WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.980 I think the children are talking to each other this morning. 00:00:05.179 --> 00:00:07.000 And please take out your copy of God's Word. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:09.439 Turn to the book of Ecclesiastes. 00:00:12.339 --> 00:00:14.140 After a long couple weeks of introduction, 00:00:14.140 --> 00:00:17.760 we are going to really look at the text this morning, I promise. 00:00:17.940 --> 00:00:20.900 So turn to Ecclesiastes chapter 1. 00:00:20.980 --> 00:00:24.980 I'm going to read the whole chapter to us, verses 1 through 18. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.100 The words of the preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:40.700 Vanity of vanities, says the preacher. 00:00:41.539 --> 00:00:43.859 Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. 00:00:44.740 --> 00:00:48.980 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? 00:00:49.719 --> 00:00:54.679 A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 00:00:55.400 --> 00:00:59.539 The sun rises and the sun goes down and hastens to the place where it rises. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:03.340 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north. 00:01:03.780 --> 00:01:07.959 Around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. 00:01:08.939 --> 00:01:11.900 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full. 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:15.540 To the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 00:01:16.340 --> 00:01:18.799 All things are full of weariness. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:20.319 A man cannot utter it. 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:24.400 The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:28.859 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done. 00:01:28.859 --> 00:01:31.480 And there is nothing new under the sun. 00:01:32.359 --> 00:01:33.920 Is there a thing of which it is said? 00:01:34.200 --> 00:01:35.439 See, this is new. 00:01:35.980 --> 00:01:40.799 It has already been already in the ages before us. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:46.620 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of latter things 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:49.420 yet to be among those who come after. 00:01:49.420 --> 00:01:56.060 I, the preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem, and I applied my heart to seek 00:01:56.060 --> 00:01:59.099 and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:04.379 It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:10.560 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:11.659 after wind. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:17.180 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. 00:02:17.180 --> 00:02:22.280 I said in my heart, I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before 00:02:22.280 --> 00:02:22.560 me. 00:02:22.920 --> 00:02:27.439 And my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 00:02:27.780 --> 00:02:32.500 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:36.920 I perceive that this also is but a striving after wind. 00:02:37.600 --> 00:02:44.620 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:47.480 This is God's word. 00:02:48.259 --> 00:02:51.500 It's written for his glory and our good. 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:59.480 We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:03:00.640 --> 00:03:03.300 So this is a bit of a sermon. 00:03:03.460 --> 00:03:09.939 If you haven't been here with us the last couple of weeks, the title, Ecclesiastes, simply means 00:03:09.939 --> 00:03:10.800 the preacher. 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:16.500 It's from the Latin Vulgate translation of the Hebrew text. 00:03:16.680 --> 00:03:20.219 It's an Anglicanized version of that word. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:26.500 The Hebrew word quohaleth, which we get the preacher from, carries some idea of an assembly. 00:03:27.219 --> 00:03:29.180 And so that's why we look at this. 00:03:29.400 --> 00:03:35.560 And although it's written likely by Solomon, although we're not completely confident of that, 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:41.199 that he intended for an audience to pick up and to read as we do today. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:45.280 And so it's the words of the preacher. 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:48.900 And it has a text, verse 2. 00:03:49.620 --> 00:03:50.979 Vanity of vanities. 00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:53.620 All is vanity. 00:03:53.819 --> 00:03:57.840 And most of the rest of the book is an explanation of that. 00:03:57.840 --> 00:04:07.039 And so we must ask, what is the main point that the preacher wants us to grapple with as we study this book together? 00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:11.599 And that main point is that everything is meaningless. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:13.980 But we shouldn't stop at that point. 00:04:14.060 --> 00:04:16.660 That would be a very miserable place to cease. 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:19.639 Why is everything meaningless? 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:21.360 Verse 3. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:28.540 He says, what does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:38.819 And the answer is because the gain we seek cannot be found under the sun on this earth. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:48.060 Mankind tries so very hard to do so, but it simply cannot be done. 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:53.160 An analogy for this jumped into my head this morning as I was getting ready to come up to the building early, 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:56.780 and I was looking for matching socks. 00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:03.300 And what a challenge this has been this morning for me to find I have matching socks on, 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:04.540 but it took some time. 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:08.779 Those of you who don't know, my wife is pregnant with our third. 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:11.459 She's not really showing quite yet. 00:05:11.540 --> 00:05:14.660 Let me tell you that you have something adorable to see. 00:05:14.660 --> 00:05:18.620 If you've not seen my wife pregnant, when she starts to round out, you just have no idea. 00:05:20.420 --> 00:05:21.680 Prepare you for that. 00:05:23.100 --> 00:05:26.760 As such, we're a little behind on folding laundry. 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:29.440 Our clothes are clean, but we're a little behind on that. 00:05:29.480 --> 00:05:32.460 I had to compliment her before I talked about being behind on laundry. 00:05:33.180 --> 00:05:35.440 So I was digging through that. 00:05:35.600 --> 00:05:37.460 Where does the matching sock go? 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:40.060 This is one of the great mysteries of the universe. 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:44.439 I found five mismatched socks. 00:05:44.780 --> 00:05:45.600 What in the world? 00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:47.879 I have five socks in my hand going, any of these will work. 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:50.060 If I could find a match for any one of these, it would work. 00:05:50.339 --> 00:05:53.180 Finally, I found the one that matched. 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:55.959 Now, in this case, I was looking in the proper place, right? 00:05:55.980 --> 00:05:59.019 I was looking amongst the laundry for the matching sock. 00:05:59.100 --> 00:06:03.040 Hopefully, I'll find the other four that go along with those. 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:12.740 But mankind, in trying to find gain in this world, does not look in the proper place for that gain. 00:06:12.960 --> 00:06:17.420 And as such, we are so very dissatisfied. 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:27.360 Jeremiah Burroughs, who was a 17th century Puritan preacher, wrote a wonderful book that I commend to you called The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:57.340 Where he wrote, and I quote, 00:06:57.360 --> 00:06:59.360 The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:05.680 No, the reason is because the thing is not suitable for a craving stomach. 00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:11.240 Yet there is really the same madness in the world. 