Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
arod4God@neo.rr.com FACEBOOK: Roderick Grabski
CLASS FOUR: A Prudent Attitude Toward Life
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS and PRAYER CONCERNS
II. Read / Listen to Ecclesiastes 3:1-22
a. What are your initial impressions or questions? Notable translation differences?
III. To Everything there is a Season (vv. 1-8)
a. Turn! Turn! Turn! (Pete Seeger, 1959. The Limeliters 1st recorded hit in 1962. Recorded by the Byrd’s in 1965, and also Judy Collins and Pete Seeger in 1965.)
The lyrics are taken directly from Ecclesiastes III:1-8, except perhaps for the optimistic intention at its end “I hope it’s not too late” regarding the idea of peace. The melody is nearly a lullaby. It’s comforting, soft, and only slightly sad. This comforting interpretation of the words belie the troubling philosophical problems inherent in them: If there’s a season for everything, when is the time for war? Casting stones? Sewing, keeping silence, speaking? Peace? It seems that there’s a time and place for every opposite and contrary states of affairs. If you think war is good, there’s also a time for peace. If you think freedom is good, there’s also a time for slavery. If you goodness is good, there’s also a time for badness. But this is confounding! How are we ever to know truly when it’s right to do anything? Is war good? Is good good? Seeger’s song makes it seem a simple business, but an angst lurks close to the surface.
b. The Hebrew word used for time here is tu[e ayth. It refers to seasons or opportunities, not minute by minute, or month by month, or even year by year passing of time.
c. The first known geared clock was invented by the great mathematician, physicist, and engineer Archimedes during the 3rd century BC. (Archimedes created his astronomical clock, which was also a cuckoo clock with birds singing and moving every hour.) Since that time, humans have been preoccupied with time to an unhealthy result.
d. (vv. 2-8) Discuss the ramifications of these events.
IV. Eternity in the Hearts of Mankind (vv. 9-15)
a. (vv. 9-11a) What is the task that God has given people to keep them occupied?
b. (vv. 11b) What does it mean to have eternity in our hearts? Why can’t humans know the work God has done from beginning to end?
c. (vv. 12-15) Summarize these verses in your own words.
V. A Time for God’s Judgement (vv. 16-22)
a. (vs. 16) What is the place of judgement? The place of righteousness?
b. (vs. 17) What does Solomon mean when he writes, “I said in my heart…?”
c. (vs. 18) How does God show through injustice how humans are like animals?
i. Daniel 4:28-33; Psalm 73:21-22; Proverbs 30:2; 2 Peter 2:9-22
d. (vv. 19-22) This seems to deny the hope of eternal life, but in reality this is a caution to take death seriously, especially if you’re living a life apart from God.
VI. Application
a. We would do well to allow God to govern the time we have here on earth. (Psalm 37:23; Proverbs 16:9)
b. There will come a time of Judgement from God upon every human for what they have done. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12)
c. The good news is that in Christ we will inherit eternal life. (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)
VII. Final Comments, Questions. Close in Prayer
Next Week: The Disappointment of Earthly Life
- Read Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 to prepare.
