a grasshopper, and when the grasshopper gets in the water, that's kind of a solid condition. This talks about the desired failure. Now, the word desire in the Hebrew over here, I have a magazine of footnote, it says copperberries. Now, copperberries is a stimulant. I think it's a berry that was used as a drug for a stimulant.
88. 44:00So maybe this word desire here refers to the physical appetite. When people get older, their physical appetite starts to fail. Then it says, by the way, thanks right here, because man goes to his everlasting home. I think this refers to a future state of being compared with resistance under the sun.
89. 44:28the Bible teaches all will have to face God one day and have to give a turn of their lives. Verse 6. Before the spirit was called as me, or the golden bowl is broken, are the teachers broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the kitchen? I've actually still discussing reasons to remember God's Creator in verse 1.
90. 44:58Notice verses 1 through 7 is one sentence, at least using the American Standard. The American Standard Version, verses 1 through 7, is one complete sentence. So it's one complete sentence. I think verse 6 is talking about death. Now sin apply this to the earniness of wives.
91. 45:22Rich people must at death leave behind their clothing and their furniture as children go. And poor people leave behind their aging system. Verse 7 is the key passage. Y'all unline this one. And the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God, whom Jesus gave us. In Genesis 2, 7, the Bible says, And Jehovah died a foreign man out of the dust.
92. 46:09This is also taught in verse 34, verse 14 to 15 and also Psalm 104, verse 29. We were formed out of the just of the ground. And the Bible says that one day,
93. 46:22Our bodies are going to go back to the dust from which they came. But what does it say? But still, the eternal spirit that God has given to man will one day live on. This life is just a blessing in for expenses. We're just sitting ready for the next life. So we need to consider this life on earth while we're living now. Because the Bible says Hebrews 9, 27, 24, 20, man wants to die and get the dead.
94. 46:53When we die, our eternal judgment is sealed. I'm talking about a second sentence. I don't find that in my Bible. It says, I'm going to be judged by what I have done in my body, not out of the body. And so if I want my eternal judgment sealed, I'll be sent to you in this life.
95. 47:18While I have the chance, while I have the opportunities, and that's exactly what Solomon was trying to get us realized. In Ephesians 3.20, Solomon said, I'll go into one place, all were of the death, and all came to the death of humans. The death, and we're going back to the death. The word death in the Greek word is the word santos. When you're reading the Greek word santos, it means death, but it means more than that.
96. 47:48The word phantos means separation. When death comes, the spirit is going to separate itself from the body. The body is going to return to the flesh from the flesh came, but verse 7 says the spirit is going to return to God, to Jesus. When we realize this, our attitudes toward our physical body and material things ought to be effective. Whatever I have, I can't take business.
97. 48:24When I die, I'm not going to take any of my physical belongings with me. And so, and my body's going to turn to the dust. When you look at my life as body and a test, if I die so as you do, and you see my life as body and a test, that's not me. I'm gone.
98. 48:47My spirit has left my body. And if I've been faithful, then that's the day of victory. And you ought to rejoice with me. Paul talks about that it's very far better to die and go be a Christ. We need to believe that, though, as the Bible teaches. Regardless of our problems, we must remember God. So the physical body is going to return to the death. Our spirits are going to go back to God. Solomon is using this fact.
99. 49:18that the body goes back to the dust and it surely turns to God as a motivating factor to get men to live licensely while they can. He's talking about judgment and he's trying to get us to be ready. Verse 8. Vanity of vanity stands for preachers. All is vanity. Solomon called himself a priest in 2 Genesis 1.1 and now he does the same thing in 2 Genesis 12.8.
100. 49:49This is the conclusion of the search for a purpose to life under the sins. All is vanity. Vanity of vanity. All is vanity. You might notice the second verse of the first chapter. In the very first chapter of the book, Solomon says, vanity, vanity, said the preacher. Vanity of vanity. All is vanity. Solomon gives the conclusion at the start of his lesson, start of his book, and at the conclusion of his book.
101. 50:18He starts out saying all his vanities. What did he wind up saying? All his vanities. Under what? Under the sun. When man lives apart from God's revelations, his will. Now, his life doesn't amount enough if he's going to live apart from God's. Now, if he'll live with God, with God's direction, under God's covenant, with his instruction, live faithfully, that's a different story. We're talking about two different ballgames there. Verse 9.
102. 50:49And further, because the preacher was wise, he filled half the people knowledge, gave him pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. This is strong evidence for Solomon being the author. You might look at 1 Kings 4.32 where it talks about Solomon writing out things 3,000 proverbs. As a wise man, Solomon was widely accepted. He had set out many proverbs and people knew his wisdom and so forth.
