WEBVTT

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 Please stand and join me as I read this passage.

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 Starting in chapter 7, verse 14.

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 In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider,

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 God has made the one as well as the other, so that men may not find out anything that will be after him.

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 In my vain life I have seen everything.

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 There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness,

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 and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil doing.

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 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise.

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 Why should you destroy yourself?

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 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool.

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 Why should you die before your time?

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 It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand.

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 For the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

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 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man, more than ten rulers who are in a city.

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 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

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 Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.

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 Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.

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 All this I have tested by wisdom.

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 I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me.

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 That which has been is far off and deep, very deep.

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 Who can find it out?

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 I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things,

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 and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.

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 And I find something more bitter than death.

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 The woman whose heart is snares and nets and whose hands are fetters.

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 He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.

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 Behold, this is what I found, says the preacher,

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 while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things,

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 which my soul has sought repeatedly but have not found.

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 One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.

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 See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.

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 Who is like the wise and who knows the interpretation of a thing?

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 A man's wisdom makes his face shine and the hardness of his face is changed.

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 I say, keep the king's command because of God's oath to him.

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 Be not hasty to go from his presence.

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 Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases.

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 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him,

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 What are you doing?

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 Whoever keeps the command will know no evil thing,

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 and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.

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 For there is a time and a way for everything,

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 although man's trouble lies heavy on him.

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 For he does not know what it is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?

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 No man has power to retain the spirit or power over the day of death.

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 There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.

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 All this I observed while applying my heart to all that is done under the sun,

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 when man had power over man to his hurt.

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 Then I saw the wicked buried.

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 They used to go in and out of the holy place

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 and were praised in the city where they had done such things.

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 This also is vanity.

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 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily,

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 the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

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 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life,

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 yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God,

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 because they fear before him.

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 But it will not be well with the wicked,

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 neither will he prolong his days like a shadow,

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 because he does not fear before God.

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 There is a vanity that takes place on earth,

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 that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked.

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 And there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous.

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 I said that this also is vanity.

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 And I commend joy,

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 for man has nothing better under the sun,

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 but to eat and drink and be joyful.

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 For this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life

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 that God has given him under the sun.

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 When I applied my heart to know wisdom,

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 and to see the business that is done on earth,

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 how neither day nor night do ones I see sleep.

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 Then I saw all the work of God,

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 that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun.

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 However much man may toil in seeking,

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 he will not find it out.

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 Even though a wise man claims to know,

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 he cannot find it out.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 You may be seated.

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 Not all people in the world are perfectionistic

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 or live with fear of failure or abandonment

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 that make them desperate to control the circumstances of their lives.

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 But all human beings, to varying degrees,

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 all try to control the outcomes of their lives.

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 Some people do that by micromanaging or maneuvering,

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 manipulating others.

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 Some people do that by driving themselves really hard,

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 working hard late into the night.

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 Some people try to control the outcomes of their lives

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 by cheating, taking shortcuts.

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 But no matter how hard we try,

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 no matter how intricate our plans

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 and how consistent our efforts to control the outcomes of our lives,

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 in the end, it is Hevel,

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 a mere breath,

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 chasing after the wind.

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 Bad things happen to good people

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 and good things happen to bad people.

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 These are the empirical, indisputable facts of life.

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 But we don't like that fact.

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 And so every generation has new fads

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 and new schemes to try to make the world work

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 the way we think it should,

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 to make our lives work the way we think it ought to.

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 But Ecclesiastes 7.14 to 8.17 reminds us

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 that we cannot control life,

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 but we should fear God and enjoy life

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 knowing that He is in control.

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 That's the main point that I want to drive home this morning.

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 We're going to first talk about how bad things happen to good people

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 and vice versa,

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 and how God works all things together for good.

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 We concluded last week's passage with verse 14,

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 and that serves as a transition and begins this passage.

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 We cannot control when the days of prosperity come

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 or when the days of adversity come in our lives.

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 We are not the master of the times of our lives.

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 God is.

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 God has made the one as well as the other,

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 and it is not for humanity to find out what will come after,

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 what will happen tomorrow.

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 Today's passage flows naturally from that thought.

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 It says in verse 15,

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 In my vain life, I have seen everything.

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 There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness,

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 and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil doing.

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 Chapter 8, verses 10 to 13,

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 speak of the same theme of this unfair reality.

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 It says in verse 12,

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 that a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life.

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 It's the exact same word used in 715.

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 Our sense of justice suggests that the wicked should die prematurely,

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 that they should be punished somehow.

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 But no, they often prolong their lives.

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 Chapter 8, verse 14 says the same thing in different words.

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 There's a vanity that takes place on earth,

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 that there are righteous people to whom it happens

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 according to the deeds of the wicked.

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 And there are wicked people to whom it happens

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 according to the deeds of the righteous.

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 I said that this also is vanity.

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 There's a 1968 song written by Dick Holler

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 entitled Abraham, Martin, and John,

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 which is about Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr.,

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 and John F. Kennedy.

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 They're all leaders of significant social change here in our country,

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 but were assassinated at a relatively young age.

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 And each of the main verses feature one of the titular characters,

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 but apart from the names, the verses are identical,

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 and it goes like this.

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 Anybody here has seen my old friend Abraham?

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 Can you tell me where he's gone?

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 He freed a lot of people,

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 but it seems the good they die young.

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 I just looked around, and he was gone.

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 That refrain, the good they die young,

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 captures the sentiment of Ecclesiastes 7.15.

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 In contrast, consider Mao Zedong,

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 the Chinese communist leader,

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 responsible for the death of an estimated 40 to 80 million people

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 through starvation, persecution, prison labor, mass executions.

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 But he himself died in peace at the ripe old age of 82.

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 The preacher of Ecclesiastes observed this in his own time.

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 He says in chapter 8, verses 10 to 11,

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 Then I saw the wicked buried.

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 They used to go in and out of the holy place

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 and were praised in the city where they had done such things.

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 This also is vanity,

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 because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily.

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 The heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

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 There were wicked people who went in and out of the holy place

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 as if they were God-fearing, righteous people.

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 And they went in and out about the holy place

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 with their heads held high,

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 and they enjoyed a good reputation among the people in the city,

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 but they were never punished for their wickedness in their lifetime.

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 They are now buried and forgotten

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 so that their evil deeds will never be exposed and brought to justice.

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 They will never be remembered as evildoers that they were.

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 They are now left to rest in peace.

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 This is a vanity, the writer says.

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 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily,

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 the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

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 Think of Pol Pot,

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 the dictator and leader of the Cambodian Khmer Rouge,

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 which slaughtered about two million Cambodians in about four years.

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 Despite being put under house arrest toward the end of his life,

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 he died in peace at the ripe old age of 77

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 before the planned trial for genocide at the Hag Ward,

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 the war crimes tribunal could take place.

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 And because in this fallen and broken world,

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 good things happen to bad people,

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 and bad things happen to good people,

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 it's heavil,

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 breath,

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 futility,

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 chasing after the wind

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 to try to control the outcomes of our lives.

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 Chapter 7, verses 16 to 22,

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 catalog the various ways that people try to ensure

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 that good,

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 only good things will happen to them.

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 Some people do this by pursuing righteousness.

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 They think if I live rightly,

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 if I'm an upstanding citizen,

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 that good things will happen to me.

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 While other people pursue wickedness.

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 I'm going to cheat and get my way

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 so that I could have a good life.

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 But neither method,

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 according to the preacher of Ecclesiastes, works.

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 The preacher says in verses 16 and 17,

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 Be not overly righteous,

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 and do not make yourself too wise.

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 Why should you destroy yourself?

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 Be not overly wicked,

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 neither be a fool.

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 Why should you die before your time?

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 Neither being overly righteous

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 or being overly wicked

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 will ensure your health and wealth

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 and success and happiness in life.

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 Neither being too wise nor being a fool

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 will ensure your health and wealth

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 and success and happiness in life.

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 If your understanding,

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 if this sounds to you

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 like something your non-Christian relative would say,

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 I'm fine with you being religious, okay?

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 Just don't be too religious.

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 Everything in moderation.

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 If that's how you're hearing the preacher,

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 that's not what he's saying.

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 The preacher is not saying here

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 that it's possible to have too much righteousness

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 or too much wisdom.

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 That's impossible.

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 The Bible does not teach us

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 to follow Christ in moderation.

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 Jesus said in Mark 8, 34 to 35,

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 If anyone would come after me,

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 let him deny himself

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 and take up his cross and follow me.

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 For whoever would save his life will lose it,

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 but whoever loses his life for my sake

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 and the gospels will save it.

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 In other words,

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 you need to be willing to lay down

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 your very life to follow Jesus.

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 That's not religion in moderation.

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 The greatest commandment in the Bible

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 is not to love God in moderation.

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 It's to love God with your whole heart

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 and soul and mind and strength.

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 It's for total commitment.

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 Jesus didn't say,

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 follow the scriptures in moderation,

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 make sure you obey the really important commandments,

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 and then don't sweat the details.

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 Don't worry about the small commands.

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 No, when he is rebuking the Pharisees

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 in Matthew 23, 23, 24,

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 because these Pharisees

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 were taking painstaking care

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 to tie the smallest things that they had,

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 the mint and the dill and the cumin.

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 They're tithing to God,

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 giving a 10% of even the smallest spices

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 that they have as an offering to God.

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 But while they were doing that,

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 they were neglecting the weightier matters of the law,

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 justice, mercy, and faithfulness,

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 that Jesus says.

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 But Jesus does not rebuke the Pharisees

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 for tithing the mint, the dill, and herb.

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 He rebukes them for not keeping justice,

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 mercy, and faithfulness.

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 He says, these things, the small things,

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 you ought to have done

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 without neglecting the others.

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 The Pharisees' problem was not

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 that they obeyed small things in the Bible.

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.899
 Their problem was that they didn't obey

00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:49.139
 the big things in the Bible.

00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:54.439
 So be not overly righteous

00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:57.519
 does not mean don't be too concerned

00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:58.639
 about obeying God's word.

00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:01.919
 No, we should be very concerned

00:15:01.919 --> 00:15:03.740
 about obeying the whole counsel of God

00:15:03.740 --> 00:15:04.279
 in the scriptures.

00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:07.139
 So then what in the world does it mean

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:11.659
 to be overly righteous or too wise?

00:15:12.399 --> 00:15:14.419
 I think one way we can be overly righteous

00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:16.939
 is by requiring things of ourselves

00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:19.100
 and of other people that go beyond

00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:20.140
 the demands of scripture.

00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:24.080
 Colossians 2, 20 to 23 comes to mind.

00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:25.880
 If with Christ you die

00:15:25.880 --> 00:15:27.500
 to the elemental spirits of the world,

00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:29.880
 why, as if you were still alive in the world,

00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:31.280
 do you submit to regulations?

00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:34.600
 Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch,

00:15:35.020 --> 00:15:36.400
 referring to things that all perish

00:15:36.400 --> 00:15:37.260
 as they are used,

00:15:37.780 --> 00:15:39.640
 according to human precepts and teachings.

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:42.860
 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom

00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:44.559
 in promoting self-made religion

00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:47.039
 and asceticism and severity to the body,

00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:48.740
 but they are of no value

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:50.779
 in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:54.360
 There are many ways in which Christians

00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.639
 have promoted rules

00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:58.299
 that go beyond the bounds of scripture,

00:15:58.860 --> 00:16:01.319
 saying do not handle,

00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:02.679
 do not taste that,

00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:03.779
 do not touch that.

00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:08.819
 This might be a little bit controversial.

00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:09.879
 I hope it's not too controversial.

00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:11.399
 One of those things is to say,

00:16:12.059 --> 00:16:13.819
 don't drink alcohol, right?