00:07:12.420 --> 00:07:21.560 Gain cannot be found in the world in the same way that an empty stomach cannot be filled by the wind. 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:29.259 Last night, my family took a trip to the Mall of Georgia, which is not a place that we frequent, 00:07:29.339 --> 00:07:33.620 but we needed a power cord for a device here at the church building that's gone missing. 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:36.939 And Sam was craving some particular food. 00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:42.840 So those two things combined, we said, okay, it's worth the trip down to the Mall of Georgia. 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:51.019 And as we had to venture into the actual Mall, I am so burdened by a place like that. 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:56.839 I am so incredibly uncomfortable by that degree of consumerism. 00:07:56.839 --> 00:08:01.039 So much that we don't need. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:06.259 John Bunyan in Pilgrim's Progress, which I'll probably quote to you a number of times in our study of Ecclesiastes, 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:11.179 writes in part of the story about Christian and his travel mate at the time faithful, 00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:15.659 getting diverted off their path to a place called Vanity Fair. 00:08:16.139 --> 00:08:19.539 The book is almost prophetic concerning the Mall of Georgia. 00:08:19.540 --> 00:08:28.020 You read his writing and there's so many people, and I'm not being cynical about anyone in particular, 00:08:28.460 --> 00:08:37.960 but so many people walking around like zombies, just intoxicated, looking for the next fix to try to be satisfied. 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:45.320 Souls made for God cannot be filled with anything but Him. 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:53.040 And the preacher spends the rest of chapter 1 convincing his readers that this is so. 00:08:53.920 --> 00:09:01.080 So I want to look at five observations from the text that reinforce this idea that gain cannot be found in this world. 00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:03.440 It has to be found elsewhere. 00:09:03.580 --> 00:09:04.400 So five observations. 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:10.780 Number one, our lives will not be remembered. 00:09:11.640 --> 00:09:13.380 First part of verse 4. 00:09:13.379 --> 00:09:18.899 The preacher says a generation goes and a generation comes. 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:25.299 He's marking out a generation at the beginning of your life and at the end of your life. 00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:27.939 This is the span of a generation. 00:09:28.500 --> 00:09:30.279 Our lives are passing. 00:09:30.519 --> 00:09:32.240 They are momentary. 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:36.460 They are here today and they are gone tomorrow. 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:39.500 The psalmist says in Psalm 90.10, 00:09:40.060 --> 00:09:49.379 The years of our life are 70 or even by reason of strength 80, yet their span is but toil and trouble. 00:09:49.900 --> 00:09:54.200 They are soon gone and we fly away. 00:09:54.800 --> 00:09:58.120 Our lives pass by in a moment. 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:01.720 Allow me to prove my point for just a moment this morning. 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:03.139 A little crowd interaction. 00:10:03.139 --> 00:10:07.120 If you are 22 or under, please participate. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:09.759 If you're 22 or under, raise your hand. 00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:11.279 Okay. 00:10:12.059 --> 00:10:13.039 Large portion of the crowd. 00:10:14.220 --> 00:10:14.379 Okay. 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:14.740 22. 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:15.220 Keep your hands up. 00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:15.439 No, no. 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:15.840 Keep your hands up. 00:10:15.899 --> 00:10:16.019 Come on. 00:10:16.039 --> 00:10:16.139 Sorry. 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:17.519 You'll be okay. 00:10:17.819 --> 00:10:21.620 Now I want you, when I say a name that you're not familiar with, and I don't mean like you've 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:23.879 heard of them, but like you don't know who this person is. 00:10:24.080 --> 00:10:26.379 You couldn't tell me some facts about their life. 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:27.500 I want you to put your hand down. 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:28.620 Okay. 00:10:28.779 --> 00:10:29.120 You ready? 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:29.159 Ready? 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:30.639 Johnny Carson. 00:10:35.179 --> 00:10:37.120 Oh, I started with the easy one. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:40.120 Oh, gosh. 00:10:41.719 --> 00:10:42.079 Okay. 00:10:44.219 --> 00:10:44.939 Joe DiMaggio. 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:47.259 Hey, okay. 00:10:47.539 --> 00:10:47.939 All right. 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:48.519 All right. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:49.699 Don't put your hand back up. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:50.139 That's not okay. 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.139 That once... 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:53.579 If you didn't get Johnny Carson, you were eliminated. 00:10:53.580 --> 00:10:58.639 I'm very disappointed that my Mac device doesn't know how to spell DiMaggio. 00:10:59.020 --> 00:11:01.500 I had to correct the spell check there. 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:02.800 Shirley Temple. 00:11:06.800 --> 00:11:10.400 They're getting easier than Johnny Carson. 00:11:11.280 --> 00:11:12.000 Oh, geez. 00:11:13.300 --> 00:11:14.020 Dizzy Gillespie. 00:11:18.360 --> 00:11:19.420 Way to go, Brigham. 00:11:19.640 --> 00:11:20.100 You win. 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:20.140 You win. 00:11:20.140 --> 00:11:20.140 00:11:20.140 --> 00:11:20.140 00:11:20.140 --> 00:11:20.140 00:11:23.580 --> 00:11:26.020 These are all incredibly significant individuals. 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:28.020 For the sake of time, I won't tell you who they are. 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:31.300 Incredibly significant in American culture. 00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:33.580 And yet, they're forgotten. 00:11:34.920 --> 00:11:36.080 Really think about it. 00:11:36.660 --> 00:11:41.300 We have never heard of most people who have ever lived. 00:11:41.900 --> 00:11:45.940 Most of the people who have lived before us, we've never even heard of. 00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:51.860 They have passed through life under the sun in relative obscurity. 00:11:52.920 --> 00:11:59.340 Even those individuals who are significant enough to be in our history books are not known for all that they were, 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:03.360 but rather for a few facts, maybe a couple of qualities. 00:12:04.220 --> 00:12:07.140 They are remembered, but they're remembered incompletely. 00:12:08.040 --> 00:12:08.580 Passing. 00:12:09.160 --> 00:12:09.600 Vapor. 00:12:10.680 --> 00:12:11.340 Passing through. 00:12:12.020 --> 00:12:14.320 The preacher reiterates this point in verse 11. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:24.180 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. 00:12:24.300 --> 00:12:26.920 And again, later in the book, in chapter 6, verse 12. 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:35.760 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow. 00:12:36.640 --> 00:12:39.720 We're just blowing through. 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:44.259 And to go further, the preacher juxtaposes this reality against another. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:46.720 The last part of verse 4, he says, 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.800 But the earth remains forever. 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:54.060 Now, don't try to pull eschatological theology out of that phrase. 00:12:54.180 --> 00:12:59.360 He's just saying in relation to our observation of the way man comes and goes, 00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:02.879 the earth stays fairly the same. