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Ecclesiastes Study Guide Chapter 10

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Ecclesiastes Study Guide Chapter 10 ECCLESIASTES STUDY GUIDE CHAPTER 10 Chapter 10 : Please read Ecclesiastes chapter 10. As you do, try to answer the following questions to help you understand the passages of scripture and apply the spiritual truths to your life. Please read all the scripture passages cited to help you answer the questions . (1) Read Ecclesiastes 10:1-4. In these verses “wisdom” is contrasted with “folly” (which means "silliness", "foolish jesting", "lack of discretion") which is a Hebrew word only used here in Ecclesiastes. The "right hand" in v.2 means the place of honor and strength, while the "left hand" means a place of dishonor and weakness. Compare v.3 with vv.12-13 . (a) Are "words" and "actions" the sum total of human communication? Compare the thought of v.1 with 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 and Ephesians 5:1-11, 15-27 . What spiritual truth is presented here? (b) Read v.4 again and think about a teacher-student or employer-employee relations. Can you think of a practical application of this verse in that context? 1 (2) Read Ecclesiastes 10:5-7. Solomon continues his thoughts about the inequities and injustices in this life—despite the availability of wisdom! This is evidently a "fact of life". Does this situation in anyway discredit WISDOM or vindicate FOLLY ? Why or why not? Compare Ecclesiastes 2:12-16 . (3) Read Ecclesiastes 10:8-9. These verses provide common examples of foolish actions and illustrate the “ law of unintended consequences ”. Compare the "law of sowing and reaping" found in Galatians 6:7-8 (in both the bad and good sense). Haman ( Esther 7:9-10 ) is a Biblical example of the truth in these verses. (a) What makes the actions described in these verses foolish? (b) What are the lessons that unintended consequences teach us? (c) Can you think of any modern day examples of the ‘law of unintended consequences’? (d) Do unintended consequences demonstrate that godly wisdom is superior to worldly wisdom? Why or why not? 2 (4) Read Ecclesiastes 10:10-11 . Lack of experience can be made up through skill. A fool ("babbler") will strike without provocation. How is a wise person to respond to a fool? (See e.g., Proverbs 15:1-2, 23, 28; 18:13; 26:4-5; and Colossians 4:5-6). What other applications do you see in these verses? (5) Read Ecclesiastes 10:12-15 . These verses indicate the distinction between the words of a wise man and the foolish man. The communication of a wise man is gracious, while that of a fool is self-destructive. Compare these verses with Proverbs 18:4, 6-7; 20:15; James 3:1-10 . Such a person proceeds from bad to worse (cp. verse 3). (a) A fool "multiplies words"; what do you think this means? (Note the following saying: "Thunder may sound impressive, but it's lightning that gets the work done!"). (b) Why do you think a fool's work wearies him? 3 (6) Read Ecclesiastes 10:16-20 . Solomon completes his discourse contrasting folly and wisdom by including an example of government authority. (See also Ecclesiastes 8:2-4; 10:4 ). Verse 17 is stressing the fact that a ruler (king, prince, noble) should be an example of stability and self-control. The Bible has a lot to say about this. (See e.g., 1 Kings 16:8-10; Isaiah 5:11-12; Daniel 5:1-4; 18-23 . (a) Compare v.18 with Proverbs 6:6-11 . What applications can be drawn from this verse? (b) Verse 19 describes a person in a "party mode"—what is the attitude of such a person? What activity is v.20 describing? What practical reason does Solomon give for not becoming entangled in this activity? (c) Does God hold us accountable for "idle words"? (See e.g., Matthew 12:35-37 ). For gossip? (See Proverbs 11:13; 18:8; 20:19; 26:20 ). 4 .
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