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:16.600
 Scripture often warns

00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:18.299
 of the expensiveness of alcohol

00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.259
 and the dangers,

00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:20.860
 the intoxicating effects

00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:22.539
 and the addictive nature of alcohol

00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:25.500
 that it makes many people poppers

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:27.139
 and drunkards.

00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.759
 I know enough people

00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:30.659
 who struggle with alcohol

00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.939
 that I don't take it lightly

00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:34.100
 and I don't personally drink alcohol.

00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:36.580
 With that said,

00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:39.580
 getting drunk is condemned in scripture,

00:16:39.780 --> 00:16:40.820
 but drinking alcohol

00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:42.240
 is not condemned in scripture.

00:16:43.560 --> 00:16:44.800
 The abundance of wine

00:16:44.800 --> 00:16:46.180
 is seen as a sign of God's blessing

00:16:46.180 --> 00:16:47.320
 in Proverbs 3.10.

00:16:48.380 --> 00:16:49.820
 Psalm 104.15 says that

00:16:49.820 --> 00:16:50.760
 God has given wine

00:16:50.760 --> 00:16:51.720
 as a good gift

00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:53.100
 to gladden the heart of man.

00:16:55.860 --> 00:16:58.200
 In fact, Jesus himself partook in wine,

00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:01.100
 as we see in the Last Supper.

00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:03.100
 Similarly, some Christians

00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:05.220
 broadly condemn dancing as sinful.

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.620
 It's true that dancing

00:17:08.620 --> 00:17:09.759
 is sometimes associated

00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:11.380
 with debauchery and lechery

00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.620
 and idolatry in scripture.

00:17:12.820 --> 00:17:14.500
 For example, in Exodus 32,

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.660
 when the Israelites broke loose

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:18.559
 in idolatry around the golden calf

00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:20.259
 and it says that they were eating

00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:21.900
 and dancing and getting up to play,

00:17:22.080 --> 00:17:23.000
 promiscuous play,

00:17:23.100 --> 00:17:24.080
 and that they were dancing.

00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:27.559
 There is a kind of dancing

00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:29.960
 that inflames our lusts and passions,

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:32.259
 and that kind of dancing is not good.

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.919
 But in other parts of scripture,

00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:37.079
 dancing is seen as good

00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:39.460
 when David rejoices

00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:40.379
 when the ark of the Lord

00:17:40.379 --> 00:17:41.960
 is being brought into the city

00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:43.339
 and rejoices and dances

00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:45.220
 before the Lord with abandon.

00:17:45.879 --> 00:17:47.379
 When Miriam the prophetess

00:17:47.379 --> 00:17:48.659
 and other women along with her

00:17:48.659 --> 00:17:50.759
 join with tambourines and dancing

00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:52.379
 to celebrate the Lord's deliverance

00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:53.480
 at the Red Sea.

00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.960
 If you want to be careful

00:17:55.960 --> 00:17:56.579
 with dancing,

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.640
 that's all good,

00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:59.940
 but you shouldn't say

00:17:59.940 --> 00:18:01.000
 that dancing is sin

00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:02.259
 and condemn others for it.

00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:05.339
 Maybe one more example.

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.119
 There are some Christians

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.339
 who would give me a hard time

00:18:07.339 --> 00:18:09.140
 for reading fictional books

00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:10.740
 and letting my kids

00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:11.859
 read fantasy books

00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:13.259
 like Lord of the Rings

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.259
 or Harry Potter

00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.359
 because they're fictional

00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:17.419
 and they involve witchcraft

00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:18.859
 or sorcery or magic.

00:18:21.419 --> 00:18:22.919
 I think the sorcery

00:18:22.919 --> 00:18:23.919
 that is condemned in scripture

00:18:23.919 --> 00:18:26.279
 are ones that circumvent God,

00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:27.699
 give people a way

00:18:27.699 --> 00:18:29.159
 to access spiritual things

00:18:29.159 --> 00:18:30.319
 apart from God,

00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:31.279
 but I think that

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.740
 in some of these fantasy books,

00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:34.039
 they're couched in,

00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:34.619
 they're situated

00:18:34.619 --> 00:18:36.579
 in a thoroughly biblical worldview

00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:37.799
 where the good

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.919
 and the evil is very clear.

00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:44.079
 That's not a hill

00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:44.699
 I'm going to die on,

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.240
 so don't worry.

00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.699
 If you don't think

00:18:45.699 --> 00:18:46.500
 we should read those things.

00:18:50.459 --> 00:18:51.919
 I do want to qualify this

00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:52.759
 because I think

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:54.099
 I have respect for people

00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:54.719
 who say this,

00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:56.219
 Christians who say these things

00:18:56.219 --> 00:18:57.179
 because they're serious

00:18:57.179 --> 00:18:58.039
 about their convictions

00:18:58.039 --> 00:19:00.079
 and I agree with them

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.379
 even that nowadays

00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:02.619
 the bigger issue

00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:03.819
 is that Christians

00:19:03.819 --> 00:19:05.219
 not exercising enough

00:19:05.219 --> 00:19:06.359
 discernment and self-control

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.599
 about what they consume.

00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.740
 I do think that's

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.719
 a bigger problem nowadays

00:19:09.719 --> 00:19:12.579
 than being overly righteous.

00:19:13.659 --> 00:19:14.099
 However,

00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:15.359
 it is possible

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.719
 to be overly righteous

00:19:16.719 --> 00:19:18.059
 or too wise

00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:19.339
 when it comes to these things.

00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:21.259
 Some of you,

00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.199
 I think depending on

00:19:22.199 --> 00:19:22.919
 how you grew up,

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.659
 I'm sure you can come up

00:19:23.659 --> 00:19:24.539
 with a long list

00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:26.019
 of man-made rules

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:26.980
 that were enforced

00:19:26.980 --> 00:19:28.159
 in your house

00:19:28.159 --> 00:19:29.240
 as you were growing up.

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:32.819
 this might be another way.

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.140
 You might be over-righteous.

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.000
 Are you wracked

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:37.099
 by paralyzing anxiety

00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:38.900
 or pathological guilt

00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:41.079
 about moral issues,

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:41.980
 spiritual issues?

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:45.220
 All those around you

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:47.519
 think that you are faithful,

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.940
 you're obeying God,

00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:50.740
 but you're deeply worried

00:19:50.740 --> 00:19:52.220
 about being punished by God

00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:53.120
 or going to hell

00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:55.160
 and you're excessively concerned

00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:56.660
 that you're sinning

00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.640
 when in fact

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.480
 you're not sinning.

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.740
 Maybe you engage

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:02.220
 in compulsive rituals

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.339
 to make yourself feel

00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:04.240
 like you have control

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:04.920
 over these things

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.640
 and you feel like

00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:06.299
 you have to confess

00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:07.700
 every little tiny thing

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:11.360
 because otherwise

00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:12.200
 you think something bad

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:13.100
 is going to happen to you.

00:20:14.580 --> 00:20:15.960
 Don't be overly righteous.

00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:18.860
 And you don't have to be

00:20:18.860 --> 00:20:19.680
 a religious person

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.799
 to deal with these problems.

00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:21.819
 Over-righteousness

00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:23.819
 is not the exclusive purview

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:24.779
 of religious people.

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:25.860
 For example,

00:20:26.120 --> 00:20:28.920
 diet and exercise regimens

00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:30.900
 can be good for your health,

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:32.180
 but there are people

00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:33.660
 who are over-righteous

00:20:33.660 --> 00:20:34.759
 in their observance

00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.740
 of these regimens.

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.900
 And they think

00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:39.259
 that their strict adherence

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:39.539
 to them

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.759
 will ensure health

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.579
 and longevity.

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.299
 Here's another example.

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.200
 Working hard

00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.200
 and studying hard

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.819
 in school.

00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:48.680
 Yes, that's a wise

00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.720
 and good thing to do,

00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:51.019
 but there are parents

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.640
 and students

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:53.420
 who are over-righteous

00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:54.859
 and too wise

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.799
 in these things,

00:20:56.079 --> 00:20:56.779
 almost turning

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.779
 academic excellence

00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.620
 into an idol.

00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:00.359
 Similarly,

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:02.099
 wise financial stewardship

00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:03.140
 is a good thing,

00:21:03.200 --> 00:21:04.140
 it's a righteous thing,

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:05.140
 but it's possible

00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.480
 to be over-zealous

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.300
 and too wise

00:21:07.300 --> 00:21:07.980
 in your saving

00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:08.560
 and investing

00:21:08.560 --> 00:21:09.420
 and growing money.

00:21:11.620 --> 00:21:13.080
 As wide-ranging

00:21:13.080 --> 00:21:15.960
 as these examples are,

00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:17.560
 they all have

00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:18.820
 a common underlying theme.

00:21:20.220 --> 00:21:21.880
 They are all attempts

00:21:21.880 --> 00:21:22.920
 to control

00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:24.120
 the outcomes

00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:25.040
 of your life,

00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:29.820
 to ensure health

00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:30.600
 and wealth

00:21:30.600 --> 00:21:31.300
 and success.

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:33.359
 but the preacher

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:34.519
 says in verse 16,

00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:36.240
 be not overly righteous

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:37.379
 and do not make yourself

00:21:37.379 --> 00:21:38.099
 too wise.

00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:38.940
 Why should you

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.839
 destroy yourself?

00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:41.500
 Over-righteousness

00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.599
 does not guarantee

00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.839
 good outcomes in life.

00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:45.639
 There are righteous people

00:21:45.639 --> 00:21:46.599
 who get what the wicked

00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.039
 deserve,

00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:48.000
 and there are wicked people

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.000
 who get what the righteous

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:49.440
 deserve.

00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.419
 In fact,

00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.240
 over-righteousness

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.720
 can be self-destructive,

00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:53.759
 says the preacher.

00:21:54.399 --> 00:21:55.879
 You can wear yourself down

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:57.480
 and sabotage your own life

00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.639
 through over-righteousness.

00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:03.460
 But does this mean

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.160
 that the wicked

00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:04.759
 are better off

00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.240
 than the righteous?

00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:07.460
 Will pursuing

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.720
 a life of wickedness

00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.880
 guarantee better outcomes

00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:10.320
 in life?

00:22:10.780 --> 00:22:11.700
 Of course not.

00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.940
 The preacher says

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.620
 in verse 17,

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.880
 be not overly wicked,

00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:16.300
 neither be a fool.

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.520
 Why should you die

00:22:17.520 --> 00:22:18.480
 before your time?

00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:19.660
 Once again,

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:21.000
 the preacher does not mean

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:21.880
 that we should be

00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:22.960
 moderately wicked.

00:22:23.780 --> 00:22:24.860
 Don't be overly wicked,

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.880
 just be moderately wicked.

00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:26.940
 That's not what he's saying.

00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:28.320
 In the same way

00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:29.019
 he wasn't saying

00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:30.000
 be moderately righteous.

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:32.759
 We should not be wicked at all.

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.019
 But the preacher

00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:35.380
 is using the parallel structure

00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:36.039
 to teach us

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:37.880
 that people on both ends

00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.820
 of the spectrum

00:22:38.820 --> 00:22:40.420
 are trying in vain

00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:41.600
 to control the outcomes

00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:42.340
 of their lives.

00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:44.140
 People who engage

00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:45.220
 in over-wickedness,

00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:45.940
 like the people

00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:47.480
 who engage in over-righteousness,

00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:48.920
 do so to ensure

00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:50.039
 their well-being,

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:50.960
 their happiness,

00:22:51.100 --> 00:22:52.420
 but it's ultimately futile.

00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:54.920
 They lie on their resumes

00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:56.080
 and cheat on their taxes

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.879
 to enhance their future prospects

00:22:57.879 --> 00:22:59.379
 and to secure their wealth.