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:07.840 After you are gone, the sun will rise and the sun will set. 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:11.519 The waters will still ebb and flow. 00:13:11.620 --> 00:13:15.000 And you will have had very little effect. 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:20.379 Our lives will not be remembered. 00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:22.759 Second observation. 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:27.019 Everything is tired. 00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:29.379 Everything is tired. 00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:34.779 Because there is a sense of the permanence of the earth. 00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:40.039 There is a temptation to look to it for our source of gain. 00:13:40.500 --> 00:13:45.240 To look to those things, those material things that we can see that seem not to change. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:51.399 And those of you who particularly enjoy being outside, which I think is a large part of our congregation, 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:57.139 like getting outdoors, like me, have enjoyed rock climbing and whitewater paddling. 00:13:58.019 --> 00:14:00.319 In so many ways, you find fulfillment in that. 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:02.459 You really need to hear this. 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:10.299 I am saddened by that culture that says they're spiritual and says that they find God in nature. 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:11.600 They're missing it. 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:15.240 Their minds haven't gone quite high enough. 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:19.679 We certainly cannot deny that there is a pleasure to be found in nature. 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:22.079 The preacher agrees with us on this. 00:14:22.199 --> 00:14:24.679 Ecclesiastes 11, verse 7. 00:14:25.479 --> 00:14:25.799 He says, 00:14:26.239 --> 00:14:30.719 Light is sweet and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. 00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:34.859 It's an enjoyable thing to be under the sun. 00:14:34.959 --> 00:14:37.939 The sun is a blessing to men. 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:42.739 But we are warned in other places not to worship the creation. 00:14:43.459 --> 00:14:46.399 One example, Deuteronomy 4, 19. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:46.840 Says, 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:49.679 And beware, lest you raise your eyes to heaven. 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:53.939 And when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the hosts of heaven, 00:14:54.139 --> 00:14:58.799 you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:04.500 The creation cries out to us of a creator. 00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:09.899 And it is him that we are ultimately meant to enjoy. 00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:12.480 So go outside and be outside. 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:14.399 I would encourage this for you. 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:21.220 But as you enjoy those things that we can visibly see that are beautiful and appealing to us, 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:23.720 make sure that your mind goes high enough. 00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:28.000 Make sure that you worship the creator who made those things. 00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.959 Psalm 19, verse 1 says, 00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:36.819 The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:41.940 It's there to turn us to him, not away from him. 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:48.379 And the preacher goes on because he wants us to see how ultimately lackluster the creation is. 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:52.460 And I think you need to rightly read this with a bit of sarcasm. 00:15:53.260 --> 00:15:54.020 Verse 5, 00:15:54.019 --> 00:16:00.199 The sun rises and the sun goes down and hastens to the place where it rises again and again. 00:16:00.319 --> 00:16:02.679 The sun runs its course. 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:04.919 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:08.559 Around and around goes the wind and on its circuit the wind returns. 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:13.340 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full. 00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:16.779 To the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:19.879 These things just happen over and over and over again. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:21.759 Nothing new, nothing exciting. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:24.600 It just continues the way it's always continued. 00:16:25.819 --> 00:16:26.080 Verse 8, 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:29.240 All things are full of weariness. 00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:32.500 All things, including man, is full of weariness. 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:34.039 A man cannot utter it. 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:36.519 Picture him mumbling to his bed. 00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:37.720 A man cannot utter it. 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:43.379 The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:47.159 Paul takes up this imagery in Romans chapter 8 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:51.179 and says that the creation is like a slave subjected to futility, 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:55.759 in bondage to corruption, longing to be set free. 00:16:56.819 --> 00:17:02.240 This place that was once eaten, but that is now corrupted by sin, 00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:05.839 screams of our need of God. 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.259 Everything is tired. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:10.299 Third observation. 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.259 Everything is old. 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.839 Everything is old. 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:16.480 Verse 9, 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:19.159 What has been is what will be, 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.679 and what has been done is what will be done, 00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:24.819 and there is nothing new under the sun. 00:17:25.639 --> 00:17:27.000 Is there a thing of which it is said, 00:17:27.139 --> 00:17:27.939 See, this is new, 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:32.019 and it's been already in the ages before us. 00:17:32.679 --> 00:17:36.339 Now, the preacher here is not referring to the things that people create. 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:39.759 Surely, he would recognize that the smartphone, 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.779 and the MP3 file, 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.659 and the Hubble space telescope, 00:17:43.919 --> 00:17:46.679 and lasers did not exist in his day. 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:49.240 We could list off many other things. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:56.859 Rather, his focus is the striving of man to find gain under the sun, 00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.459 and his inability to do so. 00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:02.959 These are all just other manifestations of the very same thing. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.640 It's all old. 00:18:05.340 --> 00:18:08.940 All men have tried to find gain apart from God. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.019 It's already been done. 00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:13.380 Don't think you can come up with a new way to do it. 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.799 There is nothing new. 00:18:15.079 --> 00:18:16.299 It's all been tried. 00:18:16.860 --> 00:18:18.600 So as you may as well stop thinking, 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:21.799 you can figure out some new way to find gain under the sun. 00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:24.059 Everything is old. 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:29.099 And then the preacher in the text gives us a bit of his own story 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:31.639 to further make this point. 