Ecclesiastes 11

• Let's review Ecclesiastes 1-9:

  • Chapter 1 – This book is Wisdom literature, written by Solomon, a man God gave wisdom and discernment greater than any man ever.

    • The book of Ecclesiastes establishes Solomon’s theory of the meaning of life, there is nothing new under the sun to give man the meaning of life.

    • The thesis is the meaning of life can’t be found in the creation, therefore it is vanity to try and seek for it there.

  • Chapter 2 – Solomon’s personal experiences of seeking an answer through wisdom and wealth did not give the answer to understanding the meaning of life also called an advantage in life.

  • Chapter 3 – There is a God-appointed time for every event under heaven. Man’s purpose in life is to seek God’s sovereign will lived out.

  • Chapter 4 – God allows wicked men with hearts given to self serving motives to oppress others, do not be surprised when you witness this truth.

  • Chapter 5 – Approach a sovereign God in reverence, seeking only to know His Will in every situation, not to change God’s plans. Be satisfied in what God provides and find true contentment.

  • Chapter 6 – There is wisdom in embracing pain in life knowing both prosperity and adversity are from the hand of God. Neither is an indication of our stance before God in eternity. This is not how God’s ways are revealed to man.

  • Chapter 7 – God’s measurement of righteousness is perfection while man’s measurements are self-righteousness and can lead to a denial of God. There is no bargaining with God.

  • Chapter 8 – In eternal ways, it will go well for men who fear God; this is true even when the righteous receive evil while on earth.

  • Chapter 9 – Men are born evil; deeds can’t make them righteous. God brings eternal life to some. These should honor God each day by their deeds for this is wisdom.

  • Chapter 10 – A little foolishness in one’s life can outweigh much wisdom and consume the fool, like Absalom and Ahithophel. Man can’t know or control his future before God.

Eccl. 11:1 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.
Eccl. 11:2 Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.
Eccl. 11:3 If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth; and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.

• v.1 How does Solomon continue? (Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.)

  • What does bread represent to man? (Sustenance)

    • To cast your bread is to do what? (To not hold on to but to send away)

  • What happens to things put on the surface of the waters? (They are carried away)

  • What does Solomon say will happen to the bread? (for you will find it)

    • When will you find it? (after many days.)

    • What you do not hold on to will be brought back, even if it takes a long time.

  • What happens to bread when put on water? (It soaks up the water and sinks)

  • What is bread made from that a can last? (Wheat)

    • How would one put their wheat on the surface of the water? (Wheat in a container or on a ship)

  • What will happen to the wheat sent out in a container or on a ship? (for you will find it after many days.)

    • The wheat can be returned when needed.

• v.2 What else does Solomon say to do? (Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight,)

  • What is a portion? (What one has received)

  • What are we to do with what we have received? (Divide to seven or even to eight)

  • What does divide mean? (To separate into smaller sections)

    • Do not hold on to what we have received but divide it out.

  • Why should we divide our portion? (for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.)

    • Because you do not know what will happen on earth, you can’t hold on to what you have.

    • You improve your odds of retaining some of what you may need to sustain yourself if you have diversified, like many often do with their financial investments.

  • In the example of the wheat, it would have been sent to 7 or 8 different locations so that when there is an unexpected disaster somewhere on the earth, or to one of the ships, some of the wheat will have survived somewhere.

• v.3 What example in nature does Solomon use to demonstrate what happens when everything is stored in one place? (If the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth)

  • When too much has been gathered in one place ultimately it must be emptied, like water out of the clouds.

  • What example in nature does Solomon use to make his next point? (and whether a tree falls toward the south or toward the north, wherever the tree falls, there it lies.)

  • After a tree falls what is true? (wherever the tree falls, there it lies)

    • A tree can’t move itself once it has fallen.

    • A person can’t change events that happen once they have occurred.

Eccl. 11:4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.
Eccl. 11:5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things.

• v.4 What word picture does Solomon present next? (He who watches the wind will not sow)

  • What does it mean for one to ‘sow’? (To plant seeds)

  • What could wind blowing do to the seeds when one is planting them? (Carry them away)

  • If a person only looks at the wind and tried to decide when to plant based on the wind circumstances he will not do what? (will not sow)

    • The conclusion is to not look at the wind when deciding to sow; sow anyway. Do not focus on the circumstances you can’t control.

  • What other picture does Solomon present? (and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.)

  • Why would one look at the clouds when farming? (Trying to decide if there will be rain for the crop)

    • The one waiting to see circumstances like clouds to decide to plant will not do what? (will not reap)

  • What does reap mean? (To harvest what was planted)

    • The farmer must plant his crop even when he does not know what the clouds will do. It is a matter of faith to plant anyway.

    • Only by planting is there ever a chance to reap or harvest.

  • A person needs to move in the direction of planting without knowing the future if there is ever a chance to harvest. From the planting to the harvesting, the farmer is ultimately not in control of the circumstances surrounding the production.

• v.5 What is man ignorant of? (Just as you do not know the path of the wind)

  • This is a statement of fact.

  • What else is a statement of fact? (and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman)

    • These are both statements of fact all men can agree they can’t explain.

    • Man can observe aspects of God’s creation and yet man can’t understand all the intricacies of that creation.

  • What conclusion then does Solomon say is true for men to accept? (so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things)

    • Man can’t explain the intricacies of God’s activity in what he can plainly feel or observe like wind or the miracle of birth then he must accept he has no chance to try and explain the motivations behind and the plans God has for all He has done or will do in the future.

Eccl. 11:6 Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good.
Eccl. 11:7 The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
Eccl. 11:8 Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all, and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is to come will be futility.

• v.6 Even when you can’t explain what God is doing or why He is doing it, what are we to do anyway? (Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening)

  • This is another example of a merism, meaning not just to work day and night but to work all day.

  • Why are we to work all day? (for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed)

  • What could be true? (or whether both of them alike will be good)

    • You work not knowing what the outcome will be.

• v.7 What advantage is there to planting or working during the day? (The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.)

  • This could be a play on the words Solomon spoke many times addressing life lived out under the sun, or on earth. It is good for man to see what God is doing.

• v.8 What else should man enjoy? (Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all)

  • What specifically does Solomon warn will happen in many years? (and let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many)

  • Contained in the years to rejoice over will be what? (days of darkness)

    • Notice not years of darkness but days of darkness compared to years in which to rejoice.

  • How are the days of darkness described? (for they will be many)

  • What perspective would the days of darkness be seen with? (Everything that is to come will be futility.)

    • The days of darkness are futility in the larger picture of life. Do not let those days change your focus of rejoicing in the years given to man.

Eccl. 11:9 Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.
Eccl. 11:10 So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.

• v.9 In futility, how do men respond? (Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes.)

  • Men do not know the number of years they have been given by God.

    • When men assume they have many years to live what will they do with the days of their youth? (Rejoice, heart embraces pleasantries, impulses and the desires of the eyes)

  • Solomon ends with what warning for those who would live this way? (Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things.)

    • A young man is held to the same expectations that older men are held to. There is no acceptable time to be flagrant with the days allotted to any man.

• v.10 Because judgment is coming, what are men to do? (So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body)

  • Do not hold on to grief, anger and pain.

  • Why are men to not hold on to these things? (because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting)

    • What we experience in childhood and even in the younger healthier times of life are short lived. This is the time to be in training for how to handle these events. Life is filled with many unknowns, so rejoice in what God allows always (v.8).