00:23:00.259 --> 00:23:02.179
 They steal and rape and murder

00:23:02.179 --> 00:23:02.960
 in order to acquire

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.799
 what they want

00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:05.359
 but cannot rightly have.

00:23:05.939 --> 00:23:07.059
 They pay bribes

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.199
 to people in high places

00:23:08.199 --> 00:23:09.720
 in exchange for various favors,

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.559
 to get a promotion

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.220
 from a boss,

00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:12.199
 to get a judge

00:23:12.199 --> 00:23:13.240
 to turn a blind eye

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.960
 to their crimes.

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:15.419
 These are all attempts

00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:16.000
 by the wicked

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.599
 to prolong their lives.

00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:19.639
 But the preacher warns

00:23:19.639 --> 00:23:20.379
 in 717,

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.599
 be not overly wicked,

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.539
 neither be a fool.

00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:24.059
 Why should you die

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.879
 before your time?

00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:27.119
 Seeking to control

00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:28.179
 your life through wickedness

00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:28.980
 doesn't work either.

00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:31.759
 No matter how wise

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:33.019
 or industrious we are

00:23:33.019 --> 00:23:33.779
 in our righteousness

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.599
 or wickedness,

00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.899
 we cannot control life.

00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:38.299
 Of course,

00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:39.039
 it's still better

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:40.079
 to live with wisdom

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.619
 and righteousness

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.679
 than to not.

00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:44.179
 Verse 19 qualifies

00:23:44.179 --> 00:23:44.779
 what the preacher

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.480
 has been saying.

00:23:45.899 --> 00:23:47.059
 Wisdom gives strength

00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:47.839
 to the wise men,

00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:48.899
 more than 10 rulers

00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:49.720
 who are in a city.

00:23:50.599 --> 00:23:52.119
 Yes, wisdom is precious,

00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:53.199
 more precious

00:23:53.199 --> 00:23:54.339
 than power and control.

00:23:55.179 --> 00:23:55.579
 However,

00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.719
 the main point

00:23:56.719 --> 00:23:57.199
 of the preacher

00:23:57.199 --> 00:23:57.839
 in this passage

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:59.119
 still stands.

00:23:59.679 --> 00:24:00.759
 Bad things happen

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.399
 to good people

00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:02.819
 and good things

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.719
 happen to bad people.

00:24:05.139 --> 00:24:06.339
 No matter how righteous

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:06.899
 we are,

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:08.699
 we are not righteous enough

00:24:08.699 --> 00:24:10.079
 and we can't control

00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:10.839
 what other people

00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.579
 do to us

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:13.019
 or say about us.

00:24:13.979 --> 00:24:14.979
 It says in chapter 7

00:24:14.979 --> 00:24:16.079
 verses 20 to 22,

00:24:16.239 --> 00:24:17.019
 surely there is not

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.979
 a righteous man on earth

00:24:17.979 --> 00:24:18.500
 who does good

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.239
 and never sins.

00:24:19.659 --> 00:24:20.779
 Do not take to heart

00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.519
 all the things

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.399
 that people say

00:24:22.399 --> 00:24:23.440
 lest you hear

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.599
 your servant cursing you.

00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:25.559
 Your heart knows

00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.259
 that many times

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:26.779
 you yourself

00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.720
 have cursed others.

00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:30.379
 Don't pay attention

00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:31.559
 over much

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.460
 to what other people

00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.440
 say about you,

00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:35.259
 whether that's

00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:36.420
 in the form of likes

00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:37.599
 and reposts

00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.460
 on TikTok

00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.279
 or Instagram

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.000
 or X

00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:42.680
 or people in person

00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.759
 gossiping about you

00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.460
 behind your back.

00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.220
 Of course,

00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.139
 this doesn't justify

00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:48.139
 gossip in any way,

00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.599
 but don't lose sleep

00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.259
 over what people

00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:51.159
 are saying about you

00:24:51.159 --> 00:24:53.740
 because you know

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.240
 in your heart

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.919
 that you have also

00:24:54.919 --> 00:24:55.879
 spoken ill of people

00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:56.539
 in the past.

00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:57.899
 Instead of trying

00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.679
 to police

00:24:58.679 --> 00:24:59.639
 or control

00:24:59.639 --> 00:25:00.519
 what other people

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.500
 are saying about you,

00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:03.119
 let it be,

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:05.059
 knowing that surely

00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:05.579
 there is not

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.299
 a righteous man

00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:06.919
 on earth

00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:08.279
 who does good

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.119
 and never sins,

00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:10.819
 not even you

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.179
 or me.

00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.980
 Moving on to chapter 8,

00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:14.759
 the preacher gives us

00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.599
 yet another example

00:25:15.599 --> 00:25:16.619
 of how life is

00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:16.879
 heavy,

00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:17.839
 a mere breath.

00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:19.539
 We can't grasp

00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.259
 control of it.

00:25:20.919 --> 00:25:22.059
 He begins first

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.720
 with the benefits

00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:23.839
 of wisdom in verse 1.

00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:25.599
 Who is like the wise

00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.659
 and who knows

00:25:26.659 --> 00:25:27.500
 the interpretation

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.319
 of a thing?

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.579
 A man's wisdom

00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.699
 makes his face shine

00:25:30.699 --> 00:25:31.299
 and the hardness

00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:32.679
 of his face is changed.

00:25:33.439 --> 00:25:34.619
 This brings to mind

00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:36.019
 wise men in scripture

00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.259
 like Joseph and Daniel

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.339
 who had the gift

00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:39.659
 to interpret things,

00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.139
 visions and dreams,

00:25:41.939 --> 00:25:42.500
 prophecies.

00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:44.659
 They served effectively

00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:45.659
 in the royal courts

00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:46.960
 of Egypt and Babylon

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.640
 respectively

00:25:47.640 --> 00:25:49.160
 and attained high ranks

00:25:49.160 --> 00:25:49.720
 and prestige

00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:50.940
 because of their wisdom

00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:51.560
 and the ability

00:25:51.560 --> 00:25:52.600
 to interpret things.

00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:55.160
 And the counsel

00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:55.700
 of the wise

00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:56.340
 is valuable.

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.600
 Proverbs 25, 15

00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:57.840
 says,

00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.640
 with patience,

00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:00.000
 a ruler may be persuaded

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:02.000
 and a soft tongue

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.060
 will break a bone.

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.759
 However,

00:26:04.860 --> 00:26:05.220
 the preacher

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.060
 of Ecclesiastes

00:26:06.060 --> 00:26:07.759
 turns this proverb

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:08.560
 on its head

00:26:08.560 --> 00:26:10.000
 as he characteristically does

00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:11.660
 and he says,

00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:12.059
 yes,

00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:12.839
 it is true

00:26:12.839 --> 00:26:14.500
 that a wise counselor

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:16.119
 can change the king's mind

00:26:16.119 --> 00:26:17.619
 sometimes.

00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:20.119
 Other times,

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:20.900
 he says,

00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:22.039
 even giving counsel

00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.660
 to the king

00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:23.319
 is heavy.

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.980
 He says in verses 2 to 3,

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:26.880
 I say,

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.019
 keep the king's command

00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:29.180
 because of God's oath

00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:29.640
 to him.

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.519
 Be not hasty

00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:32.339
 to go from his presence.

00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.279
 This is similar

00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.559
 to Ecclesiastes 10,

00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:35.059
 verse 4,

00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.519
 which says,

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.619
 if the anger

00:26:36.619 --> 00:26:37.119
 of the ruler

00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:38.079
 rises against you,

00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:39.700
 do not leave your place

00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:40.500
 for calmness

00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.559
 will lay great offenses

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.259
 to rest.

00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.620
 The exhortation

00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:44.400
 is to do

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.700
 what the king says

00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.840
 and if the king

00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:48.279
 opposes your counsel

00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:49.600
 and is angry with you,

00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.799
 stay calm

00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.880
 and stay put

00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:53.000
 because if you try

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:54.319
 to exit too hastily,

00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:54.840
 his anger

00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:55.640
 might be kindled

00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:57.700
 and you might be worse off.

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.880
 Verses 3 to 4 continue,

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.980
 do not take your stand

00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.819
 in the evil cause

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:02.380
 for he does

00:27:02.380 --> 00:27:03.380
 whatever he pleases

00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:04.259
 for the word

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:04.720
 of the king

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.240
 is supreme

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.400
 and who may say to him,

00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:07.299
 what are you doing?

00:27:07.980 --> 00:27:08.900
 The word translated

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.920
 evil cause

00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:10.600
 in verse 3

00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:11.080
 is literally

00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:12.019
 bad word

00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:13.540
 and so it's being

00:27:13.540 --> 00:27:14.420
 contrasted

00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:15.640
 with the king's word

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:16.320
 in verse 4.

00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.480
 Your bad word

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.680
 versus the king's word.

00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:20.019
 For the word

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.580
 of the king

00:27:20.580 --> 00:27:21.100
 is supreme

00:27:21.100 --> 00:27:22.080
 and who may say

00:27:22.080 --> 00:27:22.360
 to him,

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.040
 what are you doing?

00:27:23.860 --> 00:27:24.680
 In other words,

00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:26.460
 no one can question

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.259
 or challenge

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:28.200
 what the king decrees

00:27:28.200 --> 00:27:28.880
 because he has

00:27:28.880 --> 00:27:29.600
 supreme authority.

00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:30.759
 So then,

00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:32.080
 do not take your stand

00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:33.160
 in an evil cause

00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:35.100
 means don't take your stand

00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:35.480
 in,

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:37.420
 not in a moral evil cause,

00:27:37.420 --> 00:27:38.420
 but don't take your stand

00:27:38.420 --> 00:27:39.820
 in a doomed cause,

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.500
 a bad cause,

00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:42.640
 a cause that the king

00:27:42.640 --> 00:27:43.420
 will oppose.

00:27:44.840 --> 00:27:46.259
 The New International Version

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.820
 of the Bible

00:27:46.820 --> 00:27:48.000
 captures this well.

00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:48.380
 It says,

00:27:48.560 --> 00:27:49.420
 do not be in a hurry

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:50.600
 to leave the king's presence.

00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:52.220
 Do not stand up

00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:53.660
 for a bad cause

00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:55.160
 for he will do

00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:56.180
 whatever he pleases.

00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.860
 Since the king's word

00:27:57.860 --> 00:27:58.380
 is supreme,

00:27:58.480 --> 00:27:59.340
 who can say to him,

00:27:59.420 --> 00:28:00.019
 what are you doing?

00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:01.700
 Whoever obeys his command

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:03.660
 will come to no harm

00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:04.920
 and the wise heart

00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:06.140
 will know the proper time

00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:06.840
 and procedure.

00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:08.780
 So he's saying,

00:28:09.420 --> 00:28:10.740
 don't oppose the king

00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:12.200
 when it's not the right time

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:12.820
 and place

00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:15.300
 and then you will be spared

00:28:15.300 --> 00:28:16.480
 the harm that might come

00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.480
 to you from his wrath.

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.700
 Do what the king says.

00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:21.940
 It's the typical realism

00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.060
 and pragmatism

00:28:23.060 --> 00:28:24.220
 of Ecclesiastes.

00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:27.120
 The preacher is not telling

00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:28.060
 all wise men

00:28:28.060 --> 00:28:29.860
 and all wise counselors

00:28:29.860 --> 00:28:30.940
 to be yes men,

00:28:30.940 --> 00:28:33.420
 but he is telling them

00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:34.279
 to be shrewd

00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.660
 in what they say

00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.900
 and when they say it.

00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.120
 He says in verse five

00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:39.120
 that the wise heart

00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:40.740
 will know the proper time

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.640
 and the just way

00:28:41.640 --> 00:28:42.680
 for there's a time

00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.900
 and a way for everything.

