Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Introduction

As Solomon has been evaluating life in this world, he has developed for us a most certain truth: Unless we live life in humble obedience to God, accepting that which God has put into place, and the ways that God has ordained in this life, we will never find meaning or satisfaction.

By the end of this book of Ecclesiastes, we will find the summary teaching of Solomon, as he concludes his lengthy expose on finding meaning in life:

Herein is the only place that a man may find any meaningful measure of joy or satisfaction in their life in this world.

As we look this morning at these few verses, we once again find the wisdom of Solomon teaching us to accept the fact that the world in which we live was created by God for man to live in, but not for man to control, or have mastery over.

We as man have been made (in a sense) the guardians over creation.

We are not God over creation.

This world belongs to God, and it is run entirely according to His eternal power and wisdom.

And every event in the world, every event of life to the minutest detail that unfolds in life, does so according to His perfect providence and power, so as to bring much glory and honour to Him.

Ultimately, even these things will work for the good of those who love Him, who have been called by Him according to His purposes (Rom 8:28)

As we consider our lives in this world, we must know, in fact we must be deeply and utterly convinced in our hearts that there is a great God at work in every detail of our lives, even on a personal level.

And we must know that this great God is not only involved in the events of our lives that appear to our minds to be good and pleasing to us, but He is intricately involved in those events of our lives that appear to be exceedingly bad to us.

And let me assure you, beloved, that if we by God’s grace can humble ourselves to these great truths, then we will be greatly comforted and encouraged in our lives.

We will find in these truths a solid rock upon which our hearts may be grounded, even in the storms of this life which may seem to overwhelm us.

The teaching of Solomon for us today is that we are not privy to the details of this grand plan of God.

We are not told in advance what the plans of God are.

And in the midst of the calm days, and in the midst of the stormy days, we are not told what the greater purpose is of God, and why events unfold as they do.

In fact, if we walk through this life always wanting to know “why?!”, we will destroy ourselves in sea of uncertainty and pain.

With that in mind, let us consider these few verses this morning.

1.

In Trials, Recognise the Hand of God

Solomon directs our attention to the events of this world, or the events of our lives, and conveys God’s almighty power over all things, even over those things which in our eyes are crooked...

As we consider this verse, we again need to be very aware that Solomon speaks of that which “GOD” has done.

As Solomon considers what is going on in the world around him, and as he evaluates even that which has taken place in his own life, with all the ups and downs in the roller coaster of his own life; in all that has taken place, he is led to consider these things in terms of what “GOD” has done.

We can see that Solomon’s focus here is not primarily on the events of life where all seems to be going well, but rather it is primarily on those events in life which do not go well, and which bring an unexpected twist in a person’s life.

They are the events or occasions that are entirely unanticipated, and which would bring an ordinarily peaceful and calm life, to suddenly become filled with raging storms.

They are those events in life that turn you very suddenly from living happy and joy-filled in the every day things of life, to suddenly being burdened with the most grievous trials you can imagine, and living each day under a heavy burden and a dark cloud.

God brings things into our lives which make what would usually be a very pleasant and joyful life, perhaps even a very God-honoring life, suddenly take a turn down an adverse path.

An example of this is the life of Joni Earekson Tada…

Joni was a lady who had lived the first 17/18 years of her life with much joy and exuberance.

Her family loved the outdoors, and were all very active.

She herself was very active, enjoyed all kinds of sports, including horse riding.

She loved life, and she loved God.

She lived life to the full, and looked forward to a long and healthy life.

But one day at the young age of 17, she was with a group of friends and was enjoying one of those delightful summer days, swimming in a local lake.

It was near the end of the day already, and she dove from a platform on the water into the water

As she dove in, she felt her face strike hard against something, and in an instant her life was dramatically changed.

Her neck was broken, and she lost all function of her limbs from her shoulders down.

In her book, you can read of the long and painful road that she had to travel in learning to adjust to a very different life.

Other Examples:

The loss of a loved one…

Work suddenly lost, no hope of other income…

Relationships that turn sour for some reason… husband / wife; parent / child.

As these events invade our usually settled and routine lives, the storm around us would seem to overwhelm us, and could even lead us to seriously doubt the providential working of God through the trying circumstances.

Indeed, the unbelieving world uses such events and “misfortunes” in life to argue against the existence of God.

If God is real, they would argue, then why is there such extreme poverty and hardship in the world?

If God is real, why did he allow terrorists to carry out their gross acts of terrorism?