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:34.099 This seems to be at the end of chapter 1, 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:37.220 kind of the summary of what he goes on to give us explanation of 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:39.779 later on in 2 and 3 and beyond. 00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.339 Verse 12 says, 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:46.359 I, the preacher, have been king of Israel in Jerusalem. 00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:50.019 So we have our fourth observation. 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:56.339 Number four, we are personally limited. 00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.759 We are personally limited. 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:06.299 The preacher, like us, has an interior life. 00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:09.660 He is a sinful man. 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:15.559 He has had his heart and flesh altered by sin. 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:18.900 And therefore, he is dependent on God. 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:21.340 He must dependently lean on God 00:19:21.340 --> 00:19:24.420 to ultimately sort out and understand 00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:27.820 what is of value in the world and what is vanity. 00:19:28.060 --> 00:19:29.900 Just like us. 00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:32.660 Limited in this way. 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:35.580 First part of verse 13, he says, 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:40.060 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom 00:19:40.060 --> 00:19:42.500 all that is done under heaven. 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:44.440 I sought this out. 00:19:44.580 --> 00:19:46.440 I worked at this task. 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:50.680 And although we know that God is the one who provides wisdom, 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:53.080 he provides it in proper measure. 00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:54.680 Proverbs 2, 3, and 5 says, 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:59.019 Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:02.880 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:07.140 then you will understand the fear of the Lord 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:10.580 and find the knowledge of God. 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:13.019 So he brings us to that place. 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:19.279 He helps us to understand in enough measure the vanity of what's under the sun 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:22.099 so that will be brought to him. 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:29.899 The preacher, unlike us, has great experience, 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:33.000 although still limited experience. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:36.639 Just think of yourself in comparison to the preacher. 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:38.680 He says, verse 14, 00:20:38.820 --> 00:20:42.320 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:44.240 and behold, all this vanity, 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:46.860 and a striving after the wind. 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:50.980 Now we know that the preacher is a king over Jerusalem. 00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:54.060 Again, likely, this is Solomon. 00:20:54.620 --> 00:20:56.700 Likely well connected, 00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.960 connected to other kings, 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:03.100 has knowledge beyond the knowledge of the lay person, 00:21:03.099 --> 00:21:06.599 certainly beyond the knowledge that we may have had, 00:21:06.679 --> 00:21:09.159 although it's still a limited knowledge. 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:11.319 It's still a limited experience. 00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:12.899 And in that limitation, 00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:15.299 he's still able to say all is vanity, 00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:18.179 and it is a striving after the wind. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:22.039 The preacher, unlike us, 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.740 has great wisdom. 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:27.699 I don't think any of us would say we have great wisdom, 00:21:27.939 --> 00:21:30.740 but still it's limited wisdom. 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:32.539 Verse 16, he says, 00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:33.599 I said in my heart, 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:35.799 I have acquired great wisdom, 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:39.579 surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:44.819 and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:47.220 I don't know anybody amongst us that can say that, 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:49.819 that we have surpassing wisdom, 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:54.579 and great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.500 And as such, 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:57.799 we would do well to listen to the man 00:21:57.799 --> 00:22:01.899 who has great experience of wisdom and of knowledge. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:05.659 The preacher, unlike us, 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:08.139 seems to have the time 00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:12.059 to wrestle with the realities of the world, 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:16.059 although it's limited time. 00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.859 Verse 17, he says, 00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:19.680 And I applied my heart to know wisdom 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:22.659 and to know madness and folly. 00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:26.019 We see many examples of this later on in the book, 00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:29.400 and there are avenues that he runs out. 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:33.160 Possible places to gain under the sun 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:36.940 that he seems to explore to its very end. 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:40.860 Still limited in his ability to explore, 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:44.860 but are we not so much more limited than he? 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:48.900 To try to work out every possible experience 00:22:48.900 --> 00:22:51.019 that can bring us gain. 00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:53.700 And he goes on to say in verse 17, 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:55.880 I perceived that this also 00:22:55.880 --> 00:23:00.200 is but a striving after the wind. 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:05.280 The preacher, like us, is limited. 00:23:05.840 --> 00:23:07.340 We are limited in our ability 00:23:07.340 --> 00:23:10.019 to search out these things. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:12.120 He says in verse 15, 00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:15.200 What is crooked cannot be made straight. 00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:17.600 He's suggesting that this confusing thing 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:19.659 that I looked at and perceived to understand 00:23:19.659 --> 00:23:21.559 could not be understood. 00:23:22.179 --> 00:23:26.319 And what is lacking cannot be counted. 00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:29.439 This is an expression of his own limitation 00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:30.579 to understand. 00:23:31.439 --> 00:23:32.459 And then in verse 18, 00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:36.480 For in much wisdom is much vexation. 00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:39.119 And he who increases in knowledge, 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:41.719 increases in sorrow, 00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:44.719 in this effort to know and to understand 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:48.380 what can be gained under the sun. 