00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:46.980
 But even when you know

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:48.019
 the time and the way

00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:49.080
 to speak,

00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:50.980
 it says man's trouble

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.120
 lies heavy on him.

00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:52.880
 Verse six.

00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:54.100
 And why is this so?

00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:55.559
 Verse seven tells us,

00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:57.320
 for he does not know

00:28:57.320 --> 00:28:58.000
 what is to be

00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:00.039
 for who can tell him

00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:01.240
 how it will be.

00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:03.779
 Even the wisest of counselors

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.980
 who know the right time

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:06.299
 to speak and how to speak

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:08.019
 does not always know

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:09.180
 how the king will respond,

00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:10.880
 cannot control

00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:12.119
 how the king will respond.

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.839
 Verse eight again

00:29:13.839 --> 00:29:15.240
 employs the metaphor of wind

00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:16.380
 to describe this futility.

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.700
 No man has power

00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:19.000
 to retain the spirit

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:20.579
 or literally no man

00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:21.099
 has the power

00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:22.299
 to retain the wind

00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:24.440
 or power over the day of death.

00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:26.660
 There is no discharge from war

00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.680
 nor will wickedness

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.299
 deliver those

00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:29.519
 who are given to it.

00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:31.660
 No one can override

00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:32.560
 the king's word.

00:29:32.820 --> 00:29:34.400
 If he says you're going to war,

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.560
 then you are going to war.

00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:37.380
 There is no discharge from war

00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:39.460
 and you will die there.

00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.580
 This is reminiscent

00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:42.940
 of first Kings 22

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:44.019
 when Ahab,

00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:45.100
 king of Israel,

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.220
 plans to go to war

00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.920
 against Syria

00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:48.480
 and prophet Micaiah

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.340
 warns him,

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.759
 you're going to lose.

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:52.200
 God is against you.

00:29:52.259 --> 00:29:53.440
 You're going to lose the battle.

00:29:53.560 --> 00:29:53.880
 In fact,

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:55.259
 you are going to die yourself.

00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:57.059
 But then the king Ahab

00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:58.619
 dismisses prophet Micaiah

00:29:58.619 --> 00:29:58.940
 saying,

00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:00.180
 you only say bad things.

00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.519
 You never say good things.

00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.200
 And then he goes to war anyway

00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:04.279
 and leading to the death

00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.539
 of many people in Israel,

00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:08.000
 including his own death.

00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.759
 That's an example

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:12.640
 of Ecclesiastes 8, 3 to 4.

00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.680
 The word of the king

00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:14.319
 is supreme.

00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:15.920
 Who can say to him,

00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:16.799
 what are you doing?

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:19.079
 This is why the preacher

00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:20.139
 concludes in verse 9,

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.220
 all this I observed

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:22.440
 while applying my heart

00:30:22.440 --> 00:30:23.220
 to all that is done

00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:23.899
 under the sun

00:30:23.899 --> 00:30:25.799
 when man had power

00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:27.279
 over man to his hurt.

00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:30.480
 A monarch having absolute power

00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.480
 over his subjects

00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:32.539
 to their hurt

00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:34.220
 is another example

00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:35.919
 of the hevel of this world.

00:30:36.159 --> 00:30:37.839
 Rulers having power

00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:39.940
 over their subjects

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.940
 to their hurt

00:30:40.940 --> 00:30:42.119
 is another example

00:30:42.119 --> 00:30:44.079
 of the futility of life here.

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.500
 How bad things happen

00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.099
 to good people

00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:47.380
 and good things happen

00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:48.000
 to bad people.

00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:50.980
 That's the main point

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:51.500
 of this passage

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.779
 and there's a key word

00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.500
 that threads

00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.900
 the entire passage together

00:30:54.900 --> 00:30:56.339
 and it's the word find.

00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.980
 It occurs 17 times

00:30:58.980 --> 00:30:59.740
 total in the book

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.519
 of Ecclesiastes

00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.619
 and 12 of those

00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:03.119
 are found in these two chapters,

00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.400
 chapter 7, chapter 8.

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:07.220
 Remember how the passage began

00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:08.779
 in chapter 7, verse 14.

00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:10.619
 In the day of prosperity

00:31:10.619 --> 00:31:11.380
 be joyful

00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:13.079
 and in the day of adversity

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.660
 consider,

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:15.160
 God has made the one

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:16.000
 as well as the other

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:17.220
 so that men may not

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:18.580
 find out anything

00:31:18.580 --> 00:31:19.759
 that will be after him.

00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:22.340
 Why has God subjected

00:31:22.340 --> 00:31:23.900
 the creation to futility?

00:31:24.340 --> 00:31:25.560
 Why has God ordained

00:31:25.560 --> 00:31:26.660
 that good things happen

00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.600
 even to bad people

00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:28.519
 and bad things happen

00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:29.420
 even to good people?

00:31:30.440 --> 00:31:31.740
 So that, he says,

00:31:31.820 --> 00:31:33.759
 men may not find out

00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:35.060
 anything that will be after him.

00:31:36.120 --> 00:31:37.740
 If everything that happens

00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.779
 in life is according

00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:40.700
 to neat rules and patterns

00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.840
 and it's predictable,

00:31:42.300 --> 00:31:43.540
 then humanity would be able

00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.659
 to figure it out

00:31:44.659 --> 00:31:45.859
 and game the system.

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:48.500
 But that would further

00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:50.259
 fuel human pride,

00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.039
 arrogance,

00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.259
 self-righteousness.

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.480
 The vanity

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.579
 and the futility

00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:56.740
 and the transience

00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.539
 of life here

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:58.240
 under the sun

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:59.200
 in this fallen world

00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:01.379
 is meant to humble us

00:32:01.379 --> 00:32:02.079
 before God

00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.659
 and make us fear him

00:32:03.659 --> 00:32:05.119
 and to defer

00:32:05.119 --> 00:32:06.619
 to his sovereign rule.

00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:09.599
 Relentlessly,

00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.480
 if you've been with us

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:10.980
 in this series

00:32:10.980 --> 00:32:11.620
 in Ecclesiastes,

00:32:11.740 --> 00:32:12.940
 the preacher is relentless

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:14.579
 in hammering home

00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.140
 this point

00:32:15.140 --> 00:32:16.120
 that we cannot

00:32:16.120 --> 00:32:17.700
 figure out this life.

00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.160
 Chapter 7,

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:20.299
 verse 23 to 24,

00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.680
 all this I have tested

00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.299
 by wisdom.

00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:24.120
 I said I will be wise,

00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.839
 but it was far from me.

00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.660
 That which has been

00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:28.579
 is far off

00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:29.299
 and deep,

00:32:29.620 --> 00:32:30.279
 very deep.

00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:32.880
 Who can find it out?

00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:34.920
 No one.

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.740
 The conclusion

00:32:36.740 --> 00:32:37.819
 at the end

00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:39.740
 echoes the same point.

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:41.240
 Ecclesiastes 8, 17,

00:32:41.680 --> 00:32:42.180
 then I saw

00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:43.319
 all the work of God

00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:44.319
 that man cannot

00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:45.660
 find out the work

00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.099
 that is done

00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:46.720
 under the sun.

00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:48.120
 However much man

00:32:48.120 --> 00:32:49.240
 may toil in seeking,

00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.859
 he will not find it out.

00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.220
 Even though a wise man

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:53.039
 claims to know,

00:32:53.120 --> 00:32:54.660
 he cannot find it out.

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.480
 If you meet

00:32:56.480 --> 00:32:57.400
 a wise philosopher

00:32:57.400 --> 00:32:58.140
 claiming to have

00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:58.920
 figured out life,

00:32:59.220 --> 00:33:00.259
 this is how life works.

00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:01.240
 You do what I tell you

00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:01.660
 and your life

00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:02.539
 will be good and perfect.

00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:04.359
 They don't know

00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:05.279
 what they're talking about.

00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.059
 Solomon,

00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.559
 the greatest philosopher

00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:09.419
 to have ever lived,

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.579
 obviously not counting

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:11.399
 Jesus who is

00:33:11.399 --> 00:33:12.259
 the wisdom of God

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:12.799
 incarnate,

00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:15.179
 says that you cannot.

00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:17.000
 You cannot find it out.

00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:19.500
 And what's the intended

00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.899
 effect of understanding

00:33:20.899 --> 00:33:22.679
 that life is but a breath?

00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:24.980
 How do we live

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.599
 in such a world

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.240
 where bad things

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.119
 happen to good people

00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:27.940
 and good things

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:28.779
 happen to bad people?

00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:31.399
 The same twin answer

00:33:31.399 --> 00:33:31.980
 is given

00:33:31.980 --> 00:33:33.179
 throughout Ecclesiastes.

00:33:33.619 --> 00:33:33.899
 One,

00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.200
 fear God.

00:33:35.700 --> 00:33:36.099
 Two,

00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:37.599
 enjoy life.

00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:39.720
 He says in 7,

00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.139
 18,

00:33:40.639 --> 00:33:41.200
 it is good

00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.619
 that you should

00:33:41.619 --> 00:33:42.539
 take hold of this

00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:43.319
 and from that

00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:44.759
 withhold not your hand

00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.539
 for the one

00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:46.519
 who fears God

00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:47.240
 shall come out

00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:48.059
 from both of them.

00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:49.919
 The one who fears God

00:33:49.919 --> 00:33:50.559
 will come out

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.319
 from both

00:33:51.319 --> 00:33:52.919
 being overly righteous

00:33:52.919 --> 00:33:54.379
 and being overly wicked.

00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:56.059
 When we recognize

00:33:56.059 --> 00:33:56.899
 that we finally

00:33:56.899 --> 00:33:58.480
 cannot figure out

00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:00.279
 and control

00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:01.079
 our outcomes,

00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.859
 we surrender

00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:03.460
 to God

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.440
 his sovereignty

00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:05.159
 and entrust

00:34:05.159 --> 00:34:06.039
 our lives to him

00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:06.839
 rather than trying

00:34:06.839 --> 00:34:07.599
 to be masters

00:34:07.599 --> 00:34:08.460
 of our own fate

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.099
 and captains

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:09.860
 of our own souls.

00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:12.799
 And here's what you do

00:34:12.799 --> 00:34:14.099
 when you're at a low point

00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:14.539
 in life

00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.139
 and when your life

00:34:15.139 --> 00:34:16.099
 is full of suffering

00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.759
 and sorrows

00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:18.119
 and you start to wonder,

00:34:18.279 --> 00:34:18.440
 God,

00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.400
 are you really here?

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.380
 God,

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:21.980
 are you really

00:34:21.980 --> 00:34:22.860
 in control?

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.259
 Please look at

00:34:26.259 --> 00:34:26.920
 chapter 7,

00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:27.699
 verse 15

00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:28.519
 with me

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:29.739
 and contrast it

00:34:29.739 --> 00:34:30.460
 with chapter 8,

00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:31.519
 verse 12 to 13.

00:34:31.519 --> 00:34:33.280
 In 715,

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.079
 the preacher

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:35.400
 shares his observation,

00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:37.019
 what he has seen.

00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:38.039
 He says,

00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:39.199
 in my vain life,

00:34:39.259 --> 00:34:41.079
 I have seen everything.

00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:42.519
 There's a righteous man

00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.139
 who perishes

00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:43.880
 in his righteousness

00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:45.420
 and there's a wicked man

00:34:45.420 --> 00:34:46.619
 who prolongs his life

00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:47.539
 in his evil doing.

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:49.119
 The preacher

00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:50.019
 is a good scientist.

00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:52.079
 He makes careful observations

00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:52.719
 about life,

00:34:53.099 --> 00:34:53.840
 how it works,

00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:55.119
 and he has concluded

00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:55.920
 that life doesn't

00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:56.659
 follow the rules.