103. 51:18But the sad thing was, even though Solomon had wisdom, he didn't live it. He could teach it, but he couldn't live it. There's a difference between having wisdom and really showing that wisdom. James said in James 3.13 that we need to show a life of wisdom. It's one thing to know what's right. It's another thing to do that you know is right. Solomon was a wise man.
104. 51:47But Solomon changed completely our example. Why? Because he did not live his life in the course of God's will. He tried to find satisfaction, remember? Let's review this little bit. He tried to find satisfaction through building things. He tried to find satisfaction through gold and silver, through musical groups.
105. 52:10through his wives and concubines and so on and so forth. Did he find passion and satisfaction? No. Did philosophy give him satisfaction? No. Nothing gave him satisfaction. What he is saying is, when a person lives his life apart from God's will, he will not have satisfaction in this earth. Verse 10. Be teaching staff to find out acceptable words, and that which was written up rightly, even words it's true.
106. 52:40Solomon was trying to give instruction that would guide men to God. I think notice that the word acceptable has a footnote. It means delightful. The priest was sought out to find out delightful words. See, if we live by the Word of God, the Word of God can be delightful. It can be a pleasure to live rightfully. We can have a heartiness on this earth. We can have a delightful life.
107. 53:08If we live according to the will of God. If we don't live according to the will of God, we're not going to be happy. We're not going to have the delightful life. We're not going to be satisfied. We're not going to be really happy. But if we live according to the will of God, we can do. So what he's saying is, his word, the word here, if we'll understand what he's writing, we can direct our lives in the right path, and we can live a happy life, a delightful life.
108. 53:37Paul said in 2 Timothy 3, verse 16, The Bible is written to give us everything we need to every good work. Verse 11, The words of the wise are as doves, and as nails well-fashioned are the words of the masters of assemblies which are given.
109. 54:06From one shepherd. The word gold here. A gold is a pick or a pole with a sharp point which is used to prod oxen or teeth in the direction one wishes them to move. Notice the Bible says, The words of the wise are as gold. The words are the instruments that move men on the right path. Do you want a man to bend right past what he did? He's preaching the word.
110. 54:36Give him the word, and this will help plot him on the right path. Hebrews 4.12 says, For the word of God is living and active, and starts with any fear at the sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and nerves, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. Jesus said in John 6.63, It is the spirit that giveth life, the flesh provost nothing.
111. 55:02The words that I have spoken unto you are a spirit and a lie. The words of the Bible are the spiritual instrument to get man on the right path. Jesus said in Matthew 4.4, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that you seeeth out of the wrath of God. The psalmist said in Psalm 119, verse 11, Thy word hath I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. If we'll put the words in our heart, live them.
112. 55:29then it will keep us on the right path, it will keep us in sin. The psalmist said in Psalm 119, 105, Thy word is a light unto my path, and a lamp unto my faith. Jesus said in John 12, 48, The word that I have spoken to you, the things of judgment in the last day, the word of God is going to meet us with the judgment. You can count on us, brothers. The word of God will meet us with judgment. It will meet me to meet everyone.
113. 55:54Revelation 20, 12, John said, And I saw the dead, small and great, came before God. And the books were opened. And another book was opened, which was the book of life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the book. Plural. Notice that one book singular is opened, but the book plural was opened, but the dead were judged out of those things written in the what? Book plural. I believe the book plural refers to the book of the Bible.
114. 56:23The Bible teaches we're going to be judged by the Word. I believe the Bible is going to meet us. That's the day of judgment. The Word of the wise nail down the trees that save men's lives and their eternal judgment. Solomon's reference here to the fact that his words have their origin with the one shepherd is a clear claim to inspiration. Solomon was writing to the inspiration of God.
115. 56:50Solomon didn't just sit down and dream up this on his own mind, his own thoughts. He was inspired by God Almighty. The one shepherd is God who is elsewhere called the Shepherd of Israel. For Kate's sake, I'm going to give a lot of passages on this. Genesis 48-15, Genesis 49-24, Psalm 23-1.
116. 57:13Psalm 80 verse 1, Isaiah 40 verse 11, Jeremiah 31 10, Ezekiel 34 11 and 12, John 10 14 and 16, Hebrews 13 20, verse 2 to 225, verse 2 to 5 forward. So verse 11 here is an implication that what Solomon was writing was inspired by God. Verse 12, And furthermore, my son, be admonished of making many books, there is no end.
117. 57:41and much study is the weariness of the flesh. The writing of many books is in contrast to the Bible. They represent the faintest of men outside the circle of divine fruit and inspiration. Solomon is not against studying the Bible or the inspired book.
