ECCLESIASTES LESSON 12


     We will begin this lesson in Ecclesiastes 10:1 "Dead flies cause
the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: [so
doth] a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom [and]
honour."

     Folly, in this verse, means silliness, or foolishness. We know
that anything dead, has a bad odor. For the flies to be dead where
perfume {apothecary} was, is worse. When a person expected sweet odor
of perfume, they smelled dead flies. What a disappointment. It is,
also, a disappointment to expect wise sayings to come from someone's
mouth, and instead, they speak foolishness. What a disappointment this
is.

     Ecclesiastes 10:2 "A wise man's heart [is] at his right hand; but
a fool's heart at his left."

     The right side of the body has always symbolized the spiritual
side of mankind. The left hand speaks of his earthly nature. A wise
man will let his spirit control him, and not his flesh.

     Ecclesiastes 10:3 "Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by
the way, his wisdom faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he
[is] a fool."

     When the fool stays at home, no one realizes his foolishness, but
when he goes out into the world, everyone he comes in contact with,
knows he is a fool.

     Ecclesiastes 10:4 "If the spirit of the ruler rise up against
thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences."

     This is just saying, be wise and do not answer back to the ruler.
Just quietly accept what he says, and it will pass over.

     Ecclesiastes 10:5 "There is an evil [which] I have seen under the
sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:"

     Again, we see the expression "under the sun". We remember that
this is speaking of those who are living on the earth. We will take
note here, that Solomon sees that the ruler is not always right. He
makes errors, too. He is human.

     Ecclesiastes 10:6 "Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich
sit in low place."

     Sometimes, a ruler will choose a foolish person for very high
office, and that is a mistake. Perhaps, the person is a relative,
friend, or someone he owes a favor. None of those reasons are correct
for choosing a leader. In this, the king has acted foolishly.

     Ecclesiastes 10:7 "I have seen servants upon horses, and princes
walking as servants upon the earth."

     To ride on a horse in the manner spoken of here, is speaking of
the person being honored. What Solomon could be saying, is there were
people being honored, who should not have been, and there were others
who should have been honored, who were working as servants.

     Ecclesiastes 10:8 "He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and
whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him."

     This is another way of saying, "Whatever you sow, you will reap".
Psalms 7:15 "He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the
ditch [which] he made."  Psalms 7:16 "His mischief shall return upon
his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own
pate." The hedge mentioned above, is possibly, speaking of the hedge
the Lord puts around the faithful. For the hedge to be removed, would
bring an attack from that old serpent, the devil.

     Ecclesiastes 10:9 "Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith;
[and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby."

     Working with large stones can be dangerous, if they roll back on
you. Splitting wood can, also, be very dangerous to the one who is
splitting. The wood separates violently, sometimes, and can hit those
standing there.

     Ecclesiastes 10:10 "If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the
edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom [is] profitable to
direct."

     This is speaking of a knife, or an ax that needs to be sharpened,
to make it cut more easily. Whetting the edge sharpens the blade. To
cut with a dull ax, or knife, would take much more power, than if it
were sharpened. Wisdom helps us find better ways of doing things.
Wisdom helps in practical living. It, also, helps in the spiritual
life of man.

     Ecclesiastes 10:11 "Surely the serpent will bite without
enchantment; and a babbler is no better."

     This is saying, the serpent bites without provocation. The
babbler, here, is speaking of someone who uses his tongue to charm
people into doing things his way. The babbler of this kind is just as
dangerous as the serpent.

     Ecclesiastes 10:12 "The words of a wise man's mouth [are]
gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself."

     A wise man is careful what he says, and how he says it. His
speech is full of grace. His tongue is used to build people up,
instead of to tear them down. A fool talks loud, and says things he
has not considered. He destroys others with his speech, and in turn
destroys himself.

     Ecclesiastes 10:13 "The beginning of the words of his mouth [is]
foolishness: and the end of his talk [is] mischievous madness."

    The more he talks, the worse it gets. This talk of this foolish
person is what they are inside. Their hearts are filled with mischief,
and that mischief comes out in their speech. The speech gets worse
every time he speaks. Proverbs 15:2 "The tongue of the wise useth
knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness."

     Ecclesiastes 10:14 "A fool also is full of words: a man cannot
tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?"

     "Fool", in this verse means a dense, confused thinker. It is so
strange, that a person with confused thoughts, talks continuously.
Solomon says in this, that no one except God truly knows the future.
The answer is, no one can tell him. It is enough to live each day as
it comes.  Proverbs 15:2 "The tongue of the wise useth knowledge
aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." James 4:13
"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a
city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:"
James 4:14 "Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For
what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little
time, and then vanisheth away."