00:34:58.179 --> 00:34:59.000
 A wicked man

00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:00.159
 prolongs his life

00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:01.359
 in his evil doing,

00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:02.519
 but contrast that

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:03.319
 with chapter 8,

00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:04.539
 verses 12 to 13.

00:35:06.219 --> 00:35:06.940
 Though a sinner

00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:07.839
 does evil

00:35:07.839 --> 00:35:09.119
 a hundred times

00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:11.059
 and prolongs his life,

00:35:11.779 --> 00:35:12.819
 yet I know

00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:14.039
 that it will be well

00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:15.199
 with those who fear God

00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:16.279
 because they fear

00:35:16.279 --> 00:35:16.940
 before him.

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:19.239
 But it will not be well

00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:19.859
 with the wicked,

00:35:20.239 --> 00:35:21.259
 neither will he prolong

00:35:21.259 --> 00:35:22.599
 his days like a shadow

00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.579
 because he does not

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:25.199
 fear before God.

00:35:25.819 --> 00:35:26.599
 Notice that these are

00:35:26.599 --> 00:35:27.500
 two seemingly

00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:29.119
 contradictory statements.

00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:30.460
 on the one hand,

00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.420
 he says that the things

00:35:31.420 --> 00:35:32.599
 do go well for the wicked

00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:33.099
 sometimes.

00:35:33.219 --> 00:35:34.539
 They prolong their life.

00:35:35.339 --> 00:35:36.519
 He has seen it,

00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.519
 but then now he says

00:35:38.519 --> 00:35:39.279
 that they will not

00:35:39.279 --> 00:35:40.460
 prolong their days

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.460
 like a shadow

00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:42.159
 because they do not

00:35:42.159 --> 00:35:42.920
 fear before God.

00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:43.900
 So what's the deal?

00:35:44.839 --> 00:35:45.759
 Which one is true?

00:35:46.940 --> 00:35:47.819
 7.15

00:35:47.819 --> 00:35:49.400
 is the preacher's

00:35:49.400 --> 00:35:50.699
 observation of life,

00:35:50.819 --> 00:35:52.219
 what he has seen.

00:35:52.940 --> 00:35:53.779
 Chapter 8,

00:35:53.799 --> 00:35:54.859
 verses 12 to 13

00:35:54.859 --> 00:35:56.400
 is the preacher's

00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:58.299
 declaration of faith,

00:35:58.300 --> 00:35:59.980
 what he knows

00:35:59.980 --> 00:36:00.940
 and believes

00:36:00.940 --> 00:36:01.500
 to be true

00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.480
 despite everything

00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.340
 that he sees.

00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:05.880
 He says,

00:36:06.840 --> 00:36:07.420
 though a sinner

00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:08.400
 does evil

00:36:08.400 --> 00:36:09.180
 a hundred times

00:36:09.180 --> 00:36:10.840
 and prolongs his life,

00:36:11.160 --> 00:36:12.960
 yet I know

00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:15.120
 that it will be well

00:36:15.120 --> 00:36:16.160
 with those who fear God

00:36:16.160 --> 00:36:17.120
 because they fear

00:36:17.120 --> 00:36:17.700
 before him.

00:36:18.460 --> 00:36:18.940
 Yes,

00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:20.200
 your life is full

00:36:20.200 --> 00:36:20.860
 of futility.

00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:21.700
 Yes,

00:36:21.760 --> 00:36:22.720
 your life is full

00:36:22.720 --> 00:36:23.380
 of suffering

00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:24.240
 in this fallen world

00:36:24.240 --> 00:36:25.220
 and it doesn't

00:36:25.220 --> 00:36:26.080
 make sense.

00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:27.759
 we walk

00:36:27.759 --> 00:36:28.500
 by faith

00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:29.360
 and not by sight

00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:29.980
 and believe

00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:30.799
 as Paul says

00:36:30.799 --> 00:36:31.779
 in Romans 8.28

00:36:31.779 --> 00:36:33.639
 and we know

00:36:33.639 --> 00:36:34.900
 that for those

00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:35.659
 who love God

00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:36.739
 all things work

00:36:36.739 --> 00:36:37.699
 together for good

00:36:37.699 --> 00:36:38.699
 for those who are

00:36:38.699 --> 00:36:39.340
 called according

00:36:39.340 --> 00:36:40.139
 to his purpose.

00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:41.980
 We might not

00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:42.559
 see it.

00:36:43.719 --> 00:36:44.639
 It might not seem

00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:45.259
 like everything

00:36:45.259 --> 00:36:46.159
 is going according

00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:46.619
 to plan

00:36:46.619 --> 00:36:47.400
 the way it's supposed

00:36:47.400 --> 00:36:48.219
 to work out

00:36:48.219 --> 00:36:48.579
 for good

00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:50.039
 but we know

00:36:50.039 --> 00:36:51.299
 this to be true

00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:53.100
 because that is

00:36:53.100 --> 00:36:54.000
 what we believe.

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:54.980
 We believe

00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:55.680
 in the sovereignty

00:36:55.680 --> 00:36:56.180
 of God

00:36:56.180 --> 00:36:57.039
 and in the goodness

00:36:57.039 --> 00:36:57.620
 of God.

00:36:58.560 --> 00:36:59.440
 Everything in life

00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:00.000
 will ultimately

00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:01.120
 tend to his glory

00:37:01.120 --> 00:37:02.400
 and to our good,

00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:03.320
 the good of his people.

00:37:03.680 --> 00:37:04.680
 Maybe not good

00:37:04.680 --> 00:37:05.600
 as we imagine it

00:37:05.600 --> 00:37:06.420
 but good according

00:37:06.420 --> 00:37:07.360
 to his purposes

00:37:07.360 --> 00:37:08.720
 when we are justified,

00:37:09.200 --> 00:37:09.800
 sanctified,

00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:10.940
 and glorified.

00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:13.880
 So that's the first effect

00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:14.519
 that this passage

00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:15.700
 should have on us.

00:37:16.300 --> 00:37:17.039
 We're not going

00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:18.200
 to find resolution

00:37:18.200 --> 00:37:19.260
 to this tension

00:37:19.260 --> 00:37:20.260
 in this life

00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:22.060
 but we will find

00:37:22.060 --> 00:37:22.660
 the resolution

00:37:22.660 --> 00:37:23.780
 to this tension

00:37:23.780 --> 00:37:24.580
 in eternity

00:37:24.580 --> 00:37:26.220
 and at the final judgment

00:37:26.220 --> 00:37:27.660
 when Jesus Christ returns.

00:37:28.660 --> 00:37:29.620
 And so the first effect

00:37:29.620 --> 00:37:30.540
 that this should have

00:37:30.540 --> 00:37:31.180
 on us

00:37:31.180 --> 00:37:31.900
 is to make us

00:37:31.900 --> 00:37:32.880
 to fear God

00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:33.840
 and submit to him

00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:34.880
 and to his sovereignty.

00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:37.400
 And here's the second effect

00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:37.980
 that it should have.

00:37:38.100 --> 00:37:39.060
 Enjoy life.

00:37:39.700 --> 00:37:40.760
 It says in verse 15,

00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:41.960
 and I command joy

00:37:41.960 --> 00:37:43.540
 for man has nothing better

00:37:43.540 --> 00:37:44.180
 under the sun

00:37:44.180 --> 00:37:45.280
 but to eat and drink

00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:45.940
 and be joyful

00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:47.440
 for this will go with him

00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:47.920
 in his toil

00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:49.020
 through the days of his life

00:37:49.020 --> 00:37:50.000
 that God has given him

00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:50.679
 under the sun.

00:37:51.699 --> 00:37:52.760
 As the preacher said

00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:53.739
 early in chapter 5

00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:54.780
 verses 19 to 20,

00:37:55.280 --> 00:37:56.159
 the person who learns

00:37:56.159 --> 00:37:57.559
 to enjoy the gifts

00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:58.880
 and the blessings of God,

00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:00.960
 the simple pleasures of life,

00:38:01.219 --> 00:38:02.699
 will not much remember

00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:03.760
 the days of his life

00:38:03.760 --> 00:38:04.860
 because God keeps him

00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:06.139
 occupied with joy

00:38:06.139 --> 00:38:07.300
 in his heart.

00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:10.920
 Enjoy a delicious barbecue.

00:38:12.699 --> 00:38:14.139
 Enjoy a juicy bite

00:38:14.139 --> 00:38:15.860
 into that red delicious apple.

00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:19.579
 enjoy a game of frisbee

00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:20.760
 out in the green field

00:38:20.760 --> 00:38:22.460
 in the sun or in the rain.

00:38:23.780 --> 00:38:25.180
 Enjoy the fall foliage

00:38:25.180 --> 00:38:26.380
 of beautiful New England.

00:38:27.480 --> 00:38:28.380
 Enjoy the laughter

00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:29.400
 and companionship

00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:30.019
 of your friends

00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:31.000
 and significant others.

00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:32.920
 Enjoy the silliness

00:38:32.920 --> 00:38:33.559
 of your children.

00:38:34.760 --> 00:38:36.440
 These simple gifts of life

00:38:36.440 --> 00:38:37.760
 are intended by God

00:38:37.760 --> 00:38:38.800
 to be a comfort

00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:40.019
 and a joy to us

00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:40.760
 in the midst

00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:41.460
 of a fallen

00:38:41.460 --> 00:38:42.620
 and broken world

00:38:42.620 --> 00:38:43.480
 that doesn't work

00:38:43.480 --> 00:38:44.340
 as it's supposed to.

00:38:46.159 --> 00:38:47.300
 And both of these

00:38:47.300 --> 00:38:48.179
 main commands

00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:48.940
 in this passage

00:38:48.940 --> 00:38:50.000
 find their ultimate

00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:51.980
 fulfillment in Jesus Christ,

00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:53.099
 which brings me

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:54.179
 to the most difficult

00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:56.000
 section of this passage,

00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.300
 which maybe you guys

00:38:57.300 --> 00:38:57.900
 thought I would skip,

00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:58.980
 but I'm not going to skip it.

00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:01.240
 Look at chapter 7

00:39:01.240 --> 00:39:03.019
 verses 25 to 29 with me.

00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:04.500
 Again, the key word find

00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:05.900
 occurs seven times

00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:06.900
 in these five verses.

00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:10.420
 I turn my heart

00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:10.860
 to know

00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:11.780
 and to search out

00:39:11.780 --> 00:39:12.679
 and to seek wisdom

00:39:12.679 --> 00:39:13.779
 and the scheme of things

00:39:13.779 --> 00:39:14.599
 and to know

00:39:14.599 --> 00:39:15.859
 the wickedness of folly

00:39:15.859 --> 00:39:16.699
 and the foolishness

00:39:16.699 --> 00:39:17.440
 that is madness.

00:39:18.239 --> 00:39:19.539
 And I find something

00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:20.619
 more bitter than death,

00:39:20.699 --> 00:39:21.599
 the woman whose heart

00:39:21.599 --> 00:39:22.579
 is snares and nets

00:39:22.579 --> 00:39:23.819
 and whose hands

00:39:23.819 --> 00:39:24.419
 are fetters.

00:39:24.859 --> 00:39:25.779
 He who pleases God

00:39:25.779 --> 00:39:26.399
 escapes her,

00:39:26.440 --> 00:39:26.859
 but the sinner

00:39:26.859 --> 00:39:27.859
 is taken by her.

00:39:28.419 --> 00:39:28.859
 Behold,

00:39:28.940 --> 00:39:29.980
 this is what I found,

00:39:30.099 --> 00:39:30.699
 says the preacher,

00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:32.000
 while adding one thing

00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:32.299
 to another

00:39:32.299 --> 00:39:33.419
 to find the scheme

00:39:33.419 --> 00:39:33.839
 of things,

00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:34.819
 which my soul

00:39:34.819 --> 00:39:35.779
 has sought repeatedly,

00:39:35.879 --> 00:39:37.079
 but I have not found.

