Ecclesiastes 11 (6)

Pray Psalm 139.7-10.
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.

Read Ecclesiastes 11.9.

Prepare.
1. Solomon is offering advice here about the “heart”. How would you summarize that advice?

2. For what will God bring us into judgment?

Meditate.
“Look, son,” Solomon seems to be saying, “if you’re dead set on living a life of sin, then, by all means, sin boldly! Let it all hang out. Shoot the moon. Go for broke. Knock yourself out. Indulge your every whim and passion. Consume everything you get, and get as much as you can. If life is all about sowing wild oats, then sow them furiously.”

By this point, Rehoboam had wised-up to his father’s sarcasm, and had become impervious to his proverbs and his pleading. But he would have been hard-pressed to deny that this was probably what was on his mind: “Let the good times roll!” It fell to Solomon to put his plans and purpose in an eternal perspective. God doesn’t just sit around while fools and rebels squander His gifts and take advantage of others. His wrath is being poured out even now on all who are determined to follow their “under the sun” way of life to the extreme (Rom. 1.18-32). And even greater judgment is to come for those who refuse to hear God’s call to repent.

The judgment of God is the bad news which makes the Good News of the Gospel make sense. If we fail to point out to those to whom we witness that God is judging and will judge their rejection of His truth, we’re doing them no favors. Over and over the prophet Ezekiel was told to reveal to the people of Israel all that God would do in judging them, so that, when it came to pass, they would remember that He is the Lord.

What can we tell the unbeliever who rejects the Gospel? Only what the Bible says: He is still in his sin. The wrath of God continues on him, blinding him to truth. His sins will get worse before they get better, but he will only become more and more hardened to them. And if he continues on this course until death, he can expect to be rejected from the presence of the living God forever.

And that’s a darkness that is very dark, indeed (Eccl. 11.8). 

Reflect.
1. Meditate on Romans 1.18-32. In what sense is God currently judging the unbelieving world? How does this encourage us to pray for the unbelievers we know?

2. Solomon indicates that we cannot trust the strong desires of our “heart” or our “eyes”. Why? What must we trust instead?

3. Why is it important – for the lost of this world and for ourselves as well – that we understand that a day of judgment is coming?

How many give loose to every appetite, and rush into every vicious pleasure! But God registers every one of their sinful thoughts and desires, their idle words and wicked words. If they would avoid remorse and terror, if they would have hope and comfort on a dying bed, if they would escape misery here and hereafter, let them remember the vanity of youthful pleasures. That Solomon means to condemn the pleasures of sin is evident. His object is to draw the young to purer and more lasting joys. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Ecclesiastes 11.7-10

Thank You, Lord, that in Your resurrection I have the hope of eternal life, so that I can live this day in…

Pray Psalm 139.15-24.
Meditate on sweet thoughts of the Lord, and thank Him for His thoughts toward you. Ask Him to search out any idols in your life, or any wickedness, and to lead you in confession and repentance. Commit your day to following in His everlasting way.

Sing Psalm 139.15-24.
Psalm 139.15-24 (Ripley: Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah, O My Soul)
All my unformed frame You witnessed
when You destined all my days.
Precious to me, Lord, Your precepts;
all Your wondrous Word I praise.
More than sand, Your thoughts to me, Lord,
far too vast their sum for me!
When the morning breaks upon me,
in Your presence I shall be.

Let the wicked come to judgment –
flee from me, all who cause pain!
Lord, with malice they oppose You,
while Your Name they take in vain.
Shall I hate all those You hate, Lord,
all who rise against Your face?
Let them be my foes forever
who reject Your saving grace.

Search my heart, O Lord, and know me,
as You only, Lord, can do.
Test my thoughts and contemplations,
whether they be vain or true.
Let there be no sin in me, Lord,
nothing that Your Spirit grieves.
Lead me in the righteous way, Lord,
unto everlasting peace!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).