Wisdom and Revelation in Ecclesiastes: Understanding Life's Purpose
Delve into the profound wisdom found in Ecclesiastes, exploring the purposeful seasons of life and the revelations of both general and special revelation. Discover the balance between trusting in God's plan and seeking His wisdom. Reflect on the concepts of life spans, sentencing, and the balance between lamenting and celebrating. Embrace the landscapes of life as you journey through these reflections on God's timing and design for our lives.
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Presentation Transcript
In Gods Time Ecclesiastes 3
Ecclesiastes 1 & 2 Reminder It s unwise to think that Life = My (Biblical counter-balance) Work If only I do more (Sabbath) Wisdom If only I know more (Scripture) Wealth If only I have more (Tithe) Will (legal) If only I leave more (Heritage)
There IS wisdom in viewing life as (3:1-8) PURPOSEFUL Season= set time, regular coming & going Time= usual, what almost always happens Purpose= something pleasant & valuable So, Discoverall you can about God s plan God and His wisdom can be explored by humble scientists and biblical theologians
General Revelation (Creation) reveals the Intelligent Designer Ps 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork (through a telescope). Col 1:16,17 Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together (under a microscope).
Special Revelation (Bible) reveals the Irresistible Deliverer Luke 24:46,47 (Jesus) said to them, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations .
A time for (2) Life Spans & Farming birth & death areas where godless ethics becomes blurry (Rom 1:28-31) foolish (22), faithless (25), mindless (28), ruthless(29,30) Goddetermines the lengthof our life; wehave some say in the qualityof our life. planting & plucking (pick/prune) (Luke 12:16-21)
A time for (3) Sentencing & Constructing kill & heal not war (8) or self defense, butcapital punishment (Gen 9:6; Rom 13:3,4) break down & build up houses, health, homies (Prov 27:5,6)
(4) time for Lamenting & Celebrating weep & laugh (Rom 12:15; James 5:13) mourn & dance (used 27 x; 21+ & 6-) note = II Sam 6:16 danced before the Lord (5) time for Landscaping & Embracing cast & gather redeem neutral things (stones) embrace & refrain (I Cor 7:1-5)
(6) time for Stewarding & Sorting Guidelines for S.A.V.I.N.G. S SPACE Available (storage) A AGE of the Item (shelf life) V VALUE (sentimental, monetary, utility) I IDEAL vs Reality (maybe someday ) N NUMBER of similar objects (hording) G GOD vs god (idol = I ll sin to get it, keep it, or remove it Mark 8:36)
(7) time for Sewing & Communicating tear & sew (II Sam 13:31 mourning) silence & speak (James 1:19,20; 3:2) (8) Individual & National Allegiances love & hate (Prov 6:16-19; S of S; Lk 14:26,27) war & peace
Followers of Jesus Christ possess dual citizenship in both earth and heaven. This can result in genuine tensions. Patriotism - devotion to and vigorous support for one's country. Pilgrims & strangers on earth (Heb 11:13) When to support/participate in warfare is one of those tensions.
Just war theory postulates that war, while terrible, is not always the worst option. Involvement in a JW considers important responsibilities (family, neighbor), undesirable outcomes (slavery), or preventable atrocities (genocide, holocaust).
JW is waged by a properly instituted authority such as the state (Rom 13) for purposes other than self-gain or exercise of power (Mt 20:25-28) discriminating between soldiers & civilians with peace as a central motive even amidst violence (Gal 5:19-23) as a last resort (diplomacy fails - Mt 5:9)
There is wisdom in viewing life as (1-8) PURPOSEFUL (Scientist & Theologian) So, Discover all you can about God s plan (9-13) BEAUTIFUL (Artist) So, Enjoy what you see of God s plan
Gods Beautiful Plan includes (10) using life events as an exercise travail = business, employment exercised = humbled, pressured Him: Hey honey, I got you a gift. Her: Oh, I just love surprises!! What is it? Him: A treadmill!
Gods Beautiful Plan includes (11) giving mankind a longing for eternity sense of something/Someone more . part of the image of God and what separates man from beasts (3:19-21). Our consciousness of God is part of our nature, and the suppression of it is part of our sin. - Michael Eaton (Rom 1:18-32)
(11) giving mankind a longing for eternity sense of something/Someone more . part of the image of God. desire to know the beginning and end Like seeing the back of the cross-stitch, but knowing there is a masterpiece on the other side.
Gods Beautiful Plan includes (12) JOY& GOOD, not always in each detail, but in the living and in the One giving. (Jer 29:11; Rom 8:28) I, the LORD, know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and hope.
Gods Beautiful Plan includes (13) gifts of FOOD & WORK eat and drink (Rm 14:17; I Tm 6:8; I Cor 10:31) work (recall Eccl 1:3 Life my work), but 2:24 one of the nothing better things 4:9rewarding when shared with another 5:18 divine allotment, not curse (Gen 2)
There is wisdom in viewing life as (1-8) PURPOSEFUL (Scientist & Theologian) So, Discover all you can about God s plan. (9-13) BEAUTIFUL (Artist) So, Enjoy what you see of God s plan. (14-22) ACCOUNTABLE (Steward)
God is presently moving people from sight to faith, and from why s to Who (7:14; 8:17). (14) God does (15) God requires (17) God judges (18) God tests We are accountable to this God. So, Obey what you know of His plan. lasts,complete,humbles searches out vindicates or punishes purifies and polishes
Ecclesiastes 3 There is wisdom in viewing life as Purposeful - Discover all you can about God s plan Beautiful - Enjoy what you can see of God s plan Accountable - Obey what you know of God s plan
Deut 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
In His Time In His time, in His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time. Lord, please show me everyday, As You re teaching me Your way, That You do just what You say, In Your time.
