Ecclesiastes 9: Wisdom within our passing days
Begin in prayer
Before we read how death comes to everyone, let us ask God to show our family that our lives are in His hand, and to help us see Christ, who will defeat death.
For in him we live, and move, and have our being.
Acts 17:28
Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to receive life as Your gift and work faithfully while we have opportunity. Give us humble wisdom, and show us Jesus, the Savior who defeats death. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.
See where we're going
The righteous, the wise and their works are in God’s hand, yet death comes to all. Human hearts are full of evil and madness before they go to the dead. The living still have hope, while the dead no longer share in work, love or reward under the sun. The Preacher commends food, wine, festive clothes, married love and wholehearted labor during life’s passing days. Speed, strength, wisdom and skill cannot control outcomes, and sudden trouble catches people like fish or birds in a trap. A poor wise man delivers a small city from a powerful king, yet is forgotten. Quiet wisdom is better than shouting or weapons, but one sinner can destroy much good.
As you read Ecclesiastes 9, look for the answers:
- In whose hand are the righteous, the wise and their works? (verse 1)
- How should a person do the work before him? (verse 10)
- What happens to the poor man who saves the city? (verse 15)
Reflect together
Key truth
God holds our lives in His hand and commends thankful labor and wisdom amid death and uncertainty.
God holds the righteous and their works, even though outward events do not separate them from the wicked. All face death, and human hearts carry evil through their living days. He calls life “all your days of vanity” under the sun (verse 9). Even so, he tells us to enjoy food, clothes and marriage as God’s gifts. The living dog’s advantage over the dead lion pictures the opportunity that remains while we live. The invitation to enjoy life addresses someone whose works God has accepted. The poor man’s wisdom saves the city, yet poverty makes people despise and forget him. Quiet wise words remain better than weapons, while one sinner can undo much good. The Preacher sees death from under the sun, but Jesus rose from the dead and will abolish it (1 Corinthians 15 verse 26).
How does Ecclesiastes 9 show us that God holds our lives in His hand and commends thankful labor and wisdom amid death and uncertainty?
God holds our lives while death limits our earthly opportunity.
The righteous and the wise are in His hand. They still face the death that comes to everyone. Living people should take seriously the opportunity that remains before them.
God’s gifts call for thankful enjoyment and wholehearted work.
The Preacher names meals, celebration and life with a loved wife. He urges full effort in the task before us. These passing days give a portion to receive and work to do.
God’s wisdom is worth hearing even when people neglect it.
The poor wise man saves the city without receiving lasting remembrance. Quiet wisdom remains better than the shout of a ruler among fools. We should value its help and fear the damage one sinner can cause.
Memorise
the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God
Ecclesiastes 9:1
Looking to Jesus in my life
Ask yourself in your heart, am I receiving today’s gifts and work with my hope fixed on the risen Jesus?
The Preacher says, “Wisdom is better than weapons of war”. Yet wisdom cannot keep a poor deliverer from being forgotten or prevent death from coming to everyone. Our evil hearts need a Savior whose rescue reaches beyond our passing days.
Jesus carried the sins of His people to the cross. He suffered the judgment due to them, bringing their debt of guilt to its end. His completed sacrifice is enough to reconcile every person who trusts Him to God. He rose from the grave as the beginning of His people’s resurrection. Those who belong to Christ will be raised at His coming, and death itself will be abolished (1 Corinthians 15 verses 20 to 26).
Turn from sin and rely on Jesus. You may come to Him for forgiveness with the guilt no achievement can remove. Under the sun the poor wise man was forgotten, but everyone who trusts the risen Lord is known to Him, and He will defeat death completely.
Parent's note
Tell your children that each one must come to Jesus for forgiveness and resurrection hope. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus. Ask God to give them new hearts that treasure His Son.
Pray together
Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for the good of ordinary life and for Jesus, who will abolish death. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.
The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
1 Corinthians 15:26
Living God, our days and our work are in Your hand. Forgive the evil in our hearts and lead us to Jesus for pardon and resurrection hope. Teach our family to receive daily gifts with thanks and do our work with willing effort. Help us listen to wise words even when they come from someone others overlook. Amen.