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:51.079 That's our fourth observation. 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.140 Our fifth observation 00:23:52.140 --> 00:23:56.660 is that we have an unhappy business 00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:58.059 before us. 00:23:58.740 --> 00:24:00.360 The last part of verse 13, 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.440 the preacher says, 00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:03.880 It is an unhappy business 00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:05.980 that God has given 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:07.700 to the children of man 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:10.000 to be busy with. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:14.220 So, the preacher has told us 00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:16.319 where gain cannot be found. 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:18.099 He has clearly said, 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:21.579 It cannot be found under the sun. 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:23.119 And we will expound upon this 00:24:23.119 --> 00:24:24.279 as we continue to look. 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:26.299 He recycles through this idea, 00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:30.500 You cannot find gain under the sun. 00:24:31.339 --> 00:24:33.180 And it would seem at this point, 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:35.000 at least to our minds, 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:36.720 the most appropriate thing 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:39.000 to tell us is where gain can be found. 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:41.460 He hasn't quite done that yet, has he? 00:24:41.480 --> 00:24:42.400 I've been saying it, 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:44.839 but he hasn't said it yet. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:46.180 Doesn't it make the most sense 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:48.259 that he would do that at this point? 00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:50.019 It already seems time 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:50.980 to wrap the sermon up. 00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:52.019 He's presented the problem. 00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:53.220 Give us the solution 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:56.599 to speed us along to the end. 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.920 I want to cry out, 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:00.720 Don't go on for another 11 chapters. 00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:01.420 I get it. 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:04.519 I see the vanity of life. 00:25:05.339 --> 00:25:06.859 Where then is the gain? 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:08.339 Is what we cry. 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:10.559 But the preacher uses 00:25:10.559 --> 00:25:13.419 a much different tactic. 00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:14.740 Now let's say to you 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:16.740 it's a valuable one. 00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:19.500 The preacher presents us 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:22.079 with God in verse 13. 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:24.179 It's an unhappy business 00:25:24.179 --> 00:25:26.259 that God has given 00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:28.259 to the children of man. 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.819 He presents us with God, 00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:30.839 but he does so 00:25:30.839 --> 00:25:33.980 in such an unsatisfying way. 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:36.079 He presents God 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:38.799 as the one who is providentially 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:41.299 over all that is under the sun. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:43.220 As the God who allows 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:45.000 the vanity of the world 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:46.259 to continue. 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:48.519 As the God who wants us 00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:51.319 to deal with the worthlessness 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:53.180 of the world. 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:56.059 The preacher leaves us 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.240 uncomfortable 00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:59.099 and longing 00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:00.839 for an answer. 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:02.519 That's a good place 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.899 to be, beloved. 00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:04.959 Especially if you're 00:26:04.959 --> 00:26:05.819 found in Christ. 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:07.639 Because you know the answer. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.939 You can anticipate 00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:10.099 the answer. 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.220 You've experienced 00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:12.839 the answer. 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:14.379 But it's good for us 00:26:14.379 --> 00:26:15.159 to just stop 00:26:15.159 --> 00:26:16.179 and consider 00:26:16.179 --> 00:26:17.740 how, 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:18.720 having been delivered 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.459 by Christ, 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.500 do we still 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.779 look for gain 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:23.059 under the sun? 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.319 Is that not 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.279 an uncomfortable place 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:25.639 to be 00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.480 at the end of 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.539 chapter 1? 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.559 If I haven't 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:29.299 taken you there, 00:26:29.399 --> 00:26:30.519 go back and read it. 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.819 Stop at the end 00:26:31.819 --> 00:26:32.440 of chapter 1 00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.339 and consider all 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:34.019 that the preacher 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:36.139 has said so far. 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:38.180 Zach Eswine, 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.160 in Recovering Eden, 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:39.900 a commentary 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:41.700 on this very book, 00:26:42.139 --> 00:26:42.319 wrote, 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.279 Taking time 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.160 amid things 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:45.680 not yet answered 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:47.259 provokes discomfort. 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.460 A discomfort 00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:49.839 often required 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:51.059 in order to recover 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:52.619 spiritual health. 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:54.420 A sickly child 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.119 grimaces 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.980 to swallow 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.960 the dark liquid 00:26:56.960 --> 00:26:58.200 that would recover 00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.639 her smile. 