Dr Tom Hover
February 4, 2024
Ecclesiastes 9:1–18
SOLOMON ON DEATH AND LIFE!
SOLOMON ON DEATH AND LIFE!
Ecclesiastes 9:1–18
Introduction: When people talk about death and dying, they often use terms like passing on, slipping away, going to a better place, and enjoying rewards. Some would rather talk about the end of life in anything but realistic terms. Not Solomon. He speaks honestly—realism balanced with hope. Solomon has written a book filled with realism, and he is not afraid to talk about death. He has said throughout this book that if you try to live your life without God, it will be a meaningless life—and therefore a meaningless death. To get to the end of a life of emptiness and despair and face the reality of who-knows-what after death, that could make anyone afraid to confront the reality of dying. This may seem like a morbid subject to some, but it is not. It is a realistic and relevant subject. In fact, nothing is more relevant to every person who reads the book, than a discussion of death. The last time I checked, the statistics on people dying were exactly 100 percent. That makes it a relevant subject.
I. SOLOMON WRITES ABOUT THE CERTAINTY OF DEATH Ecclesiastes 9:1–10
A. The Reality of Death Ecclesiastes 9:1–2, Hebrews 9:27
B. The Responses to Death Ecclesiastes 9:3-10
1. Don’t Deny It. Ecclesiastes 9:3
2. Don’t Ignore It. Ecclesiastes 9:4-6, I Thessalonians 4:13–14
3. Do Embrace It. Ecclesiastes 9:7-10
C. Solomon Gives Us a Recipe for Joyful Living:
Ecclesiastes 9:7–10
1. Eat every meal like you’re at a banquet. Ecclesiastes 9:7,
Proverbs 15:17, Acts 2:41–42
2. Celebrate every day like you’re at a party. Ecclesiastes 9:8, Philippians 4:4,5:16, Nehemiah 8:10
3. Enjoy every day of your marriage like you’re on your honeymoon. Ecclesiastes 9:9
4. Go to work every day like it was your last day to work.
Ecclesiastes 9:10, 5:20, Colossians 3:23
II. SOLOMON WRITES ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF LIFE Ecclesiastes 9:11-18
A. In This Life, The Best Man Isn’t Always Rewarded
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12
B. In This Life, A Good Man Isn’t Always Remembered
Ecclesiastes 9:13-18
1. A Jewish Allegory
2. A Christian Allegory
The parallels in the gospel message of the New Testament.
Man’s Soul Is Under Siege by The Forces of Darkness:
Ephesians 6:12
Christ Is the Wise Man: I Corinthians 1:30
Who Became Poor for Our Sake: Philippians 2:7–8
His Atoning Sacrifice Is God’s Wise Way of Delivering Man from The City of Destruction: I Corinthians 1:18–25
Yet It Is Greeted with Ingratitude: Luke 17:11–19
AN WISE CLOSING ASSESSMENT
Ecclesiastes 9:16-18
A. Wisdom Is Better Than Strength Ecclesiastes 9:16
I Corinthians 1:22–23, Ecclesiastes 9:17, Acts 17:32–34
B. Wisdom Is Better Than Weapons of War Ecclesiastes 9:18
C. But One Sinner Destroyeth Much Good Ecclesiastes 9:18
It is through the sin of one man that we have been brought into the bondage of death, and through the obedience of another that we have been delivered: Romans 5:12–21