00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:38.960
 One man among a thousand

00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:39.480
 I found,

00:39:39.579 --> 00:39:40.719
 but a woman among all these

00:39:40.719 --> 00:39:41.599
 I have not found.

00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:43.360
 See, this alone I found,

00:39:43.619 --> 00:39:45.119
 that God made man upright,

00:39:45.400 --> 00:39:46.639
 but they have sought out

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.480
 many schemes.

00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:49.079
 It's a lot of back and forth,

00:39:49.159 --> 00:39:49.279
 right?

00:39:49.400 --> 00:39:50.659
 I found and I have not found,

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:51.159
 I have found,

00:39:51.239 --> 00:39:51.779
 I have not found.

00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:54.179
 And the preacher is saying

00:39:54.179 --> 00:39:55.460
 he explored wisdom

00:39:55.460 --> 00:39:56.519
 and folly

00:39:56.519 --> 00:39:57.860
 to try to find

00:39:57.860 --> 00:39:59.339
 the scheme of things.

00:39:59.739 --> 00:40:00.460
 The word scheme

00:40:00.460 --> 00:40:01.739
 means device

00:40:01.739 --> 00:40:02.539
 or plan

00:40:02.539 --> 00:40:03.380
 or explanation,

00:40:04.059 --> 00:40:05.460
 and it comes from the verb

00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:06.099
 to think

00:40:06.099 --> 00:40:06.839
 or to account.

00:40:07.539 --> 00:40:08.819
 This is the preacher's attempt

00:40:08.819 --> 00:40:10.259
 to make sense of life,

00:40:10.260 --> 00:40:11.320
 to gain wisdom

00:40:11.320 --> 00:40:12.760
 that will finally explain

00:40:12.760 --> 00:40:14.240
 all the mysteries of life.

00:40:15.360 --> 00:40:15.780
 And then he,

00:40:16.200 --> 00:40:17.580
 what he finds in the end

00:40:17.580 --> 00:40:18.340
 is disappointing,

00:40:18.860 --> 00:40:19.720
 to say the least.

00:40:20.320 --> 00:40:21.520
 He says in verse 26,

00:40:21.700 --> 00:40:22.760
 and I find something

00:40:22.760 --> 00:40:23.640
 more bitter than death,

00:40:23.720 --> 00:40:24.460
 the woman whose heart

00:40:24.460 --> 00:40:25.220
 is snares and nets

00:40:25.220 --> 00:40:26.280
 and whose hands are fetters.

00:40:27.660 --> 00:40:29.260
 The Bible often personifies

00:40:29.960 --> 00:40:31.240
 wisdom and folly

00:40:31.240 --> 00:40:32.160
 as two women.

00:40:33.160 --> 00:40:34.080
 If you were with us

00:40:34.080 --> 00:40:34.700
 in our series

00:40:34.700 --> 00:40:35.680
 through the book of Proverbs,

00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:37.000
 you have seen this repeatedly.

00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:39.900
 In chapter 9 of Proverbs,

00:40:40.019 --> 00:40:40.360
 for example,

00:40:40.440 --> 00:40:42.179
 he contrasts lady wisdom

00:40:42.179 --> 00:40:43.719
 with lady folly.

00:40:44.599 --> 00:40:45.960
 And Proverbs 5

00:40:45.960 --> 00:40:47.500
 depicts lady folly,

00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:48.239
 the woman folly,

00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:50.380
 as a classic literary character,

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:51.579
 the femme fatale,

00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:53.500
 the attractive,

00:40:53.719 --> 00:40:54.619
 seductive woman

00:40:54.619 --> 00:40:55.760
 who brings ruin

00:40:55.760 --> 00:40:56.400
 and destruction

00:40:56.400 --> 00:40:58.260
 to all who engage with her.

00:40:59.539 --> 00:41:00.300
 So the preacher

00:41:00.300 --> 00:41:01.059
 is not here

00:41:01.059 --> 00:41:02.119
 speaking of all women,

00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:03.760
 and I don't think

00:41:03.760 --> 00:41:04.440
 he's even speaking

00:41:04.440 --> 00:41:06.119
 of a specific individual woman.

00:41:06.759 --> 00:41:08.000
 I've read some commentators

00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:08.859
 who said he's talking

00:41:08.859 --> 00:41:09.440
 about his wife.

00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:10.099
 I think that's definitely

00:41:10.099 --> 00:41:10.539
 not true.

00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:13.440
 I think he's speaking here

00:41:13.440 --> 00:41:14.639
 of woman folly,

00:41:15.319 --> 00:41:17.359
 whose heart is snares and nets

00:41:17.359 --> 00:41:19.019
 and whose hands are fetters.

00:41:19.359 --> 00:41:20.339
 In his exploration

00:41:20.339 --> 00:41:21.900
 of wisdom and folly,

00:41:22.299 --> 00:41:23.920
 the preacher did not find

00:41:23.920 --> 00:41:24.920
 lady wisdom

00:41:24.920 --> 00:41:27.699
 from the deep places of God,

00:41:27.839 --> 00:41:28.779
 wisdom that will explain

00:41:28.779 --> 00:41:29.779
 all these mysteries

00:41:29.779 --> 00:41:31.219
 and inequalities in life.

00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:33.940
 But you know what he did find?

00:41:33.980 --> 00:41:35.000
 He found lady folly.

00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:36.960
 She was not hard to find.

00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:39.639
 And then again,

00:41:39.719 --> 00:41:40.940
 in verses 27 to 29,

00:41:41.059 --> 00:41:41.920
 the preacher tells us

00:41:41.920 --> 00:41:42.719
 what he found.

00:41:43.179 --> 00:41:43.780
 But ironically,

00:41:43.940 --> 00:41:44.820
 he didn't find much.

00:41:45.420 --> 00:41:46.860
 Verses 27 to 29

00:41:46.860 --> 00:41:48.260
 has a chiastic structure.

00:41:48.480 --> 00:41:49.300
 Verse 27,

00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:50.320
 mirrors,

00:41:50.960 --> 00:41:51.800
 is almost identical

00:41:51.800 --> 00:41:52.719
 to verse 29.

00:41:53.739 --> 00:41:54.780
 They both begin with,

00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:55.239
 behold,

00:41:55.380 --> 00:41:56.659
 this is what I found.

00:41:56.880 --> 00:41:57.480
 Or see,

00:41:57.639 --> 00:41:58.980
 this alone I found.

00:41:59.320 --> 00:42:00.320
 Both speak of trying

00:42:00.320 --> 00:42:00.900
 to find out

00:42:00.900 --> 00:42:02.179
 the scheme of things

00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:03.219
 or many schemes.

00:42:03.799 --> 00:42:05.159
 The effect of this structure

00:42:05.159 --> 00:42:06.179
 is to sandwich

00:42:06.179 --> 00:42:07.339
 verse 28,

00:42:07.639 --> 00:42:08.599
 which stands alone

00:42:08.599 --> 00:42:09.059
 in the middle.

00:42:09.699 --> 00:42:10.719
 And that device

00:42:10.719 --> 00:42:11.859
 is intended to highlight,

00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:13.500
 emphasize what's in the middle,

00:42:13.579 --> 00:42:14.219
 verse 28.

00:42:14.659 --> 00:42:15.659
 And this is the point

00:42:15.659 --> 00:42:16.619
 that he's driving home.

00:42:16.940 --> 00:42:18.319
 Not that he found something,

00:42:18.460 --> 00:42:19.139
 but that he actually

00:42:19.139 --> 00:42:21.399
 didn't find something.

00:42:21.899 --> 00:42:23.000
 Which my soul

00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:24.500
 has sought repeatedly,

00:42:24.500 --> 00:42:26.599
 but I have not found.

00:42:27.500 --> 00:42:28.920
 One man among a thousand

00:42:28.920 --> 00:42:29.460
 I found,

00:42:29.820 --> 00:42:31.119
 but a woman among all these

00:42:31.119 --> 00:42:32.239
 I have not found.

00:42:33.280 --> 00:42:34.519
 Many commentators

00:42:34.519 --> 00:42:35.659
 and critics of the Bible

00:42:35.659 --> 00:42:36.920
 have pointed to this verse

00:42:36.920 --> 00:42:39.139
 as an unmistakable example

00:42:39.139 --> 00:42:40.079
 of misogyny.

00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:42.340
 That here he's saying

00:42:42.340 --> 00:42:43.440
 that one in a thousand

00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:44.199
 you could find

00:42:44.199 --> 00:42:45.019
 a righteous man

00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:46.000
 or a wise man,

00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:48.619
 but zero in a thousand

00:42:48.619 --> 00:42:49.219
 have I found.

00:42:49.320 --> 00:42:50.420
 That's how some people

00:42:50.420 --> 00:42:50.960
 interpret it.

00:42:51.019 --> 00:42:52.280
 But I beg to differ.

00:42:52.280 --> 00:42:54.760
 I wrestled with this verse

00:42:54.760 --> 00:42:55.700
 for a long time,

00:42:55.880 --> 00:42:57.300
 prayed God to help me

00:42:57.300 --> 00:42:58.000
 to understand it,

00:42:58.060 --> 00:42:59.040
 and he brought to mind

00:42:59.040 --> 00:43:00.120
 an obscure thing

00:43:00.120 --> 00:43:01.440
 that I learned one day

00:43:01.440 --> 00:43:02.160
 in a class,

00:43:02.320 --> 00:43:03.800
 in my Hebrew class

00:43:03.800 --> 00:43:04.980
 in seminary

00:43:04.980 --> 00:43:06.080
 that I hadn't thought about

00:43:06.080 --> 00:43:06.660
 in a long time,

00:43:06.740 --> 00:43:07.500
 and that's this

00:43:07.500 --> 00:43:09.360
 Hebrew rhetorical device

00:43:09.360 --> 00:43:10.300
 called graded

00:43:10.300 --> 00:43:12.120
 numerical parallelism.

00:43:12.940 --> 00:43:13.280
 I'm sorry,

00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:14.420
 that sounds really geeky,

00:43:14.519 --> 00:43:15.320
 but stick with me

00:43:15.320 --> 00:43:15.800
 for a little bit.

00:43:17.480 --> 00:43:19.180
 There are whole journal articles

00:43:19.180 --> 00:43:20.180
 dedicated to this

00:43:20.180 --> 00:43:21.120
 rhetorical device.

00:43:21.119 --> 00:43:23.019
 By using increasing

00:43:23.019 --> 00:43:24.759
 or decreasing numbers

00:43:24.759 --> 00:43:26.659
 in parallel poetic fashion,

00:43:27.179 --> 00:43:28.380
 Hebrew authors create

00:43:28.380 --> 00:43:30.059
 a sense of escalation

00:43:30.059 --> 00:43:31.099
 and tension

00:43:31.099 --> 00:43:32.400
 which serves to

00:43:32.400 --> 00:43:33.359
 heighten the emotion

00:43:33.359 --> 00:43:34.440
 and to drive

00:43:34.440 --> 00:43:36.119
 that progressive point home.

00:43:37.019 --> 00:43:37.719
 So I'm going to give you

00:43:37.719 --> 00:43:38.259
 some examples

00:43:38.259 --> 00:43:38.839
 to prove to you

00:43:38.839 --> 00:43:39.779
 that I'm not making this up.

00:43:40.199 --> 00:43:41.179
 Amos 1-2.