00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:01.020 It is good 00:27:01.020 --> 00:27:01.400 for us 00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.080 to consider 00:27:02.080 --> 00:27:04.360 this unhappy 00:27:04.360 --> 00:27:05.259 business 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.880 that is before us 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.480 because 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:09.600 it is a business 00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.440 meant 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.920 to lead us 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.380 to God. 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:14.800 Now, 00:27:14.820 --> 00:27:15.560 as we consider 00:27:15.560 --> 00:27:16.640 this text 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:18.180 week over week, 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.140 I have no idea yet 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:19.680 how long 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.360 this study 00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:21.960 is going to take us. 00:27:23.100 --> 00:27:24.280 We're looking at it 00:27:24.280 --> 00:27:25.640 in a much different way 00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.800 than this was meant 00:27:26.800 --> 00:27:27.580 to be considered. 00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.000 It was meant 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.519 to be considered 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:30.000 as a sermon. 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:30.359 It was meant 00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:30.859 to be considered 00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.579 from the beginning 00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:32.740 to the very end 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:33.199 that I would 00:27:33.199 --> 00:27:34.199 maybe come up to you 00:27:34.199 --> 00:27:34.939 and just read you 00:27:34.939 --> 00:27:35.480 the text. 00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:36.399 That I would get 00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:37.139 to the conclusion 00:27:37.139 --> 00:27:38.159 that we find 00:27:38.159 --> 00:27:39.379 in chapter 12 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:40.899 verse 13. 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:42.839 As we look at it 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.519 individually 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.099 and we try to give 00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:45.339 application to each 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:47.019 bit of the text, 00:27:47.199 --> 00:27:47.859 it's important 00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.740 that I constantly 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.519 remind you 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:50.539 of the bigger picture. 00:27:50.679 --> 00:27:51.220 That we do, 00:27:51.339 --> 00:27:51.639 in fact, 00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:52.819 speed along 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.639 to the end. 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:53.939 So, 00:27:54.019 --> 00:27:54.980 I'm stepping out 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.620 of his intention 00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:56.079 a bit 00:27:56.079 --> 00:27:57.539 to remind us 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.519 where it is 00:27:58.519 --> 00:28:00.380 that we find gain. 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:01.940 But I just wanted 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.620 you to hear 00:28:02.620 --> 00:28:03.339 and to see 00:28:03.339 --> 00:28:04.620 that his intention 00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:06.039 is that you stew 00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.799 for a little while. 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.680 That you become 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.279 uncomfortable. 00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.380 That you say 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:11.120 this world 00:28:11.120 --> 00:28:12.299 is not worth 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:13.900 living for. 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.700 That you would be 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.400 uncomfortable 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.799 at the Mall of Georgia. 00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:19.240 This would be a place 00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.700 that you would get 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.440 in and out of 00:28:20.440 --> 00:28:21.160 as quick as you can 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.740 for the thing 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:23.220 you actually need 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.279 if you find 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.319 your most happy 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.759 at a place like that 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.519 and you have 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.819 some soul searching 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:30.100 to do. 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.440 So, 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:32.240 the end of the matter. 00:28:32.860 --> 00:28:33.779 The end of the matter 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:35.120 is that gain 00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:36.059 is not found 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:37.360 under the sun. 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:38.100 What is ultimately 00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:38.819 good for us 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.860 is not found 00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:41.360 under the sun. 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:42.579 Rather, 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.579 gain is found 00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.779 in God 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.559 and everything 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:47.579 has its proper place 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:49.600 and its proper time 00:28:49.600 --> 00:28:51.200 in Him. 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:53.900 Ecclesiastes 12.13 00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:54.880 The preacher says 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:55.759 the end of the matter 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:57.660 all has been heard. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.319 Fear God 00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:01.100 and keep His commandments 00:29:01.100 --> 00:29:02.620 for this 00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:04.240 is the whole duty 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:05.779 of man. 00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.680 I appreciate 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:09.920 this simplification 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:11.960 of the Christian life. 00:29:12.100 --> 00:29:12.660 Fear God 00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:14.080 and keep His commandments. 00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:14.880 This is the whole 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:15.600 duty 00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:16.980 of man. 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:18.779 Now, 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:19.480 a proper 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.600 fear of God, 00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:21.659 a right fear of God, 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.719 a fear of God 00:29:22.719 --> 00:29:24.059 that is informed 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:25.039 by who God 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.779 has revealed Himself 00:29:25.779 --> 00:29:26.899 to us in the Scriptures, 00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:29.000 sends men 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.779 running 00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:31.219 to the cross. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.599 A proper fear of God 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.039 drives us 00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:36.299 to Christ. 00:29:37.379 --> 00:29:38.980 All of the religious efforts 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:39.939 of this world, 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:41.339 the work to find 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:42.740 acceptance before God, 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:43.439 the labor 00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:45.399 of trying to work out 00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:46.199 acceptance 00:29:46.199 --> 00:29:47.359 before God 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:48.699 is a misguided 00:29:48.699 --> 00:29:49.480 fear. 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:51.099 If we properly 00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.660 and rightly 00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.900 understand who God is, 00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.819 we know that there's 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:55.599 nothing that we can do 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.720 that will satisfy 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.500 Him. 00:29:58.140 --> 00:29:59.500 A proper fear of God 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:01.039 presses a splinter 00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:02.420 into our souls 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:04.120 that festers 00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:05.140 until it is removed 00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:06.559 and only Christ 00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:08.039 can remove it. 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:10.299 It presses this issue 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:11.339 upon us, 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.599 this problem 00:30:12.599 --> 00:30:13.460 before us 00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.380 that only 00:30:14.380 --> 00:30:15.360 Christ 00:30:15.360 --> 00:30:17.099 can fix. 00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:19.000 not only does He 00:30:19.000 --> 00:30:20.399 bear our punishment, 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:22.439 but He gives us 00:30:22.439 --> 00:30:23.699 His righteousness 00:30:23.699 --> 00:30:25.619 and restores 00:30:25.619 --> 00:30:26.819 our relationship 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:27.919 with the Father. 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.719 This is so 00:30:30.719 --> 00:30:31.819 good. 00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:33.579 This is the greatest 00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:34.439 and highest 00:30:34.439 --> 00:30:35.240 good. 00:30:35.719 --> 00:30:36.240 This 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.959 is our gain. 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:40.119 Psalm 1611 00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:40.539 says, 00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.960 in Your presence 00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:43.279 there is fullness 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:44.000 of joy. 00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:45.599 At Your right hand 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:46.500 are pleasures 00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:48.139 forevermore. 00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:50.720 So Christ 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:52.220 is the gain 00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:53.819 that we seek. 00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.859 Nothing that can be found 00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:56.819 under the sun 00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:57.779 is gain to us, 00:30:57.859 --> 00:30:58.599 but Christ 00:30:58.599 --> 00:30:59.859 is gain 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:01.180 to us. 00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:02.920 A familiar text 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.379 for you, 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:03.920 potentially, 00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.480 I hope, 00:31:04.659 --> 00:31:05.500 is Philippians. 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.480 Paul writes about this. 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:06.940 Turn to the book 00:31:06.940 --> 00:31:07.480 of Philippians 00:31:07.480 --> 00:31:08.559 with me. 00:31:13.320 --> 00:31:13.759 Beloved, 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.240 it's not that you 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.039 were dissatisfied 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:16.240 apart from Christ 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.420 and then Christ 00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:19.200 picks you up 00:31:19.200 --> 00:31:20.080 out of the mire 00:31:20.080 --> 00:31:20.680 and you suddenly 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.820 become satisfied 00:31:21.820 --> 00:31:23.059 and this is a 00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:24.059 state of being. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:24.600 You are now 00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:25.440 satisfied 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.740 and then you can 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.519 go along with 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:28.080 the normal stuff 00:31:28.080 --> 00:31:28.519 of the world. 00:31:28.620 --> 00:31:29.220 But then you 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.420 become satisfied 00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:30.960 in Christ 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.620 and then you go 00:31:31.620 --> 00:31:32.380 pursue the American 00:31:32.380 --> 00:31:32.779 dream. 00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:34.080 We continue 00:31:34.080 --> 00:31:34.759 to pursue 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.600 satisfaction 00:31:35.599 --> 00:31:36.599 in Christ. 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.219 This is an 00:31:37.219 --> 00:31:38.899 ongoing process 00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:39.619 for us. 00:31:40.199 --> 00:31:40.539 Paul writes 00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.559 Philippians 1.21 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.299 For to me, 00:31:42.359 --> 00:31:43.699 to live is Christ 00:31:43.699 --> 00:31:45.159 and to die is gain. 00:31:45.259 --> 00:31:45.899 Why is it gain? 00:31:45.959 --> 00:31:47.219 Because it's more Christ. 00:31:47.699 --> 00:31:48.879 He casts off 00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:49.559 the world 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:50.159 and he gets to be 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:50.959 in the presence 00:31:50.959 --> 00:31:52.059 of Christ. 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:52.619 So, 00:31:52.879 --> 00:31:53.379 for to me, 00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:55.099 the gain is Christ 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:56.799 and to die is more gain 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.779 because it's more 00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:59.119 Christ. 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.740 He writes later 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:02.000 in Philippians 3 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:03.459 beginning in verse 2. 00:32:03.460 --> 00:32:06.160 Look out for the 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:06.600 dogs. 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:08.100 Look out for the 00:32:08.100 --> 00:32:08.880 evildoers. 00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:10.380 Look out for those 00:32:10.380 --> 00:32:11.539 who mutilate 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:12.720 the flesh. 00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.519 He's talking about 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.180 the Judaizers. 