If God is real, how could allow this misfortune to come upon me?

But dear friends, we must acknowledge, as Solomon did, that these are in fact the workings of God, no less than any other circumstance in our lives.

So how then should we respond to the situations that we face in this life?

Solomon gives us his advice in verse 14:

Solomon counsels us that in those times that God has granted you joy and happiness, in those times that are filled with the bountiful blessings of life’s joys, then do enjoy them and be happy.

Be thankful, live thankful lives to God.

But when times are bad, we must consider that these bad times that have come across our paths are not there out of some misfortune, as if God is as surprised as we are about the circumstances that have unfolded.

In fact, we must consider that God has made those very circumstances that are seemingly adverse in our lives.

God has allowed this calamity and hardship to come upon us.

God has in fact brought these events into our lives according to His great and sovereign plan and purpose.

As the prophet Jeremiah looked at Jerusalem, and saw the great affliction that was upon that nation through the express purposes of God, and he himself felt greatly afflicted.

And in this very trying situation, he cried out these words:

There was a great burden on the prophet Jeremiah, and as he laments that devastating situation, he expresses all of the pain and hurt that he is enduring, but he does so recognising the hand of God in it.

Indeed, further on in that same chapter, Jeremiah goes on to exclaim:

Similarly, the life of Job was turned entirely upside down, from living a peaceful and joy-filled life, with many good things...

From living a life in which Job praised God and worshipped God daily...

A man who in God’s sight was righteous, and lived in a manner that pleased God...

To suddenly having this great calamity brought upon him...

It was at this time that Jobs wife came to him and suggested that because of these circumstances in life, because God - this God who is supposed to be loving and gracious and merciful - because God had allowed such calamity upon this man Job, he should curse God and die.

How could a loving and powerful and wise God allow this to happen, to this man?

“You don’t deserve this” - would be the reasoning in her mind...

Solomon’s conclusion then is that a man cannot discover anything about his future.

We do not know what calamities will invade our lives and turn our world upside down.

We do not know if, or when such hard times will invade our lives.

All we can know is that such events may very well come, and that we must then acknowledge that even these trials and challenges are from the very hand of God.

As Solomon has laid down this important truth in those two verses concerning accepting both good and bad in life as being from the hand of God, he goes on two explain the extreme responses that may be apparent in our lives as we behold such circumstances.

2. In Trials, Humble Yourself Under God

He begins in verse 15 by saying...

Solomon again draws on his vast experience in life.

He particularly refers to his own meaningless life.

It should strike us once again that despite Solomon’s great status, position, wealth, popularity as a powerful leader of probably the greatest nation on earth, certainly at that time, Solomon still viewed his life as extensively meaningless.

What Solomon says is that in this life of his, he has seen a righteous man perishing in his righteousness.

The meaning here is of course not merely that the righteous man perishes, but that the righteous man perishes far too soon, and is taken away from this world despite the fact that he has been such a righteous man.

This would be a typical example of that which God has made crooked.

In the understanding of the average person in this world, they would argue that if there were indeed a good and loving God, then a righteous man ought to live long.

Certainly God had promised long life to the Israelites if they would obey His commandments and walk with Him.

But Solomon now says that he has seen such a righteous man, and he perishes in his righteousness.

In our own lives, we could think to the lives of godly and faithful men, even ministers of the Gospel who were taken “too soon”...

David Brainerd: missionary to the Indians in the NE of America.

Died at age 29.

Robert Murray McCheyne: Scottish pastor and author, who had a remarkable impact on the church.

Died at 29.

Keith Green: Song-writer and evangelist.

Died in a plane crash at 28

Plenty of people’s lives are snuffed out way too soon, certainly according to our own limited perspective.

On the other hand, Solomon sees a wicked man living long in his wickedness.

Surely, man would argue, if a man is wicked, and God is so good, then God would cut the wicked off from the world, and they would not live a long life?

Indeed, we look at the lives of despotic rulers or leaders, those who rule harshly, and bring destruction upon those that they lead, and we think that surely God will deal with them quickly, and snuff out their lives due to their evil.

But instead, says Solomon, he’s seen some of these exact people going on to live long lives in their wickedness.

Solomon was not the only one who had to wrestle with this realisation.

The prophet Jeremiah, a man who spoke the very oracles of God, had questions regarding the wicked man prospering...

Solomon makes the observation that he has seen the wicked live long.

Jeremiah asks the question of God concerning his justice: “why does the way of the wicked prosper...”