Choose Godliness 
 

Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 8:1-17.

Memory Verse: "Seeing then that all these things shal be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness . . ." (2 Pet. 3:11).

Introduction: The Holy Spirit is in the heart of every believer (Rom. 8:9); but alas! too often He is shut up in some mere attic in the back of the house, whilst the world fills the rest. As long as it is so, there is one long weary story of defeat and unrest. But He is not content. Know ye not that the Spirit, which He hath made to dwell in us, yearneth even unto jealousy? (Jas. 4:5). Happy are they who yield to Him. Then He will fill them, as the tide fills the harbor and lifts the barges off the banks of mud; He will dwell in them, shedding abroad the prefume of the love of Jesus; and will reveal the deep things of God.
  We can always tell when we are wrong with the Spirit of God; our conscience darkens in a moment when we have grieved Him. If we are aware of such a darkness, we do well never to rest until, beneath His electric light, we have discovered the cause, and confessed it, and put it away. Besides this, if we live and walk in the Spirit, we shall find that He will work against the risings of our old nature, counteracting them as disinfecting power counteracts the germs of disease floating in an infected house, so that we may do the things that we would (Gal. 5:17).
  This is one of the most precious words in the New Testament. If you have never tried it, I entreat you to begin to test it in daily experience. "Walk in the Spirit," hour by hour, by watchful obedience to His slightest promptings, and you will find that "you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (written by F.B. Meyer)

(Taken from Thomas Nelson, Inc., Heritage of Great Evanglical Teaching: Featuring the best of Martin Luther, John Wesley, Dwight L. Moody, C.H. Spurgeon and others [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1996.)

Lesson Questions:

1. What great differences can be observedin the man with "heavenly" wisdom? Eccl. 8:1; 1 Chron. 12:32; Job 29:1-25.

2. Why should we strive to observe the laws and commands of those in governmental rule? Eccl. 8:2-5a; Rom. 13:1-7; Prov. 24:21,22; Titus 3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13,14,17; Matt. 17:27.

3. What special quality does the wise man possess that causes him to be a "step ahead" of changes and calamities, so that he avoids the full weight of their miseries? Eccl. 8:5b-7; Isa. 11:3; Dan. 5:12; Heb. 5:14; 2 Kings 6:17; Gen. 41:12-16,25,37-41; Matt. 5:8.

4. What inescapable certainty must every living person face? Eccl. 8:8; 2 Sam.14:14; Job 30:23; Ps. 49:10,19; 89:48; Heb. 9:27.

5. When a ruler oppresses his subjects, who is the one most affected? Eccl. 8:9; Matt. 18:7; Isa. 10:1-4; 33:1; Jer. 22:13-19; Ezek. 34:1-10; Matt. 23:29-39.

6. What did the preacher observe happens when the wicked die? Eccl. 8:10; 9:5.

7. What compels the sinner to continue sinning, and what is the end result of his folly? Eccl. 8:11-13.

8. Why can it seem that life is so unjust? Eccl. 8:14; Ex. 5:23; Job 12:6; 21:7-17; Rom. 9:12-16; Matt. 20:8-16.

9. For one who has a purely worldly view ("under the sun"), what is the best life can afford him? Eccl. 8:15; 1 Cor. 15:32.

10. When the preacher attempts to answer the perplexing work done upon the earth, what is his conclusion? Eccl. 8:16,17; Job 11:7; 37:23; Isa. 40:28; Jer. 23:18; 1 Cor. 2:16.