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:14.920 Those who wanted 00:32:14.920 --> 00:32:15.720 Christian people 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.940 to be circumcised 00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:17.660 in order to 00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:19.120 work for favor 00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:19.819 in God. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.720 To not accept 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.340 the favor that they 00:32:21.340 --> 00:32:22.420 had in Christ 00:32:22.420 --> 00:32:23.380 but to work for it 00:32:23.380 --> 00:32:25.340 by their 00:32:25.340 --> 00:32:26.620 appearance 00:32:26.620 --> 00:32:27.220 and by their 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:27.680 works. 00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:28.700 Verse 3. 00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:29.840 For we are the 00:32:29.840 --> 00:32:30.360 circumcision 00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:31.000 who worship 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.980 by the Spirit 00:32:31.980 --> 00:32:32.440 of God 00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:33.059 and glory 00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:33.539 in Christ 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:33.880 Jesus 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:34.440 and put 00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:35.220 no confidence 00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:36.880 in the flesh. 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:37.779 Now, 00:32:37.819 --> 00:32:38.480 verse 4, 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.380 he begins 00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:41.200 this religious 00:32:41.200 --> 00:32:42.140 pedigree 00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:42.859 that he has. 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:43.900 This outward 00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:44.400 working, 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.039 this labor 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:45.720 to be pleasing 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.500 before God. 00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:47.640 Though I myself 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:48.200 have reason 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:48.799 for confidence 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.680 in the flesh 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.240 also, 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.519 if anyone else 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.019 thinks he has 00:32:52.019 --> 00:32:52.619 reason for confidence 00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:52.940 in the flesh, 00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:54.759 I have more. 00:32:55.400 --> 00:32:56.099 Circumcised on 00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:56.680 the eighth day 00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:57.460 of the people 00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:57.940 of Israel, 00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:59.000 of the tribe 00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.599 of Benjamin, 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:00.720 a Hebrew 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.740 of Hebrews, 00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:02.960 as to the law, 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:03.900 a Pharisee, 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:05.019 as to zeal, 00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:05.799 a persecutor 00:33:05.799 --> 00:33:06.380 of the church, 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.539 as to righteousness 00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:08.480 under the law, 00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:09.440 blameless. 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:10.180 He's saying 00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:11.359 if there is value 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.400 in the man-made 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:13.420 religion of the world, 00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:15.599 which was in his day 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.799 the apostate Judaism, 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:18.099 not God's way, 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:19.599 but the apostate way, 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:21.160 the manufactured, 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:22.640 fabricated Judaism, 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:23.740 if there's any value 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:24.339 in that at all, 00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:25.720 I've far exceeded 00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:26.680 anybody else's value 00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:28.039 in this regard. 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:29.559 But then in verse 7 00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.139 he says, 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.519 But whatever gain 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.200 I had, 00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:34.259 I counted as loss 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:35.559 for the sake 00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:36.240 of Christ. 00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:37.460 Indeed, 00:33:37.899 --> 00:33:39.720 I count everything 00:33:39.720 --> 00:33:40.740 as loss 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.920 because of the 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:43.159 surpassing worth 00:33:43.159 --> 00:33:44.200 of knowing 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:45.599 Christ Jesus, 00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:46.819 my Lord. 00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:48.159 For his sake 00:33:48.159 --> 00:33:48.659 I have suffered 00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:49.960 the loss of all things 00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:50.680 and count them 00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:51.920 as rubbish 00:33:51.920 --> 00:33:52.899 in order 00:33:52.899 --> 00:33:54.700 that I may gain 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:56.079 Christ. 00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:57.819 You see this? 00:33:57.819 --> 00:33:58.599 Paul had learned 00:33:58.599 --> 00:33:59.179 this lesson 00:33:59.179 --> 00:33:59.599 that there was 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:00.919 nothing in this world. 00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:02.179 He goes beyond 00:34:02.179 --> 00:34:04.139 his religious pedigree 00:34:04.139 --> 00:34:06.500 to everything else. 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.899 There is nothing 00:34:07.899 --> 00:34:09.099 in this world 00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:10.199 that is gained 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.840 to us 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:11.719 apart 00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:13.480 from Christ. 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:14.940 And beloved, 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.619 this is a lesson 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.860 that we need 00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:17.559 to learn. 00:34:17.819 --> 00:34:19.139 We need to understand 00:34:19.139 --> 00:34:19.880 rightly 00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:21.039 that everything 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:22.239 minus Christ 00:34:22.239 --> 00:34:23.279 equals nothing. 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:25.700 and that nothing 00:34:25.700 --> 00:34:27.420 plus Christ 00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.880 equals 00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:30.100 everything. 00:34:30.600 --> 00:34:31.700 Let's pray together. 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.139 00:34:32.139 --> 00:34:32.279 Let's pray together. 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:32.279 00:34:32.280 --> 00:35:02.260 Thank you.