Ecclesiastes Bible Study: Week Three
Week
3
Word
Ecclesiastes
5:1 – 6:12 (NRSV)
5Guard your steps when you go to the house of
God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools; for
they do not know how to keep from doing evil. 2Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to
utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore
let your words be few.
3 For dreams come with many cares, and a fool’s
voice with many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay
fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfil what you vow. 5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow
and not fulfil it. 6Do not let your mouth lead you into sin, and
do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake; why should God be angry
at your words, and destroy the work of your hands?
7 With many dreams come vanities and a multitude
of words; but fear God.
8 If you see in a province the oppression of the
poor and the violation of justice and right, do not be amazed at the matter;
for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones
over them. 9But all things considered, this is an
advantage for a land: a king for a ploughed field.
10 The lover of money will not be satisfied with
money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity.
11 When goods increase, those who eat them
increase; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?
12 Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they
eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep.
13 There is a grievous ill that I have seen under
the sun: riches were kept by their owners to their hurt, 14and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are
parents of children, they have nothing in their hands. 15As they came from their mother’s womb, so they shall go again,
naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil, which they may
carry away with their hands. 16This also is a
grievous ill: just as they came, so shall they go; and what gain do they have
from toiling for the wind? 17Besides, all their
days they eat in darkness, in much vexation and sickness and resentment.
18 This is what I have seen to be good: it is
fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one
toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for this is our
lot. 19Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and
possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find
enjoyment in their toil—this is the gift of God. 20For they will scarcely brood over the days of their lives,
because God keeps them occupied with the joy of their hearts.
6There is an evil that I have seen under the
sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind: 2those to whom God
gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that
they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger
enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill. 3A man may beget a hundred children, and live for many years; but
however many are the days of his years, if he does not enjoy life’s good
things, or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than
he. 4For it comes into vanity and goes into
darkness, and in darkness its name is covered; 5moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it
finds rest rather than he. 6Even though he should
live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to one place?
7 All human toil is for the mouth, yet the
appetite is not satisfied. 8For what advantage
have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct
themselves before the living? 9Better is the sight of
the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after
wind.
10 Whatever has come to be has already been
named, and it is known what human beings are, and that they are not able to
dispute with those who are stronger. 11The more words, the
more vanity, so how is one the better? 12For who knows what is
good for mortals while they live the few days of their vain life, which they
pass like a shadow? For who can tell them what will be after them under the
sun?
Information
· The beginning of Chapter 5, the
teacher talks about guarding oneself when engaging in religion. At the time the
book was written, there were struggles with the separation of religions. Most gods
had their own temples, but many would send their devotees to other places to
speak in order to gain new converts.
· In the Hebrew, to make a vow is to
vow a vow (nedar – to promise to do or give something to God). The repetition
emphasizes its importance. Vows were taken very seriously, especially since the
culture was more dependent on word of mouth/honor.
· The Teacher says, “The lover of
money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain.” Though
many have sought after wealth, and some have succeeded in finding it, statistically
it has not helped people find happiness or purpose for their lives.
· Hunger drives us to things we don’t
necessarily want. Not just food hunger, but hunger in other desires as well. We
have to watch our hunger and look for the gifts of God.
· The emphasis on toil and enjoying
life as it is returns with the teacher’s discussions about people making bad
decisions and squandering what they have. Yet, the teacher says that the
ability to enjoy things are a gift from God.
· This passage reminds me of the saying: “A
person can live forty days without food, four days without water, four minutes
without air, but only four seconds without hope.”
· The Teacher asks large questions
which can only be answered by God.
· In Jewish tradition legacy lives on
in one’s children, but at that time not all parents or grandparents lived long
enough to pass on life wisdom.
Silence
Wait for a minute
Discussion
1. The Teacher seems to think God is
far away from earth. Do you believe that, why or why not?
2. Is it better to say yes and then not
do something or to say no and then do it? Why? Which category do you normally
fall into?
3. What are your dreams? Do they bring
you cares or worries?
4. How much is enough? How much money do
you want/need?
5. What happens when you put money
first?
6. The Teacher says that the rich
cannot sleep because of their possessions. Do you lose sleep over having to care
for any of your possessions? Your car, your house, something else?
7. What helps you when you start to
feel despair? When everything seems useless?
8. Are you concerned about your legacy?
9. What in your life would you be most apt
to label with “this is vanity.”
10. What gift from God do you wish for
most in your life?
Orans (Prayer)
Today’s prayer comes from Rabbi John
D. Rayner.
Give us Hope
When
evil darkens our world, give us light. When despair numbs our souls, give us
hope. When we stumble and fall, lift us up. When doubts assail us, give us
faith. When nothing seems sure, give us trust. When ideals fade, give us
vision. When we lose our way, be our guide! That we may find serenity in Your
presence, and purpose in doing Your will. Amen
Motivation (Art)
Robert Indiana, HOPE, in New York
City, he apparently said in an interview he wanted to cover the world in hope. He
is most famous for his LOVE sculpture.
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