Ecclesiastes 5

• Again we start with our review of Ecclesiastes:

  • This book is Wisdom literature. The author is Solomon, a man who was given, by God, wisdom and discernment greater than any man.

  • The book of Ecclesiastes establishes Solomon’s theory of the meaning of life.

    • The thesis is the meaning of life can’t be found in the creation, therefore it is vanity to try and seek for it there.

  • Solomon began providing proof through the repeating cycles in nature that display a meaninglessness in understanding an advantage in life.

    • Solomon continued to establish this by his personal experiences concluding that wisdom and wealth and seeking an earthly legacy are meaningless in understanding an advantage in life.

  • There is a God-appointed time for every event under heaven. Our desire should be to do what God wants done in our lives.

  • Wicked men oppress others, have no compassion and are motivated by desires to only take care of self. Men who step outside of Godly counsel can fall to this as well, as witnessed by Solomon of king David and was part of Solomon’s testimony as well.

    • Where should man turn for direction?

Eccl. 5:1 Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.
Eccl. 5:2 Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
Eccl. 5:3 For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.
Eccl. 5:4 When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow!
Eccl. 5:5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.
Eccl. 5:6 Do not let your speech cause you to sin and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?
Eccl. 5:7 For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.

• v.1 Where does Solomon direct his counsel next? (Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen)

  • Why did one go to the house of God? (To have an audience with God)

    • What do we do now to have an audience with God? (Approach God in prayer)

    • What is to be the desire of our hearts when we approach God? (To draw near to listen)

  • Listening to God is better than what? (rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools)

    • Why are these men fools? (for they do not know they are doing evil)

    • They are so far away from the counsel of God they are self-deceived and have followed their own creation for worship.

    • They do not come to listen to God. They come to sacrifice something to God.

    • They are ignorant of what pleases God.

    • They do the opposite of what God desires, which is why it is called doing evil.

1Sam. 15:22  Samuel said,
“Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.

• Men are to approach God because they desire to hear from God and obey God first.

• Eccl. 5:2 When men speak to God what specific instructions does Solomon give next? (Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God.)

  • What is the perspective Solomon gives in this consideration? (For God is in heaven and you are on the earth)

  • Since God has a heavenly view of our circumstances how are we to approach Him? (therefore let your words be few.)

    • This is repeated for us by Jesus in Matthew 6:7-8 and in Romans 8:24-27.

Matt. 6:7 “And when you are praying do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
Matt. 6:8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Rom. 8:24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?
Rom. 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Rom. 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
Rom. 8:27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

• Eccl. 5:3 What is used to describe this concept? (For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words)

  • What is a dream? (Something we hope for or what we want)

  • How is this dream to be accomplished here? (through much effort)

    • What is effort? (Work)

    • Whose dream and whose effort? (Ours)

    • We bring that dream before God, this is the tie in to verse 1 where we come before God to sacrifice instead of to listen to God. What can we do or give to God? We try to convince God this is what we should do how?

  • What is described next? (the voice of a fool)

  • How is the voice of the fool identified? (through many words)

    • The many words are to convince God of what we want Him to do. We negotiate with God.

    • We see this practiced in our own day by those who name what they want in this life now and then use their words to claim it as though God will change His plans. We can not bargain with God.

    • This interpretation is verified in what is spoken of next in verse 4.

• v.4 What specific example of words spoken before God are covered next? (When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it)

  • What you promise to God, fulfill before God.

  • When one only speaks words, what is that to God? (for He takes no delight in fools)

    • Only a fool makes a promise to God and then does not keep it.

    • When you speak to God what should you to do? (Pay what you vow!)

  • When do men often make rash vows before God? (When they are in trouble or in need of help or want something from God)

  • When the trouble passes what do men often do? (Forget about the vow they have made)

• v.5 After giving something careful consideration it is best to what? (It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.)

  • Take time and then do not speak if you are not certain. Do not make empty promises. It is only fear and pride that speaks in the moment like this, for how it makes one feel momentarily. They can feel like the hero, or big man or the generous sort etc… In the end this person is actually the coward, or the fool.

  • When this is a character defect, it results in no one trusting the words they hear this person speak.

• v.6 What is the result of this speaking a vow and not paying? (Do not let your speech cause you to sin)

  • What else should the vow maker avoid? (and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake)

  • Who is the messenger of God? (Could be angels, or priests, or those who were known to represent God to us) ??

    • Do not renege. Your words must be trustworthy! There are no do-overs.

  • What position does God hold to? (Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?)

    • If you do not follow through on vows then He will not protect the works of your hands; they will be destroyed. That one who thinks he will keep for himself instead of giving that which was promised in a vow to God, will lose the very thing he thinks he can hold onto. The fool will have to give it up no matter what.

Acts 4:32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

Acts 5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
Acts 5:2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Acts 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
Acts 5:4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Acts 5:5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
Acts 5:6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
Acts 5:7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
Acts 5:8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”
Acts 5:9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”
Acts 5:10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
Acts 5:11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

• Ananias and Sapphira made a vow that all that belonged to them belonged to the those who gather together as the church. They denied this claim by their actions and the result was immediate death. A dramatic picture of the principle Solomon is highlighting.

• Eccl. 5:7 What is the reality before God? (For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.)

  • Take time and think through what you speak before others and before God. Do not imagine what you will do for God and then speak those promises to God and then break you promise to God. He is listening! Your words have real consequences.

Eccl. 5:8 If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.
Eccl. 5:9 After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.
Eccl. 5:10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.
Eccl. 5:11 When good things increase, those who consume them increase. So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?

• v.8 What does Solomon alert us to be watching for? (If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight)

  • Why should seeing this outcome not be surprising? (for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.)

