Ecc 10

Doing God’s work: How is faith made ‘successful’ by wisdom?

 Context: The purpose of Ecc 7-11 is to instruct believers how to also become wise in practical godliness. Ecc 9 reminded the readers that God took it upon himself to save them out of compassion because we cannot. The Preacher can offer hope to every sinner, because to receive forgiveness and everything pertaining to godliness, all that we need is to hear and believe God. Logically, this raised the question of how faith will bring about such fruit. In particular, if the deeds of all men ‘are in the hand of God’ (9:1), does that still involve human  effort at all? By comparing the wise with the fool, Ecc 10 now explains how genuinely converted hearts strive after godly wisdom to overcome evil with good.

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Read Ecclesiastes 10 (starting at 9:18)

Warm-up: Do you easily lose your temper? What are those moments where you feel you are losing control? If all things are in God’s hand, including the human heart (Ecc 9:2), and if the race is not to the swift (9:11), why make any effort at all in self denial and virtue?

1) Read again 9:18-10:1. How does a little folly resemble tiny insects that can destroy much good?

• Accordingly, why does the faith of believers still need training?
• v2 Where must we begin? Why will outward change not suffice?

2) v2 literally states: A wise man’s heart [is] at his right, but a fool’s heart at his left. On which side does the heart develop naturally?*

• Read Ro 8:7 => What do humans choose naturally? Ro 3:12 (quoting Ps 14:3; 53:3)?
• v3: “…he lacks sense [lit. his wisdom fails], and he says to everyone that he is a fool. How do does a fool act out this description? cf Ja 1:14
  • We surely make choices, but would anyone choose freely to be so foolish?
• How did Kohelet experience this lack of freedom according to his own testimony in Ecc1-3?
• How does the heart of the wise come to be on the unnatural right side?
  • Did it set itself on the things of the Spirit? Why not, 1Cor 2:14?

3) Is it bad or good news that men and their deeds are in the hand of God (Ecc 9:1)? Why?

• Does it mean that God (only) foreknows, or did He predestine how men will be inclined towards him? cf Prov 21:1
  • Read Ro 8:29  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,… => Can predestination be the same as foreknowledge? Why not? [Distinguished as two steps in God’s plan]
  • Who decided that you should be born into this world? Is it similar in God’s kingdom? e.g. Jn 1:12; 8:42-47.

4) v4-17: How does wisdom instruct believers to react when fools are placed above them in authority?

• vv4-7: What are the command of v4 and its promise?
  • Whose offenses are in view here: Your own, or rather those of your superiors? Hint: Who is the context of vv5-7 talking about?
  • Does this mean that Kohelet endorses to simply put up with mobbing and abuse? Why not?
• vv8-10 Several metaphors describe how fools will hurt themselves:
  • E.g. why would a fool want to break through a wall ignoring the danger of poisonous snakes behind it?
  • Does the wisdom that v10 is talking about (and its goal) differ from the wisdom in 1:17-18? cf 1 Cor 2:6.
• v11: How to charm the serpent in time? cf Ro 12:21; Mt 5:25
• vv12-14: How to chose our words? Lk 4:22; Acts 6:10
• v15: How to know our way to the city?
  • to find rest, Ps 107:4-7
  • to conquer it, Judg 1:24-25

5) vv16-18: What wisdom does Kohelet give to believers in leadership positions?

• vv16-18 What if the “land” (Israel/church) is led by boys who party (already in the morning), instead of leading?
  • v16: Why would they do that, i.e. what are they lacking due to their lack of faith? [cf Amos 6:6 …not grieved over the ruin of Joseph]
  • v17: How does wisdom feast appropriately? cf 1Th 5:5-6
  • v18: Why will godly wisdom strive to uproot all sloth and indolence?

6) v19: Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. Is he stating the obvious?

• How does this compare to how you regard these gifts of God?
• v20: Is Kohelet simply saying to be (even) more guarded in keeping your thoughts a secret? Or, speaking to believers, does he aim deeper, even what thoughts you cultivate in your most private thoughts and prayers? cf Mt 6:6

* Translators (following Rabbi Aben Ezra, 1089-1167) insert that “the heart inclines the wise to the right”, missing the point here about our need for a supernatural ‘heart situs reversal’: Given that situs inversus has been known since antiquity and that Kohelet started his book with three full chapters on how he tried in vain to fix himself, his metaphor about a (naturally) misplaced heart is unlikely random.