00:43:41.639 --> 00:43:42.980
 God repeatedly uses

00:43:42.980 --> 00:43:44.519
 graded numerical parallelism

00:43:44.519 --> 00:43:45.039
 when he speaks

00:43:45.039 --> 00:43:46.079
 of his judgment

00:43:46.079 --> 00:43:47.500
 eight times or so

00:43:47.500 --> 00:43:48.480
 to highlight

00:43:48.480 --> 00:43:49.199
 the many sins

00:43:49.199 --> 00:43:49.679
 of the nations.

00:43:49.679 --> 00:43:51.000
 It says in Amos 1-3,

00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:52.779
 for three transgressions

00:43:52.779 --> 00:43:53.559
 of Damascus

00:43:53.559 --> 00:43:54.980
 and for four

00:43:54.980 --> 00:43:56.059
 I will not revoke

00:43:56.059 --> 00:43:56.699
 the punishment.

00:43:57.659 --> 00:43:58.739
 Is God pronouncing

00:43:58.739 --> 00:43:59.779
 judgment upon Damascus

00:43:59.779 --> 00:44:01.319
 because of three sins

00:44:01.319 --> 00:44:01.900
 or four?

00:44:02.839 --> 00:44:04.139
 Did God lose count?

00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:05.699
 No,

00:44:05.759 --> 00:44:06.539
 the point of it

00:44:06.539 --> 00:44:07.819
 is that it's not

00:44:07.819 --> 00:44:09.059
 the exact numbering,

00:44:09.279 --> 00:44:10.639
 the precise number of it,

00:44:10.799 --> 00:44:11.759
 but the progression

00:44:11.759 --> 00:44:12.359
 of it.

00:44:13.000 --> 00:44:14.500
 Damascus has multiplied

00:44:14.500 --> 00:44:15.420
 sins,

00:44:15.579 --> 00:44:16.420
 which is why God

00:44:16.420 --> 00:44:17.299
 will not relent

00:44:17.299 --> 00:44:17.920
 in his judgment.

00:44:17.920 --> 00:44:19.079
 That's the point.

00:44:20.360 --> 00:44:21.220
 Proverbs 6,

00:44:21.280 --> 00:44:22.639
 16-19 says this,

00:44:22.980 --> 00:44:24.039
 there are six things

00:44:24.039 --> 00:44:25.200
 that the Lord hates,

00:44:25.700 --> 00:44:26.639
 seven that are

00:44:26.639 --> 00:44:27.980
 an abomination to him.

00:44:28.619 --> 00:44:29.900
 Does God hate six things

00:44:29.900 --> 00:44:30.880
 or seven things?

00:44:31.639 --> 00:44:32.300
 Once again,

00:44:32.579 --> 00:44:33.740
 the point is not

00:44:33.740 --> 00:44:35.039
 the precise number,

00:44:35.360 --> 00:44:36.240
 but the progression

00:44:36.240 --> 00:44:36.720
 of it,

00:44:36.860 --> 00:44:38.360
 the escalation of it,

00:44:38.400 --> 00:44:39.059
 that the earth

00:44:39.059 --> 00:44:40.519
 is full of sins

00:44:40.519 --> 00:44:42.059
 that the Lord despises.

00:44:43.180 --> 00:44:44.300
 Job 5-19,

00:44:44.580 --> 00:44:45.680
 Job's friend Eliphaz

00:44:45.680 --> 00:44:46.360
 says to him,

00:44:46.740 --> 00:44:47.700
 he will deliver you

00:44:47.700 --> 00:44:49.019
 from six troubles.

00:44:49.260 --> 00:44:50.100
 In seven,

00:44:50.280 --> 00:44:51.780
 no evil shall touch you.

00:44:52.420 --> 00:44:53.400
 We know that Eliphaz

00:44:53.400 --> 00:44:54.580
 is wrong to think

00:44:54.580 --> 00:44:55.660
 that Job was being punished

00:44:55.660 --> 00:44:57.019
 because of his wickedness,

00:44:57.300 --> 00:44:58.940
 but this is a good example

00:44:58.940 --> 00:45:00.480
 of graded numerical parallelism.

00:45:00.860 --> 00:45:01.680
 He's not saying

00:45:01.680 --> 00:45:02.580
 that God's only going

00:45:02.580 --> 00:45:03.080
 to deliver you

00:45:03.080 --> 00:45:03.760
 from six

00:45:03.760 --> 00:45:05.400
 or at most seven troubles

00:45:05.400 --> 00:45:06.160
 and then you're done

00:45:06.160 --> 00:45:06.560
 with eight.

00:45:06.660 --> 00:45:07.180
 There's no more.

00:45:08.160 --> 00:45:08.620
 He's saying,

00:45:08.740 --> 00:45:08.880
 no,

00:45:09.019 --> 00:45:09.360
 six,

00:45:09.760 --> 00:45:10.100
 seven,

00:45:10.200 --> 00:45:10.960
 more and more,

00:45:11.060 --> 00:45:11.620
 that God's going

00:45:11.620 --> 00:45:12.200
 to deliver you

00:45:12.200 --> 00:45:13.160
 from all troubles

00:45:13.159 --> 00:45:13.940
 if you're righteous.

00:45:14.019 --> 00:45:15.079
 That's what he's promising

00:45:15.079 --> 00:45:16.559
 to his friend Job.

00:45:17.779 --> 00:45:19.460
 In Ecclesiastes 7-28,

00:45:20.119 --> 00:45:21.159
 the graded numbers

00:45:21.159 --> 00:45:21.980
 decrease

00:45:21.980 --> 00:45:23.119
 rather than increase

00:45:23.119 --> 00:45:24.460
 because a point

00:45:24.460 --> 00:45:25.659
 is not

00:45:25.659 --> 00:45:26.399
 that there are

00:45:26.399 --> 00:45:28.559
 some upright people,

00:45:28.799 --> 00:45:30.299
 but that there are none.

00:45:32.279 --> 00:45:33.980
 The point of the graded

00:45:33.980 --> 00:45:35.059
 numerical parallelism

00:45:35.059 --> 00:45:36.199
 is not that the preacher

00:45:36.199 --> 00:45:37.599
 found somebody,

00:45:38.139 --> 00:45:39.920
 but that he found nobody.

00:45:40.879 --> 00:45:42.159
 The number comparison

00:45:42.159 --> 00:45:43.339
 goes down from one

00:45:43.339 --> 00:45:43.879
 in a thousand

00:45:43.879 --> 00:45:45.440
 to zero in a thousand.

00:45:45.619 --> 00:45:45.739
 Why?

00:45:45.879 --> 00:45:46.899
 Because that's the direction

00:45:46.899 --> 00:45:48.119
 of the preacher's

00:45:48.119 --> 00:45:49.440
 escalating point.

00:45:50.179 --> 00:45:51.179
 His point is that

00:45:51.179 --> 00:45:52.460
 it's nearly impossible,

00:45:53.079 --> 00:45:53.559
 indeed,

00:45:54.079 --> 00:45:55.879
 outrightly impossible

00:45:55.879 --> 00:45:57.799
 to find a righteous person

00:45:57.799 --> 00:45:58.599
 or a wise person.

00:45:59.359 --> 00:46:00.139
 This isn't meant

00:46:00.139 --> 00:46:01.099
 to be a contrast

00:46:01.099 --> 00:46:02.519
 between males

00:46:02.519 --> 00:46:03.599
 and females.

00:46:03.980 --> 00:46:04.779
 It's meant to be

00:46:04.779 --> 00:46:06.039
 parallel comparison,

00:46:06.659 --> 00:46:08.099
 like all the other examples

00:46:08.099 --> 00:46:09.420
 of graded numerical parallelism

00:46:09.420 --> 00:46:09.799
 in the Bible.

00:46:09.800 --> 00:46:11.180
 He's not talking

00:46:11.180 --> 00:46:12.080
 about the relative

00:46:12.080 --> 00:46:13.500
 moral superiority of man,

00:46:13.680 --> 00:46:14.900
 but lumping men

00:46:14.900 --> 00:46:15.860
 and women together

00:46:15.860 --> 00:46:16.800
 to say that

00:46:16.800 --> 00:46:17.740
 in the totality

00:46:17.740 --> 00:46:18.500
 of humanity,

00:46:18.900 --> 00:46:19.980
 none is righteous,

00:46:20.320 --> 00:46:21.480
 no, not one.

00:46:22.240 --> 00:46:22.600
 In fact,

00:46:22.660 --> 00:46:23.340
 that's exactly

00:46:23.340 --> 00:46:23.920
 what he said

00:46:23.920 --> 00:46:24.800
 in the preceding verse

00:46:24.800 --> 00:46:25.519
 in chapter 7,

00:46:25.560 --> 00:46:26.000
 verse 20.

00:46:26.580 --> 00:46:26.940
 Surely,

00:46:27.200 --> 00:46:27.720
 there is not

00:46:27.720 --> 00:46:28.440
 a righteous man

00:46:28.440 --> 00:46:28.860
 on earth

00:46:28.860 --> 00:46:29.660
 who does good

00:46:29.660 --> 00:46:30.740
 and never sins.

00:46:31.480 --> 00:46:32.820
 Not a single

00:46:32.820 --> 00:46:33.780
 righteous man

00:46:33.780 --> 00:46:34.440
 or woman on earth

00:46:34.440 --> 00:46:35.120
 who does good

00:46:35.120 --> 00:46:35.940
 and never sins.

00:46:35.940 --> 00:46:38.159
 Paul may be paraphrasing

00:46:38.159 --> 00:46:39.159
 this exact verse

00:46:39.159 --> 00:46:39.840
 in Romans 3,

00:46:39.960 --> 00:46:40.460
 10 to 12

00:46:40.460 --> 00:46:41.059
 when he writes,

00:46:41.559 --> 00:46:42.599
 none is righteous,

00:46:42.940 --> 00:46:43.940
 no, not one.

00:46:44.200 --> 00:46:45.360
 No one does good,

00:46:45.579 --> 00:46:46.679
 not even one.

00:46:48.420 --> 00:46:48.960
 So what's,

00:46:49.139 --> 00:46:49.800
 so finding

00:46:49.800 --> 00:46:51.340
 an upright person

00:46:51.340 --> 00:46:53.320
 is like finding

00:46:53.320 --> 00:46:54.059
 a needle

00:46:54.059 --> 00:46:55.099
 in a haystack.

00:46:55.639 --> 00:46:56.960
 You're not gonna find it.

00:46:57.920 --> 00:46:59.280
 It's like looking

00:46:59.280 --> 00:47:00.760
 for one in a thousand.

00:47:01.400 --> 00:47:01.679
 Nay,

00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:03.360
 zero in a thousand.

00:47:03.360 --> 00:47:05.680
 We know that

00:47:05.680 --> 00:47:06.180
 that's the point

00:47:06.180 --> 00:47:06.800
 that he's making

00:47:06.800 --> 00:47:07.980
 because he tells us

00:47:07.980 --> 00:47:08.640
 that that's the point

00:47:08.640 --> 00:47:09.120
 he's making

00:47:09.120 --> 00:47:10.559
 in his summary conclusion

00:47:10.559 --> 00:47:11.460
 in verse 29.

00:47:12.380 --> 00:47:12.599
 See,

00:47:12.740 --> 00:47:14.260
 this alone I found.

00:47:14.780 --> 00:47:15.579
 What did he find?

00:47:16.059 --> 00:47:18.300
 That God made man upright,

00:47:18.579 --> 00:47:20.240
 but they have sought out

00:47:20.240 --> 00:47:21.079
 many schemes.

00:47:21.720 --> 00:47:22.660
 Man is singular,

00:47:22.900 --> 00:47:24.140
 but they is plural

00:47:24.140 --> 00:47:25.480
 because the word man

00:47:25.480 --> 00:47:27.320
 is not the word for males,

00:47:27.720 --> 00:47:29.039
 but it's the generic word

00:47:29.039 --> 00:47:29.820
 for humanity.