118. 58:04But the warning is against those books which contradict divine proof and which would lead one away from the right path. I'm sorry to say this, but we have many priests of the Brotherhood who've gone off to these colleges and universities and lost their faith. They've gone up and studied all these philosophers who are atheists and infidels and trying to find out what they say about the Bible, and they've lost their faith. They've lost their faith.
119. 58:33They come back and quit priests and so forth. And I'm just starting to say that, but that's just, it's sad, but it's true. Verse 13. Come to conclusions. This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man. Notice I didn't say whole duty of man. The word duty is in our palate, which means it's supplied by the translator. Now,
120. 59:04You have this as much right as the translator does to put that in there. The word duty is italicized to make it where you can leave it in there and take it out. And it's left up to you to where you want it in there. Solomon is saying that the whole of man, sum it all up, the whole of man is the spirit of God and Jesus' commandment. Solomon says this is the end of the matter. It's come to test time and you're going to take the test.
121. 59:34And here's the test. What's the conclusion? What's the answer to the question? The answer to the question, the question is how to live your life, and the answer is through God and Jesus' name. So this is the conclusion. All has been heard. In other words, everything essential to the conclusion that Solomon is going to draw has been said. Now there might have been many other things that Solomon could have brought in here, but everything is essential.
122. 1:00:02has already been discussed. Solomon is saying, look, you're trying to find happiness. I've looked in every corner. I've looked in every corner of this world and this universe to find happiness. I couldn't find it. Anyone that's going to come after me is going to look in these same corners. And look, I'm trying to send you some hurt. I've already looked in every corner. And I didn't find happiness. I didn't find contentment. So I'm trying to tell you, I've already searched everything out.
123. 1:00:33Solomon says, Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Or you can't say the whole of man. You have just as much right as anybody to put the word duty in there. You can put it in there, you can take it out. The translators let us know that they have italicized it, and so we have just much right to take it out. This is what it's all about. This is the reason for our existence. This is why we're here.
124. 1:01:01If a man wants to find purpose and meaning to life, then he'll find it by fearing God and teaching his commandments. If a man doesn't want to live an aimless life, then he'll give his life right with the Lord. If a man wants to be ready at the judgment, then he'll fear God's teaching commandments. He'll give his life right with Jehovah. Verse 14. Now, why should we fear God's teaching commandments? Well, he's in it.
125. 1:01:31Emphasize things in verse 14. For God will bring every work into judgment with every hidden thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Why should we fear God to keep His commandments? Because, verse 14 says, God's going to judge us one day. When we die, our spirit's going to go to God and God is going to judge us on what we've done in the body, not out of the body, says in 5. So,
126. 1:01:59This is the reason to get our lives right with the Lord. You know, the Lord doesn't give us a middle of the road to go. Some people think that it would be just a good moral person to get to heaven. The Bible doesn't teach that. The Bible teaches we are all or nothing. Jesus said in Revelation 3, 15 and 16, So because I are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will skew thee out of my mouth. I'd rather you be hot or cold than to be lukewarm. That's what He's teaching.
127. 1:02:29Jesus said either you're with me or you're against me. I mean, it's one way or the other. We think there is no middle of the road to hold. Let me ask you a question. Is fear a motivating factor? Yes, sir. Check Proverbs 16.6, 2 Corinthians 5.11, and Acts 24.25. But fear is designed to get us on the right path. Then eventually we will see the reason that we're on that path.
128. 1:03:00Everything hidden in secret will be brought into judgment. Therefore, the lesson is prepare and prevent rather than repair and repent. So let's be ready. I'm going to give you a lot of passages, especially for take's sake, to go along with this. Job 34.11, Psalm 62.12, Ecclesiastes 12.14, Jeremiah 17.10, Jeremiah 21.14.
129. 1:03:28Jeremiah 32, 19. Matthew 10, 26. Matthew 12, 36 and 37. Matthew 16, 27. Mark 4, 22. Luke 8, 17. Luke 12, 2. John 5, 28 and 29. Acts 17, 13 and 31. Romans 2, 16. Romans 14, 10. Romans 14, 12. 1 Corinthians 3, 8. 1 Corinthians 4, 5.
130. 1:03:552 Corinthians 5.10, Revelation 14.13, Revelation 20.12 and 13. Put a big star by Jeremiah 32.19 and Matthew 12 and a big star by Matthew 16 and John 5 and Romans 14 and 2 Corinthians 5.10 and Revelation 20.12 and 13. I just want to read just a couple of those passages. We'll go to the New Testament. This is taught in the Old Testament too.