  • What is this a description of? (layers of bureaucracy)

    • What can happen at any layer in this bureaucracy? (Corruption)

    • What is the result of this corruption? (oppression of the poor, denial of justice and righteousness)

• v.9 What does Solomon say to prove this point? (After all, a king who cultivates the field is an advantage to the land.)

  • Who is at the top of any bureaucracy in their governmental system? (The king)

    • What do we see this king doing? (cultivating the field)

  • When a king cultivates the field what is the result? (it is an advantage to the land)

  • What happens to a field that is cultivated? (It produces)

    • There should be an abundance of provision for all those under the kings care.

• v.10 What does Solomon say can happen when there is abundance? (He who loves money will not be satisfied with money)

  • When there is someone who loves money in this bureaucratic governmental system, what is the result? (will not be satisfied with money,)

  • Who else is described in this system? (nor he who loves abundance with its income)

    • Those who store away the extra production or love the abundance with all it provides, these men will not be satisfied. There is never enough.

  • For both of these, what is true? (This too is vanity)

    • Vanity meaning it is meaningless to change the world. It does not give meaning to life on this earth.

• v.11 Why is the extra provision vanity? (When good things increase, those who consume them increase.)

  • When there is abundance and wealth what happens to those who are around that abundance and wealth? (They absorb it all in proportion)

  • There are those at some level in the bureaucratic system who will absorb what is produced so that it does not actually reach the lower levels of the system.

    • This is why the poor will not see justice.

    • Stories of governmental budgets are filled with this truth.

  • What rhetorical question does Solomon purpose for the people with the good intentions at the top? (So what is the advantage to their owners except to look on?)

  • Why does no manmade governmental system actually ever bring about true equality to all? (We are corrupt men)

Eccl. 5:12 The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much; but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.
Eccl. 5:13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.
Eccl. 5:14 When those riches were lost through a bad investment and he had fathered a son, then there was nothing to support him.
Eccl. 5:15 As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came. He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.
Eccl. 5:16 This also is a grievous evil — exactly as a man is born, thus will he die. So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind?
Eccl. 5:17 Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.

• v.12 What can be true for a working man? (The sleep of the working man is pleasant, whether he eats little or much)

  • This is a reference to a laboring man. One who takes care of his own business and own family. This man can sleep at ease when he sleeps no matter how much he has or does not have.

  • What contrast does Solomon put forth? (but the full stomach of the rich man does not allow him to sleep.)

    • Why would the full stomach affect his sleep? (Too much food)

    • Overindulgence.

• v.13 Solomon goes on to explain this how? (There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.)

  • Solomon says there is an evil, that he has witnessed that occurs here on earth.

    • What is that evil? (riches being hoarded by their owner)

    • What is the result that is evil? (The owner is hurt by the hoarding)

    • Just like the man with the stomach so full he could not sleep.

• v.14 What happened to the hoarded riches? (When those riches were lost through a bad investment )

  • What other detail does Solomon point out? (and he had fathered a son)

  • The father made a bad investment and then loses everything. What happens? (then there was nothing to support him)

    • Who is the ‘him’? (The man who made the bad investment)

• v.15 What else is true for this man? (As he had come naked from his mother’s womb, so will he return as he came)

  • What is used for emphasis? (He will take nothing from the fruit of his labor that he can carry in his hand.)

  • He will not take any thing with him. This includes the fruit of his loins, his son. You can’t take people with you just like you can’t take things.

• v.16 How does Solomon describe this? (This also is a grievous evil )

  • What is the grievous evil? (exactly as a man is born, thus will he die)

  • What measurement does Solomon apply again? (So what is the advantage to him who toils for the wind?)

    • The first grievous evil is that man would hoard to his own detriment.

    • The second grievous evil was that man will leave this life with nothing….under the sun.

• v.17 Before this man dies with nothing how does he live his life? (Throughout his life he also eats in darkness with great vexation, sickness and anger.)

  • One who eats in darkness is one without any light or salvation.

  • This one without hope lives in great vexation or fear.

  • This can often cause sickness in the body and the mind to be filled with anger.

    • Haunted by the fear of death.

    • Lack of contentment in both grievous evils leads to a sad existence and a sad end.

Eccl. 5:18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward.
Eccl. 5:19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.
Eccl. 5:20 For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.

• v.18 What is finally the conclusion of Solomon to what brings an advantage to life? (Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting)

  • What does it mean when Solomon says ‘I have seen’? (He is an eye witness to)

  • How does Solomon describe what he was a witness of? (to be good and fitting)

    • This is as opposed to vanity.

  • What is good and fitting? (to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils)

  • Where does this happen? (under the sun)

  • When? (during the few years of his life which God has given him)

  • What is this considered by Solomon? (for this is his reward)

    • The emphasis is on that which is given by God.

    • God determines the years given in life to the man.

    • God provides all that is needed to eat and to drink

    • In this acceptance, man can enjoy himself in all his labor which he toils.

• v.19 What declaration does Solomon make? (Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor)

  • For every man to whom God did what? (whom God has given riches and wealth)

  • When a man had been granted riches and wealth what else has God given that man? (He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor)

  • What is this to be seen as? (this is the gift of God.)

    • When this result is seen then one would know this can only occur as a gift from God.

• v.20 What else is a gift from God? (For he will not often consider the years of his life)

  • What does it mean when one ‘considers’ the years of his life? (Focuses on the brevity of life)

    • He will not be worried about how many years have passed or how many years might be left. This man is not overly focused on the past or the future but content in the present.

  • Why is this true? (because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.)

    • God blesses this man with the things that are described as the gladness of his heart. A man that is focused on the joys of today. A description of a heart steeped in contentment in the here and now.

• Do you know God in this way? Do you focus on where God has you now? A believer has the best gift God has to offer in the Grace and Mercy God has already poured out for the believer.