SERMON IN A SENTENCE: Choose wisdom and joy in God when life’s unstable and unfair.
SERMON NOTES
Introduction
Context
1. Choose Wisdom Under Unrighteous Rulers [Ecclesiastes 8:1–9]
a. Wisdom’s Shining Effect [Ecclesiastes 8:1, cf. Prov. 3:15, 1 Kgs. 4:29–34; 1 Chr. 12:32; Ps. 34:5; 1 Pet. 2:23, 4:19; Luke 23:39–47; Prov. 9:10]
b. Wisdom’s Prudent Obedience [Ecclesiastes 8:2–4, cf. 2 Sam. 7:1–17; Prov. 14:35, 16:14; Rom. 13:1–7; 1 Pet. 2:13–17; Titus 3:1–2; Eph. 5:22–33; Col. 3:18, 1 Pet. 3:1–7; Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1–3; Col. 3:20; Eph. 6:5–8; Col. 3:22–24; Heb. 13:17; 1 Thess. 5:12–13; Acts 5:29]
c. Wisdom’s Patience Principle [Ecclesiastes 8:5–9, cf. Rom. 13:3–4; Jas. 1:5]
2. Choose Joy Under Unrighteous Results [Ecclesiastes 8:10–17]
a. Wisdom Remembers the End [Ecclesiastes 8:10–14, cf. 2 Tim. 3:5; Heb. 9:27; 2 Thess. 1:9; Rom. 3:23; 1 Jn. 1:8; Rom. 6:23; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 2:22–24]
b. Wisdom Rejoices in the Present [[Ecclesiastes 8:15, cf. Ecc. 2:24; 3:12–13, 22; 5:18–19; Jas. 1:2–4; 1 Cor. 15:20–23, 42–49; Phil. 3:20–21]
c. Wisdom Rests in God’s Work [Ecclesiastes 8:16–17, cf. Deut. 29:29; Job 42:1–3; Prov. 3:5–6; Isa. 46:9–10; Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:11; Rom. 11:33–36]
Conclusion
