Do not exalt folly

Eccles. 10:5-7

5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. 7 I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.

• What is the evil that Solomon has seen under the sun?
  
• Why would a ruler's error be considered evil?
  
• How might folly be set in exalted places?
  
• Who might sit folly in exalted places?
  
• Is folly a thing or is it an attitude?
  
• Why is Solomon concerned about the positions of slaves and princes?
  
• What do the position changes suggest had happened?
  
• When have you seen folly exalted to high places?
  
• When have you seen folly as the apparent ruler?

Unpredictable

Eccles. 9:11-12

11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. 12 For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

• What unexpected results of life under the sun are given in v. 11?
  
• What similar unexpected results in life have you seen?
  
• What does Solomon give as the reason for why the expected and predicted may not happen?
  
• What does Solomon say man's risks under the sun like?
  
• When have evil times fallen on you without any reason you can see?
  
• Why do you think life under the sun is so unpredictable?
  
• How would your life be different if it were predictable?
  
• Would you really enjoy a totally predictable life? Why or why not?
  
• How much faith is required to live life under the sun and stay righteous?
  

Same for all

Eccles. 9:2-3

2 It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, [1] to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

Footnotes
[1] 9:2 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Hebrew lacks and the evil

• In Solomon's day, what was considered the reward for righteous living?
  
• What was Solomon's prior conclusion as to length of life for the wicked and the righteous?
  
• Prior to the coming of Christ, what hope did the righteous have?
  
• What is the outcome for all people who live under the sun?
  
• Why will some people spend far more money than they have to live another 6 mo to 1 yr?
  
• If all die and that is it, what motivation is there to do what is right?
  
• If long life were the sole reward for righteous living, how righteously would you live?
  
• How did the coming of Christ change the situation described here?
  
• What new hope was available?
  
• What bondage did death have on mankind?
  
• How did the new hope, freedom, and reward help the heart?

In God's Hands

Eccles. 9:1

9:1 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.

• How often do you want control over your life?
• In what ways do you try to exert control over your life?
• How important is control to you?
  
• What motivates your level of control over life?
  
• How does knowing that you and your deeds are in the hands of God impact you?
  
• How often do you struggle with your "need" for control and the faith to let God control?
  
• In what ways do you get frustrated with God's control?
  
• How often has God been wrong in your eyes?
  
• Why is trust necessary to let God truly control?

Influence of Wickedness

Eccles. 8:10-13

10 Then I saw the wicked buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place and were praised [1] in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. 11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.
Footnotes
[1] 8:10 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts forgotten

• Why would it be futile to forget those who were wicked and died?
  - What impact does remembering past evil as evil have on today's choices?
  - Why are some wicked persons remembered as wicked and others become "myths"?
  
• How should wickedness be dealt with?
  - What are the consequences of allowing evil or wickedness to continue?
  - What is the ultimate deterrent for most wicked people?
  - Why is "going to hell" of little concern to a wicked person?
  
• Why is it well for a person to fear God openly?
  - In what ways do you fear God?
  - Why is it spiritually healthy to sometimes be afraid of God?
  - Why is more spiritually healthy to not have to be afraid of God?
  - Which would you rather have: a long life under the sun or an eternity in heaven?

Harold's Musings:
Every so often I look around and marvel at how low our morality has sunk. A part of me says that this is as low as it has ever been. Then I bump into some historical reference and realize we have a ways to go to get to the bottom. The one thing we have today that past generations did not is an incredibly high level of communications. When a famous actress or singer gets out of her car and someone sees up her skirt, it is known to anyone who was interested in minutes to hours. Not so in the past. The evil that once was considered evil is now grain for the media mill. Things that were once covered up in shame are broadcast to the widest audience. The influence of yesterday's evil will be felt in tomorrow's lifestyle. Things that are worthy of praise are considered useless. Things that are worthy of condemnation are made public. Even horrible events are broadcast, streamed, and published. It is just empty.

