Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

Introduction

Last week: Considered very "negative" passage.

Men are in the hand of God!

Better to be a living dog (very undesirable creature) than a dead lion

One may think that Solomon was overly pessimistic

Note: Life without God is truly meaningless!

What Solomon says here: there is a way in which these perplexities are to be approached / confronted

Question today: How does one cope??!! Inevitability of death... seeming unfairness of life...

"Koheleth did not want his readers to sit around brooding about life’s inequities and vexations.

They should stop worrying about problems which cannot be solved."

Smith, J. E. (1996).

The wisdom literature and Psalms (Ec 9:7–10).

Joplin, MO: College Press Pub.

Co.

This is a call to action!!

v.7 - "Go then..." - Imperative.

"Be up and doing"!!!

This is a warning against brooding over vexatious problems

Solomon calls us to 3 things (vv.7-10)... with a reminder at the end (vv.11-12)

1. Be Festive in Spirit (vv.7-8)

Ecclesiastes 9:7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do.

Eat / Drink

Already given commendation (8:15)

At this point, however, "as in chapters 5 and 7, he employs a burst of direct commands in this section, strengthening the intensity of his advice."

(BCBC Ec):

Bread and wine - basic necessities of life

Not advocating gluttony or drunkenness.

Simply enjoying the basic things in life

How are we to do these things?

Eat... in happiness

Drink... with a cheerful heart

Solomon suggests a life lived in good spirits

Solomon is commanding a true simple joy in the basics of life.

Whatever it is that God has given to you, live enjoy those things with gratitude.

Live joyfully with what God has given to you.

God has approved...

Solomon herein gives his motivation for this enjoyment.

While the instruction given previously is similar, the motivation here is unique.

"God has approved..."

This doesn't mean that God gives approval to everything.

Not a blank check of God's approval

It emphasizes what Solomon has already been teaching about what we have coming from the had of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:13 (NIV84): That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NIV84): Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God.

We must rejoice in the wonderful gifts that God has given us

Quote: Michael Wittmer

There are two ways to ruin our relationship with the Giver of all things.

The first is to ignore him and focus entirely on his gifts.

This temptation to idolatry is ever present, and we must remain vigilant against it.

The second way is to ignore the gift and focus entirely on the Giver.

What would we make of an insufferably pious child who opened every Christmas present only to toss it aside and say, “Thanks, Mom and Dad, but all I really want is you!” Wouldn’t the parents throw up their hands and say, “I’m glad you love us best, but you know what, you’re impossible to shop for!”

If the first temptation ignores the God who gives, the second refuses to let him be the God who gives.

This latter temptation is a subtler form of idolatry.

It’s idolatry because we are acting as if we know better than God, who gives us “every good and perfect gift” to enjoy (James 1:17).

Theologian Doug Wilson explains, “If I turn every gift that God gives over in my hands suspiciously, looking for the idol trap, then I am not rejoicing before Him the way I ought to be.”3

And it’s subtle because it seems exceedingly pious.

We assume we must be in pretty good shape if our biggest problem is that our love for God swamps our appreciation for his gifts.

Can we really love God too much?

No, but we can piously destroy our ability to love him at all.

We must find the balance of loving both God and the gifts that God gives to us, without going too far on either side.

Ecclesiastes 9:8 Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil.

Clothes be white

There are two things being spoken of here

Firstly, refers back to the joyfulness with which to eat and drink

White is here a "sign of that cheerfulness and joy" that Solomon speaks of

Secondly: speaks of purity

Daniel 7:9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.

His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

Mark 9:3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

Revelation 3:4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes.

They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.

Psalm 51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

The significance of this statement should add weight to the broader context

In previous verse: Solomon was not speaking about a blanket approval by God

As you go about in life, living with joy (with a festive spirit) let it be pure!

Our clothes should be white "all the time"

It is in Christ that we are dressed in white.

Always!

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Crucifixion has achieved this for us!! What a point of rejoicing!

BUT! - We must also live holy lives that are pure, now that we have been declared pure

“Oil not lacking” Speaks of joy

Psalm 45:7 (NIV84): You love righteousness and hate wickedness;

therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions

by anointing you with the oil of joy.

Isaiah 61:1–3 (NIV84): The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,