2025.09.30 Hopewell @Home ▫ Ecclesiastes 5:8–17

Read Ecclesiastes 5:8–17

Questions from the Scripture text: What two things might one see (Ecclesiastes 5:8)? What shouldn’t he do? Why not? What does a wise king know (Ecclesiastes 5:9)? Who will not be satisfied (Ecclesiastes 5:10)? What also increases, when possessions increase (Ecclesiastes 5:11)? Whose sleep is sweet (Ecclesiastes 5:12a)? In what circumstances (verse 12b)? What keeps the rich man from sleep (verse 12c)? What evil do riches sometimes do (Ecclesiastes 5:13)? And what happens to the riches (Ecclesiastes 5:14a)? What is true of his son at birth (verse 14b)? And when is it true again (Ecclesiastes 5:15)? What does he call this (Ecclesiastes 5:13a, Ecclesiastes 5:16a–b)? With what question does he make this point (verse 16c)? What is the answer to that question (Ecclesiastes 5:17)?

What can be a hindrance to humility in worship? Ecclesiastes 5:8–17 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that earthly position and earthly possessions threaten to hinder humility before God.

Humility is the key to proper worship (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7), but two hindrances to that humility are earthly positions and earthly possessions. In order not to be puffed up by earthly position, even a king must remember that the chain of command keeps going beyond him unto God (Ecclesiastes 5:8), and that his own good is bound up in the rest of the people’s good (Ecclesiastes 5:9). And in order no to be puffed up by earthly possessions, even the rich must remember that increased reaches cannot satisfy (Ecclesiastes 5:10), and that they bring increased obligations (Ecclesiastes 5:11), decreased sleep (Ecclesiastes 5:12), and increased miseries (Ecclesiastes 5:13, Ecclesiastes 5:16-17)—even though you can’t take a particle of it with you when you die (Ecclesiastes 5:14-15). So, while possessions have value as from the Lord, and usefulness as for the Lord, they are cause for humility rather than pride. In remembering this, one will not be hindered from humility before God by his earthly position or earthly possessions.

What position are you in danger of coveting? What possessions are you in danger of coveting? What, in your life, most threatens to hinder you from being humble before God? What must you remember about it?

Sample prayer: Lord, we praise You, for the position of Your worshiper is higher than the position of king among men. And, the possession of the blessedness of Your worship is better than the possession of great earthly riches. So, keep us mindful of these truths, we pray, so that we may worship in delighted humility, rather than miserable pride, we ask through the glorious One, Jesus Christ, AMEN!

Suggested Songs: ARP72A “God, Give Your Judgments to the King” or TPH212 “Come, Thou Almighty King”