BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDY
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com
BIBLE STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday October 27, 2013
____________________________________________________________
WHY
DO I FEEL EMPTY?
(How
does my worship impact my view of life?)
Ecclesiastes
3:1-15, 4:9-12 & 5:1-7
In Ecclesiastes 3, verses 1-15,
Solomon continues his demonstration of how life is “meaningless” without
GOD. This passage teaches us that there really is “a time for all things”
and that GOD is the ONE WHO gives significance to the seasons of life.
This book’s “unique nature”
must be taken into consideration when we understand its message. While, like
all of Scripture, it is surely a message from GOD HIMSELF, in these particular
writings, GOD seems to allow Solomon to present it to us from a very “humanistic
standpoint”. The contribution of importance to our existence, that this
book gives us, is that, “it speaks to the core of our feeling of emptiness”
that we get when we alienate ourselves from GOD.
As we read through the book of
Ecclesiastes, we immediately begin to see more clearly, our own faults,
as well as the faults of others, and we also become more sensitive to “human
need”, both ours, and, the needs of others. This serves to
help us greatly because, after all, isn’t that the criterion by which JESUS
says HE will Judge us in Matthew 25, verses 31-46? There HE tells us that we
will be judged according to our reaction to human need (how we respond to
the needs of our fellowman).
In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, one of the
most familiar passages in all of Scripture, Solomon turns his attention to how
“the law of nature” effects “the human experience” and renders
man helpless to control “the onset” or “outcome” of any event in
his life. And if man thinks he can control his own life, it is at best, just an
illusion, and he is sadly mistaken.
The “seasons of time” will
always govern, or dictate “the way we need to react to survive”. When
we know GOD, we respond in the right way. And when we don’t know GOD, our
response becomes, little more than a detriment to our own existence.
Solomon tells us in verses 9-15,
that, he completely understands, that, whatever GOD does is final, and nothing
can be added to, or taken away, from it. GOD purposes that people should fear
HIM because of who HE is. HE is the CREATOR, PRODUCER, and DIRECTOR of the play
called “life”. And HE alone, already knows just how the play will end.
We are merely “the cast” that HE allows to take part in HIS production, and we
can only partake, or live, in “one scene at a time”. When our role has
run its course, HE simply writes us out, and the “big picture” continues to
roll on towards its pre-determined end.
In a very real sense, “the events
of this life”, or, “scenes” in “GOD’s great production”, have
a way of repeating themselves (cuts and re-takes). That is because, it is GOD’s
OWN way of trying to teach us how to “live this life”, or, “perform
our roles” in ways that are pleasing to HIM. The response that GOD wants
man to have to “HIS unchangeable plan”, is one of fear and reverence,
and humble submission to HIM.
We must remember that, the “hunger”
and “thirst” that GOD places in each of us, innately from birth, can
only be satisfied through our seeking, and ultimately finding HIM. GOD does
not hide HIMSELF from those who are earnestly seeking HIM, as HE remains in the
same place that HE has always been. A person has to choose to separate
himself, or herself, away from GOD, GOD will never choose to separate HIMSELF
away from us.
GOD is the same yesterday,
and today, and HE will also be precisely the same tomorrow. HE
does not move from us, but rather, we choose to remove ourselves from HIM. GOD
is “the seasoning” that adds significance to the life HE created, and without
HIM, life will never be anything but meaningless.
In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Solomon
focuses his thoughts for a moment on “companionship”, and the
advantages people can enjoy when they work together, instead of trying to
struggle alone in this world. A person who is alone in the world has no one to
work with, or for, and no one with which to share the fruits of their labor.
This can be a depressing thought as one grows older. On the other hand, two or,
even three people, working together, can accomplish more than twice as much as
one, and, they get a better return for their labor (v.9). If one person falls,
then the other person can reach out and help, whereas, a person working alone
can be in serious trouble if they fall (v.10). And a person standing alone will
be more easily defeated than two or three standing together. This passage seems
to exude “common sense”, doesn’t it?
In chapter 5, verses 1-7, Solomon
gives advice on “the importance of fearing GOD”. “Rituals”
without “relationship”, or “religion” without “personal faith”,
is meaningless before GOD. It is a “fool” who goes through the motions of
worship, and never realizes that he doesn’t really know GOD. Even his
sacrifices (tithes) are meaningless before GOD (v.1).
And Solomon says that we should
never make rash (emotional) promises to GOD that we are not prepared to
keep, for GOD takes no pleasure in fools (v.4). It is better to say
nothing at all, than it is to promise something, and not follow through with it
(v.5). Do not cause your mouth to sin, and don’t make excuses, or try
and defend one’s self by saying the promise you made, and failed to follow
through on, was a “mistake”. Such things makes GOD very angry, Solomon
says, and HE might just wipe out everything that you have gained, for there is
much ruin in “a flood of empty words” (Vs.6-7).
Remember, there truly is “a time
for all things”, but there can never be a right time to try and live
life apart from GOD. For, to try and do that, would be “choosing to live
an empty, meaningless existence”, that could spell “death”, in the
biblical sense.
This literary masterpiece by
Solomon, through the inspiration of GOD, will long serve to remind us of this
most fundamental of all “truths”. It is a fact, because it has been proven over
and over again, down through the annals of time. And that truth is, “Without
GOD, man can’t do anything right, for too long”.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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