00:47:30.579 --> 00:47:31.980
 And they have sought out

00:47:31.980 --> 00:47:33.140
 many schemes.

00:47:34.160 --> 00:47:34.820
 All we,

00:47:34.980 --> 00:47:35.740
 like have sheep

00:47:35.740 --> 00:47:36.579
 gone astray,

00:47:36.840 --> 00:47:38.000
 we have turned everyone

00:47:38.000 --> 00:47:38.920
 to his own way.

00:47:40.120 --> 00:47:40.940
 Instead of living

00:47:40.940 --> 00:47:42.200
 according to God's

00:47:42.200 --> 00:47:43.160
 will for our lives,

00:47:43.220 --> 00:47:44.280
 we have all pursued

00:47:44.280 --> 00:47:45.920
 our own selfish ends.

00:47:46.740 --> 00:47:47.620
 This is why

00:47:47.620 --> 00:47:48.599
 our righteousness

00:47:48.599 --> 00:47:49.740
 will never be enough.

00:47:51.039 --> 00:47:51.960
 Surely there is not

00:47:51.960 --> 00:47:53.000
 a righteous man

00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:53.440
 on earth

00:47:53.440 --> 00:47:53.940
 who does good

00:47:53.940 --> 00:47:54.539
 and never sins.

00:47:55.260 --> 00:47:55.960
 If you think

00:47:55.960 --> 00:47:56.820
 that you can ensure

00:47:56.820 --> 00:47:57.700
 a good future

00:47:57.700 --> 00:47:58.400
 for yourself

00:47:58.400 --> 00:47:59.120
 or that you can

00:47:59.120 --> 00:48:00.880
 attain salvation even,

00:48:01.140 --> 00:48:02.240
 eternal life

00:48:02.239 --> 00:48:03.239
 and entrance

00:48:03.239 --> 00:48:03.879
 into the kingdom

00:48:03.879 --> 00:48:04.379
 of God

00:48:04.379 --> 00:48:05.939
 on your righteousness,

00:48:06.559 --> 00:48:07.159
 then you are

00:48:07.159 --> 00:48:08.059
 gravely mistaken.

00:48:09.679 --> 00:48:10.559
 Our credentials

00:48:10.559 --> 00:48:11.639
 are not good enough

00:48:11.639 --> 00:48:12.579
 to enter the kingdom

00:48:12.579 --> 00:48:13.019
 of God.

00:48:13.419 --> 00:48:14.199
 Our righteousness

00:48:14.199 --> 00:48:15.239
 is not enough

00:48:15.239 --> 00:48:16.639
 for us to be justified

00:48:16.639 --> 00:48:17.899
 in the heavenly courtroom.

00:48:18.579 --> 00:48:20.519
 We need somebody else's

00:48:20.519 --> 00:48:21.019
 righteousness.

00:48:22.199 --> 00:48:23.039
 We need

00:48:23.039 --> 00:48:24.339
 the righteousness

00:48:24.339 --> 00:48:25.439
 of Christ.

00:48:26.319 --> 00:48:27.500
 After paraphrasing

00:48:27.500 --> 00:48:28.759
 Ecclesiastes 7.20

00:48:28.760 --> 00:48:29.580
 in Romans 3,

00:48:29.700 --> 00:48:30.780
 he goes on to say this

00:48:30.780 --> 00:48:32.220
 in verses 21-25,

00:48:32.940 --> 00:48:34.240
 but now the righteousness

00:48:34.240 --> 00:48:34.960
 of God

00:48:34.960 --> 00:48:36.320
 has been manifested

00:48:36.320 --> 00:48:37.600
 apart from the law,

00:48:38.040 --> 00:48:38.780
 although the law

00:48:38.780 --> 00:48:39.360
 and the prophets

00:48:39.360 --> 00:48:40.540
 bear witness to it.

00:48:40.960 --> 00:48:41.580
 The righteousness

00:48:41.580 --> 00:48:42.220
 of God

00:48:42.220 --> 00:48:42.840
 through faith

00:48:42.840 --> 00:48:43.640
 in Jesus Christ

00:48:43.640 --> 00:48:44.840
 for all who believe.

00:48:45.220 --> 00:48:46.640
 For there is no distinction,

00:48:47.080 --> 00:48:48.260
 for all have sinned

00:48:48.260 --> 00:48:49.060
 and fall short

00:48:49.060 --> 00:48:50.060
 of the glory of God

00:48:50.060 --> 00:48:51.100
 and are justified

00:48:51.100 --> 00:48:52.000
 by his grace

00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:52.700
 as a gift

00:48:52.700 --> 00:48:53.760
 through the redemption

00:48:53.760 --> 00:48:55.340
 that is in Christ Jesus,

00:48:56.040 --> 00:48:57.720
 whom God put forward

00:48:57.719 --> 00:48:58.599
 as a propitiation

00:48:58.599 --> 00:48:59.219
 by his blood

00:48:59.219 --> 00:48:59.980
 to be received

00:48:59.980 --> 00:49:00.919
 by faith.

00:49:01.699 --> 00:49:02.779
 We need

00:49:02.779 --> 00:49:03.359
 the righteousness

00:49:03.359 --> 00:49:04.039
 of God

00:49:04.039 --> 00:49:05.119
 through faith

00:49:05.119 --> 00:49:06.199
 in Jesus Christ.

00:49:06.699 --> 00:49:08.219
 We need to receive

00:49:08.219 --> 00:49:08.980
 the righteousness

00:49:08.980 --> 00:49:09.579
 of God

00:49:09.579 --> 00:49:10.379
 as a gift

00:49:10.379 --> 00:49:11.899
 that is the only way

00:49:11.899 --> 00:49:13.119
 that we can be justified

00:49:13.119 --> 00:49:14.919
 because on the cross,

00:49:15.039 --> 00:49:16.599
 Jesus took our place

00:49:16.599 --> 00:49:17.619
 so that we can take

00:49:17.619 --> 00:49:18.939
 his place.

00:49:19.480 --> 00:49:20.219
 He absorbed

00:49:20.219 --> 00:49:21.179
 the just wrath

00:49:21.179 --> 00:49:21.659
 of God

00:49:21.659 --> 00:49:22.799
 so that we can be

00:49:22.799 --> 00:49:24.099
 recipients of the Lord's

00:49:24.099 --> 00:49:25.579
 favor and mercy

00:49:25.579 --> 00:49:26.319
 and pleasure.

00:49:26.320 --> 00:49:27.420
 Jesus,

00:49:27.660 --> 00:49:28.980
 who knew no sin,

00:49:29.920 --> 00:49:31.120
 became sin

00:49:31.120 --> 00:49:32.180
 for our sake

00:49:32.180 --> 00:49:33.340
 so that in him

00:49:33.340 --> 00:49:34.700
 we might become

00:49:34.700 --> 00:49:35.940
 the righteousness

00:49:35.940 --> 00:49:36.620
 of God.

00:49:37.900 --> 00:49:39.059
 That's in the end

00:49:39.059 --> 00:49:40.039
 how we ensure

00:49:40.039 --> 00:49:41.140
 good outcome,

00:49:41.800 --> 00:49:42.620
 ultimate outcome,

00:49:43.120 --> 00:49:43.600
 salvation,

00:49:44.160 --> 00:49:44.880
 eternal life,

00:49:45.120 --> 00:49:46.039
 not your righteousness

00:49:46.039 --> 00:49:46.559
 or mine,

00:49:47.140 --> 00:49:48.200
 but the righteousness

00:49:48.200 --> 00:49:49.180
 of Jesus Christ.

00:49:49.600 --> 00:49:50.140
 So let's cling

00:49:50.140 --> 00:49:50.920
 to that alone

00:49:50.920 --> 00:49:51.640
 as our hope

00:49:51.640 --> 00:49:52.400
 as we go.

00:49:52.880 --> 00:49:53.380
 Let me pray.

00:49:53.380 --> 00:49:53.420
 Let me pray.

00:49:56.320 --> 00:49:56.960
 Father,

00:50:06.320 --> 00:50:08.059
 no one is righteous.

00:50:11.200 --> 00:50:12.720
 No one does good,

00:50:12.920 --> 00:50:13.760
 not even one.

00:50:14.900 --> 00:50:16.340
 That is all of us.

00:50:16.340 --> 00:50:20.240
 So thank you

00:50:20.240 --> 00:50:21.039
 that you do not

00:50:21.039 --> 00:50:21.860
 punish us

00:50:21.860 --> 00:50:22.840
 as our sins deserve,

00:50:23.340 --> 00:50:25.100
 but in your mercy,

00:50:25.260 --> 00:50:26.380
 in your great love,

00:50:26.880 --> 00:50:28.019
 you sent your only son,

00:50:28.140 --> 00:50:28.400
 Jesus,

00:50:28.860 --> 00:50:30.500
 as the atoning sacrifice,

00:50:31.920 --> 00:50:32.960
 our redeemer

00:50:32.960 --> 00:50:34.079
 and savior.

00:50:34.920 --> 00:50:36.100
 And we thank you

00:50:36.100 --> 00:50:37.120
 and we worship you.

00:50:39.220 --> 00:50:39.720
 Lord,

00:50:39.780 --> 00:50:40.820
 help us to forsake

00:50:40.820 --> 00:50:41.800
 all vain attempts

00:50:41.800 --> 00:50:42.380
 to control

00:50:42.380 --> 00:50:42.860
 the outcomes

00:50:42.860 --> 00:50:43.480
 of our lives.

00:50:43.480 --> 00:50:45.559
 instead help us

00:50:45.559 --> 00:50:46.840
 to put all our faith

00:50:46.840 --> 00:50:47.380
 and hope

00:50:47.380 --> 00:50:48.679
 in the righteousness

00:50:48.679 --> 00:50:49.780
 of Jesus Christ

00:50:49.780 --> 00:50:50.360
 for us.

00:50:52.059 --> 00:50:53.280
 So that clothed

00:50:53.280 --> 00:50:53.920
 with the righteousness

00:50:53.920 --> 00:50:54.559
 of Christ,

00:50:54.699 --> 00:50:55.760
 we might live life

00:50:55.760 --> 00:50:56.900
 in confidence

00:50:56.900 --> 00:50:58.800
 with the fear of God

00:50:58.800 --> 00:51:00.039
 and with joy.

00:51:03.079 --> 00:51:04.099
 Help us to do that,

00:51:04.199 --> 00:51:04.300
 God,

00:51:04.340 --> 00:51:05.019
 in Jesus' name

00:51:05.019 --> 00:51:05.659
 we pray.

00:51:06.119 --> 00:51:06.420
 Amen.

00:51:06.420 --> 00:51:06.519
 Amen.

00:51:06.519 --> 00:51:06.579
 Amen.

00:51:06.579 --> 00:51:06.599
 Amen.

00:51:06.599 --> 00:51:06.639
 Amen.

00:51:06.639 --> 00:51:06.659
 Amen.

00:51:06.659 --> 00:51:06.699
 Amen.

00:51:06.699 --> 00:51:06.740
 Amen.

00:51:06.740 --> 00:51:06.760
 Amen.

00:51:06.760 --> 00:51:06.780
 Amen.

00:51:06.780 --> 00:51:06.800
 Amen.

00:51:06.800 --> 00:51:07.240
 Amen.

00:51:07.240 --> 00:51:07.360
 Amen.

00:51:07.360 --> 00:51:08.519
 Amen.

00:51:08.519 --> 00:51:08.579
 Amen.

00:51:08.579 --> 00:51:08.659
 Amen.

00:51:08.659 --> 00:51:10.599
 Amen.

00:51:10.599 --> 00:51:10.619
 Amen.

00:51:10.619 --> 00:51:10.659
 Amen.

00:51:10.659 --> 00:51:10.699
 Amen.