Ecclesiastes Bible Study - Week 6

 

Week 6

Word

Ecclesiastes 11:1 – 12:26 (NRSV)

11Send out your bread upon the waters,
   for after many days you will get it back.
² Divide your means seven ways, or even eight,
   for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.
³ When clouds are full,
   they empty rain on the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
   in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
⁴ Whoever observes the wind will not sow;
   and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.

5 Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything. 6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good. 7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. 8 Even those who live for many years should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. 9 Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgement. 10 Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

12Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’; ²before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return with the rain; ³on the day when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the women who grind cease working because they are few, and those who look through the windows see dimly; ⁴when the doors on the street are shut, and the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low; ⁵when one is afraid of heights, and terrors are in the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along and desire fails; because all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners will go about the streets; ⁶before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern, ⁷and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it. ⁸Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher; all is vanity.

9 Besides being wise, the Teacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs. ¹⁰The Teacher sought to find pleasing words, and he wrote words of truth plainly. 11 The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd. ¹²Of anything beyond these, my child, beware. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. ¹⁴For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Information

·       The Teacher starts by talking about the unreliable nature of the Earth and disaster

·       God’s time is not our time

·       Carpe Diem – Seize the day! The Teacher emphasizes again and again enjoying the day you are in. In this chapter, he also explores youth. He says, Enjoy your youth and the rest of your days

·       Chapter 12:1-8 is a metaphorical poem about getting older. In order to understand:

o   Guards of the house – arms and hands

o   Strong men – legs

o   Women who grind – teeth

o   Windows – eyes

o   Doors – ears or lips

o   Silver cord, golden bowl – life itself

o   Getting older is definitely a learning process

·       A goad was a farming implement, like a cattle prod, used to direct domestic animals

·       Ecclesiastes ends with an Epilogue written by a scribe or a follower who was distributing the teachings of the Teacher and a final admonition to follow God’s commandments.

 

Silence

Wait for a minute

 

Discussion

1.     How do you prepare for disaster to strike in your own life? Do you prepare at all?

2.     What do you think about the saying “Carpe Diem”?

3.     Do you think God wants us to enjoy each day?

4.     How are you different now than you were as a youth?

5.     Do you see yourself as your age, as younger or older as your specific age?

6.     What has stayed constant over your years?

7.     What do you think of the Teacher’s poem about aging?

8.     What lessons or wisdom have you learned from studying the Book of Ecclesiastes?

9.     What would you say the theme of the book is?

10.  In Chap. 12, verse 11, the epilogue says, “The sayings of the wise are like goads”. How has the wisdom in this book provoked or guided you?

 

Orans (Prayer)

Daily Prayer for All Seasons, The Episcopal Church (p. 214)

 

Let all who desire wisdom walk in love.

Holy Lord, giver of all wisdom: Set for us this day the banquet of your word; invite us to feast on the genius and beauty all around us. Then, turn us in humility toward the poor, the oppressed and the weak; we ask this in the name of Jesus, who is Wisdom for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Motivation (Art)

Found on a blog post. Picture of an older lady seeing herself younger in the mirror.