Ecclesiastes 9:1–18
Chapter 17: Have a Blast While You Last! (9:1–10)
Chapter 18: An Objective View of the Rat Race (9:11–18)

The enjoyment of this life does not come from figuring out life’s deep enigmas — 3 areas of wrestling… 1 area of resolve.

I. (:1-6) WRESTLING WITH THE FATE OF THE RIGHTEOUS VS THE FATE OF THE WICKED – SINCE IT LOOKS LIKE THEY END UP THE SAME

1. (:1) Man’s Fate Lies in the Hand of the Sovereign God
   1. Should be a source of comfort and encouragement to the Righteous
   2. But Unpredictability is Unsettling
2. (:2-3) No Difference Between the Righteous and the Wicked – in terms of their fate
   1. Same Fate Awaits All
   2. Five Sets of Contrasts Between the Character of All Men / Yet One Fate for Both
   3. One Fate for All Men / Character of Men Apart from God is Ultimately the Same = Evil and Insanity – Moral and Mental Twistedness
   4. Same Fate Awaits All
3. (:4-6) Hope Remains as Long as Life Lasts
   1. Hope is an Intrinsic Part of Life
   2. Illustration: Life is always better than Death
   3. Expectation of death better than Cessation of thinking
   4. Death Quickly Erases All Legacy and Reward in this life

II. (:7-10) RESOLVING TO LIVE THIS LIFE TO THE FULLEST – ENJOYING ALL THE GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN

Four Areas of God’s Gifts to Us in This Life:

1. (:7) Grateful Eating and Drinking
2. (:8) Joyful Enjoyment of the Comforts of Life
3. (:9) Refreshing Love and Companionship
4. (:10) Diligent Labor and Accomplishment

III. (:11-12) WRESTLING WITH THE VALUE OF AMBITION VS THE FUTILITY OF FINITENESS AND FAIRNESS – SINCE MAN’S FATE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND UNDESERVED

1. (:11) What’s the Point of Trying Hard in Life?
   1. Futility of Life Under the Sun
   2. Five Inequities of Life
   3. Enigma of Finiteness and Fairness – Fate is Unpredictable and Undeserved
2. (:12) Man’s End Comes Suddenly and Surprisingly

IV. (:13-18) WRESTLING WITH THE VALUE OF WISDOM VS THE FUTILITY OF WISDOM – SINCE WISDOM IS IGNORED AND DESPISED RATHER THAN RECOGNIZED AND REWARDED

1. (:13) Expectation that Wisdom Would be Rewarded as Impressive
2. (:14-15) Parable of Wisdom Ignored and Despised – Packed with meaning
3. (:16-18) Contrast Between the Value of Wisdom and the Futility of Wisdom
   1. Better than Strength? Despised and Ignored
   2. Better than Political and Military Power? Fragile and easily Destroyed

Related posts:

1. Week 7: The Futility Of Chasing The Good Life
2. Week 3: The Futility of Pursuing Wisdom or Work “under the sun”
3. Week 12: Secrets To A Productive And Enjoyable Life
4. Week 1: Introduction to the Cycle of Futility “under the sun”
5. Week 2: The Futility of Pleasure, Possessions and Pride (Popularity)