Too righteous nor too wicked

Eccles. 7:15-18

15 In my vain life I have seen everything. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing. 16 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise. Why should you destroy yourself? 17 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time? 18 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand, for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

• What is the context of Solomon's observation here?
  - Is this an under the sun observation or a spiritual observation?
  
• What was the relationship between length of life and righteousness in Deuteronomy?
  - What was supposed to happen to a wicked person?
  
• What was the apparent reason to be righteous?
  - Why would an "early" death of a righteous person have been considered futile?
  
• What are the risks of extreme righteousness and wisdom?
  - How does ruin result from extreme righteousness?
  - Is this an under the sun observation or a spiritual observation?
  
• What are the risks of extreme wickedness and foolishness?
  - How does death result from extreme wickedness?
  - Is this an under the sun observation or a spiritual observation?
  
• What are the problems of extremism?
  - What are the risks of focusing on your current grace-given righteousness without remembering your wicked past?
  - What are the risks of focusing on your wicked past without remembering your current grace-given righteousness?

Harold's Musings:
This is a difficult one. I accept that this is Solomon's under the sun viewpoint, but it sort of make my teeth set on edge. For my little mind to manage this, I see the reprobate on one side and the stereotypical Pharisee on the other. One is too wicked, a person caught in their own desires. One is too righteous, a person caught up in their own desires. While we can be wicked on our own, we cannot be righteous on our own. We can get so caught up in being righteous that we start to believe that we are in fact righteous. Or we get caught up in our failure to be righteous that we destroy ourselves and slide into to wickedness. I think the lesson is to avoid the extremes and fear God.

God doesn't always give enjoyment

Ecces. 6:1-2

6:1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.

• What is the evil under the sun that Solomon has seen?
  - Who does Solomon seem to attribute this "evil" to?
  - The Hebrew word means evil, misery, distress, or injury. How do the other translations help you grasp the passage?
  - Why is this misery so prevalent among men?
  - Why would God do this?
  
• What is a possible relationship between the man's soul and God's withholding joy?
  - What does the man's soul desire?
  - How is accepting your lot (Eccles. 5:19) different from having your soul's desires (v 2)?
  - How does this passage flesh out Eccles. 5:10?
  
• How frequently do you not enjoy life because your desires are misplaced?
  - Why would God not empower the full enjoyment of life to someone whose soul desires something other than God?
  - Is this a truth for today? Why or why not?

Harold's Musings:
Eccles. 5:10 - 6:10 describe our world in ways that are rather amazing. We see the same quest for our desires that results in discontent and disappointment. We are a nation of discontented people fueled by a media system that shows us what is wrong and advertises what could be better. No one is saying that God provides enjoyment in our lot in life. We are too often driven to advance ourselves rather than simply do the best job we can. We apparently love to watch reality TV shows where scheming, dishonesty, and selfishness are rewarded. And we wonder why we have so many unhappy, hurt people in the world. God told us thousands of years ago. It is vanity.

Where is justice?

Eccles. 3:16-17

16 Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.

• How different is your observation of life under the sun from Solomon's?
  - How has mankind changed in the thousands of years since Solomon?
  
• When have you been treated wickedly (or at least badly) instead of justly?
  
• When have you treated someone wickedly (or at least badly) instead of justly?
  
• When do you consider God's future judgment to be a promise?
  - What level of satisfaction do you have knowing that a wicked person will be punished later?
• When do you consider God's future judgment as something to dread?
  - How has Christ changed your view of the upcoming judgment?
  - When have you knowingly sinned because you were sure of Christ's forgiveness?

Harold's Musings:
I can easily get angry, especially when I see the evil that someone is doing. I was angry when the planes hit the World Trade Center. I was angry when I saw the photos of the puppy baked alive by two teenage boys. I continue to get angry when I see the insanity of the radical Muslims in Iraq. I want God to deliver justice now. But there will be a time when these things will be judged by the righteous and unbribable judge of all of us. While I may want justice for evildoers now, God knows best the time for judgment.