     Ecclesiastes 10:15 "The labour of the foolish wearieth every one
of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city."

     The foolish pretends he knows the way to the city, when in fact,
he does not. If he does not know the way to the city, he definitely
does not know what is to come. The following Scriptures is a showing
of the way to everlasting life. Matthew 11:28  "Come unto me, all [ye]
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.: Matthew
11:29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly
in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:30 "For
my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light."

     Ecclesiastes 10:16  "Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a
child, and thy princes eat in the morning!"

     The position of king bears with it a great responsibility to rule
the people fairly and wisely. A child is not trained. The princes that
eat in the morning are speaking of those who sleep late. To be king,
you must rise early and rule wisely. The princes "eating in the
morning" could have to do with rising early to start drinking.  Isaiah
5:11  "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, [that] they
may follow strong drink; that continue until night, [till] wine
inflame them!"

     Ecclesiastes 10:17 "Blessed [art] thou, O land, when thy king
[is] the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for
strength, and not for drunkenness!"

     This is saying, that the king is a son of people of noble
character. They do not get up early to drink, but to eat for strength.
A king that was drunk could not lead his people properly. The people
are blessed when their king is of noble character, and is not a
drunkard. Proverbs 31:4 "[It is] not for kings, O Lemuel, [it is] not
for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:" Proverbs 31:5
"Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any
of the afflicted."

     Ecclesiastes 10:18  "By much slothfulness the building decayeth;
and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through."

     All buildings require a certain amount of care. If they are not
cared for, they will fall into ruin and decay. "Slothfulness" is
speaking of laziness. This is still speaking of kings, or rulers. It
is even worse for them to be lazy. The king leads the country. The
leader must set an example for others to follow.  Proverbs 10:4 "He
becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but the hand of the
diligent maketh rich." Proverbs 12:24 "The hand of the diligent shall
bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute."

     Ecclesiastes 10:19  "A feast is made for laughter, and wine
maketh merry: but money answereth all [things]."

     We must remember, once again, that Solomon is speaking of the
things the way they are on the earth. This is speaking of kings, who
have neglected their office. They are spending their time laughing and
drinking. On this earth, there is need for money. Without money, you
cannot pay the rent, or the utilities. You need money for food, and
for Dr. bills. Having enough money to live on, helps in your marriage,
as well. The love of money is sin. To work and make enough money to
provide for your family, is honorable. The king is actually provider
for all of his people. It is doubly important that he stays sober, and
provides for his people.

     Ecclesiastes 10:20  "Curse not the king, no not in thy thought;
and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall
carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter."

     Some people curse whoever is in office. Solomon is saying here,
it is dangerous to curse the one who rules over you. Even if you curse
him in privacy, someone might hear, and tell him. In the days of the
kings, this could cost you your head. It is, also, wrong to curse the
rich. Someone will tell what you have said, and then, you will be in
trouble. Jesus says it best in the following Scriptures. Luke 12:2
"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither
hid, that shall not be known." Luke 12:3 "Therefore whatsoever ye have
spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have
spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops."
Here is one more Scripture on the matter. Acts 23:5 "Then said Paul, I
wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written,
Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people."




                       Ecclesiastes 12 Questions


1.  What does folly, in verse 1, mean?
2.  What does "apothecary" mean?
3.  When they were expecting to smell the sweet odor of perfume, they
    smelled what?
4.  A wise man's heart is at his _________ hand.
5.  When a fool stays at ___________, no one realizes his foolishness.
6.  What is meant by verse 4?
7.  What does "under the sun" indicate?
8.  Why would a king choose a foolish person for high office?
9.  I have seen servants upon ___________.
10. What did this usually show?
11. What was Solomon really saying in this?
12. Verse 8 is another way of saying what?
13. Quote Psalms chapter 7 verse 16.
14. If the hedge were removed, what might happen?
15. What dangers are spoken of in verse 9?
16. What is verse 10 speaking of?
17. _________ helps us find better ways of doing things.
18. What is the babbler speaking of in verse 11?
19. How does a wise man speak?
20. How does a fool speak?
21. Why do they speak mischief?
22. Quote Proverbs chapter 15 verse 2.
23. Where did Jesus say to come in Matthew chapter 11 verses 28, and
    29.
24. Why is it woe for a child to be king?
25. What is "eating in the morning" speaking of?
26. Quote Isaiah chapter 5 verse 11.
27. In verse 17, the princes eat for what?
28. Why is strong drink not for kings and princes?
29. What happens to a building that is neglected?
30. The love of money is ______.
31. Curse not the __________.
32. Quote Luke chapter 12 verse 3.
33. Thou shalt not speak evil of the _________ of thy people.