The Philippians of the Old Testament, Morning Praise

In one paragraph

This message was the third in a series on Ecclesiastes. Pastor Mark walked through the arc of Solomon's life from birth to old age, showing how a man who had everything wisdom, wealth, and direct warnings from God still managed to squander it all. The point was not to discourage but to let Solomon's regret do what Solomon himself wanted it to do: keep the rest of us from making the same mistakes....

Read together

1. Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 words of the wise like goads, well driven nails, making many books there is no end, much study worrisome to the flesh
2. Ecclesiastes 1:1-2 vanity of vanities, all is vanity, quoted as the opening verses everyone always cites
3. 2 Samuel 12:24 listed as a place where Solomon's story is told
4. 1 Kings 1-11 listed as the primary source for Solomon's life and reign
5. 1 Kings 2 David gives Solomon a solemn warning to keep what he learned
6. 1 Kings 8 Solomon's temple dedication prayer, his knowledge of God's greatness and man's sinfulness
7. 1 Kings 8:46 for there is no one who is without sin
8. 1 Kings 9 God appears to Solomon a second time with a solemn warning not to turn to idols
9. 1 Kings 11 Solomon loved many foreign women who turned his heart away after other gods
10. 2 Chronicles 6 parallel account of Solomon's temple dedication prayer
11. Nehemiah cited as a place where Solomon's story appears, and the warning about foreign wives leading him into sin
12. Psalm 72 Solomon wrote it, quoted regarding the name of Jesus enduring forever and all nations being blessed in him
13. Psalm 127 Solomon wrote it, unless the Lord builds a house the builders labor in vain, unless the Lord watches over the city the guards stand watch in vain
14. James to know to do right and not do it is sin
15. 1 John 1:9 if we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive
16. 1 Corinthians 15 Paul delivered that Christ died for our sins, was buried, rose the third day, seen by Cephas then twelve then over 500

Talk about it

1. The pastor opened with the idea that Ecclesiastes feels discouraging because Solomon spent so much time on 'under the sun' thinking, life without involving God. When have you found yourself thinking that way, and what did it feel like?
2. God warned Solomon twice, once through his father David and once directly, and Solomon ignored both warnings completely. Why do you think someone with that much wisdom could still turn away, and what does that say about the rest of us?
3. The pastor made a distinction between 'do as I say, not as I do,' which he called hypocrisy, and 'do as I say, not as I did,' which he called teaching. How does that distinction change the way you read Ecclesiastes?
4. The imperative verbs the pastor pulled from the later chapters of Ecclesiastes, things like enjoy life, work with all your might, rejoice in your youth, remember your creator, point toward a life lived fully engaged and without regret. Which of those commands is hardest for you to actually follow, and why?
5. The pastor closed by saying that doing follows being, that who you are in Christ is what makes obedience possible. How does that land for you personally, and where do you see that playing out or failing to play out in your own life?