131. 1:04:22Let's just read a couple of passages. Let's look at Matthew 12 in the New Testament. Now this is taught all the way through the Bible. Matthew 12, 36 and 37. Jesus is saying, He says, And I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in their judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
132. 1:04:53Notice Jesus says every word that we have said, we're going to have to give accounts for. Every word. The Bible also teaches every deed that we've done, we're going to have to give accounts for. Look at Matthew 16, verse 27. Go over four chapters. Matthew 16, verse 27. For the Son of Man shall come in His glory of His Father with His angels.
133. 1:05:19And then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds. We're going to be judged by every word that we've said and everything that we've done. What do we better do? We better get our life right with the Lord. We better get our life on the right path. The end of our days are up. We're going to have to give account of our life to Jehovah God. Look at John 5, verses 28 and 29.
134. 1:05:52Jesus in John 5, 28 and 29 says, Marvel not at this, for the hour cometh in which all that are in the tomb shall hear his voice. How many does that leave out? None. And shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment. How many classes of people are there? Are there three classes, the good and the middle and the bad? Are there two classes of people or three? There's two classes.
135. 1:06:20Those that have done good and those that have done evil. What about the middle of the road? What about the lukewarm person? What about the good and all person who's never beat his wife and paid his taxes and was a good father and so forth? Well, if he doesn't give his life to Jesus, it seems to me he's lost. Look at Romans 14. Look at Romans 14, verses 10 and 12. Romans 14, 10 says, But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother?
136. 1:06:57Or thou again, why dost thou set it not, thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. Look at verse 12. So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God. Look at 2 Corinthians 5.10. 2 Corinthians 5.10 says, For we must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the same gun in the body.
137. 1:07:29according to what he has done, whether it be good or bad. Paul says we're going to be judged by what we've done in the body, not out of the body. You know, some people teach you a second chance. When you die, you get a second chance. But my Bible says I'm going to be judged by what I've done in the body. Now, is that what it says or not? Yes, that's what it says. I want to give you one last little story, and then...
138. 1:07:58Our study was Poverty and Ecclesiastes will come to a close. When I went to college as a freshman, I went there to play football. My mind was just sold on football. That's all I could think about. There was another freshman that came in the same time I did with whom I got to be good friends. I'll call his name Jim. His name's not Jim, though. When Jim was in high school, he received a football scholarship at HEC.
139. 1:08:31Jim was really enthusiastic and dedicated to football. Football was his life. He ate, drank, and slept football. During the summer, he spent many long hours of running and lifting weights in preparation for the fall two-day workouts. He really worked hard at it. So the time to report to ACC finally rolled around and workouts began. It wasn't long until a coach called Jim into his office and said,
140. 1:09:09Jim, I'm sorry, but you're just not college football material. This really broke Jim's heart. He had worked so hard for something, he didn't know how to take the feet. It just absolutely, totally broke his heart. He had lived football, breathed football. He had had this dream of going to Abilene Christian and playing football, and now that dream was shattered.
141. 1:09:41He came out of the coach's office with his head down crying. When he came out of the coach's office, the first person to see him was a boy named Robert. Robert saw Jim crying and said, What's wrong, Jim? Can I help you? Jim immediately looked up, saw Robert, paused for a second, and realized that life did not consist in playing football.
142. 1:10:17And football was not the most important thing in this life. Jim told me that he went to his room, got down on his knees and prayed to God, thanking God for the blessings God had given him, and thanking God for helping to realize that his heart was in the wrong place. I know you're wondering how this could have happened so quickly.
143. 1:10:55fascist, invalid, wheelchair victims confined to a wheelchair for his entire life. When Jim saw Robert in his situation, when he saw Robert, a permanent, fascist, invalid, wheelchair victim, in his situation, and there Robert was saying, what's wrong, Jim? Can I help you? It made him realize that the most important thing in this old life
144. 1:11:30He's not strict by us. He's not a dog. And in fact, nothing can compare to serving God. Not one thing. You know, when we think something is so important, we give our life to it. If that thing is not serving God and keeping His commandments, we've got our life on the wrong track. And we better pray that something happens to us that will help us get back on the right track.
145. 1:12:02That completes our study of Ecclesiastes. You'll need to stop the tape now and answer the study questions in your study guide book. You'll be tested over the material in Lesson 13 in your final test on Ecclesiastes. In your final test, you'll be dealing only with the 20 memory verses that you are required to memorize in the book of Ecclesiastes. Be sure that you know these 20 verses very well.
146. 1:12:34It's our prayer that you've received a great deal of good out of this study with John Hobbes on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. We hope that your life has been enriched and that you've gone into a closer relationship with God as a result of this study. God bless you in your further studies and as you continue their goals in His grace and in His knowledge.

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