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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture
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2015 August 12



Faust on Easter Morning (1856)
Johann Peter Krafft (1780-1856)
Neoclassical Style
Akademie der bildenden Kunste, Vienna, Austria
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: Ecclesiastes 11 exhorts us to about giving, assumptions, sobriety, and rejoicing. Today's painting is based on Goethe's version of the Faust myth. It depicts a moment when Faust turned from the folly of suicide to wisdom of the type commended in today's chapter. As detailed in the title link, above, Faust went through various stages of wisdom and folly, eventually finding redemption.

1. Narrator's Introduction - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:1   -  1:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
2. Teacher's Introduction  - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:12 -  2:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
3. Teacher's Word's           - Coping With Vanity                         (  2:12 - 11:9   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
4. Teacher's Conclusion    - Overcome Vanity by Serving God  ( 11:10 - 12:7   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
5. Narrator's Conclusion   - Overcome Vanity by Serving God  ( 12:8   - 12:14 ) - 946 B.C. Israel

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Ecclesiastes 10. Ecclesiastes 12. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Book of Ecclesiastes Dramatized. ]

     Giving. The chapter begins with an exhortation on giving: "Cast your bread upon the waters: for you shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou know not what evil shall be upon the earth." These words tell us to give even or our necessities ("bread"), and to give to many. You do not know what evil shall be upon the earth; and your generosity will be repaid when the evil comes (1-2).
     Assumptions. The next few verses tell us to avoid assumptions. Although it is true that certain things are inevitable (rain from heavy rain clouds, or a tree remaining where it falls), one can waste time making assumptions about when and how things will happen. If you observe the wind or gaze at the clouds, trying to discern what will happen, you may neither sow nor reap. There are things which you cannot know, such as the way of the spirit, or how bones grow in the womb, or the works of God who makes all. So, instead of being paralyzed by speculation, in the morning sow your seed, and be diligent in the evening; for you do not know what shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall alike be good (3-6).
     Sobriety. You must also live soberly. The light is sweet; and it is pleasant to behold the sun. But, even if you live long and rejoice constantly, remember the days of darkness, because they will be many. All that comes is vanity. So rejoice in your youth; let your heart cheer you; and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but realize that for all of these things God will bring you into judgment (7-9).
     Rejoicing. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity (10).


Ecclesiastes 11

Giving

1 Cast thy bread upon [the face of] the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight;
for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.

Assumptions

3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth:
and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north,
in the place where the tree [that] falleth, there it shall be.
4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit,
nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child:
even so thou knowest not [these] the works of God who maketh [this] -- all.
6 In the morning sow [this] thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand:
for thou knowest not whether [this] shall prosper, either this or that,
or whether they both shall be alike good.

Sobriety

7 Truly the light is sweet,
and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold [this] the sun:
8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all;
yet let him remember [these] the days of darkness; for they shall be many.
All that cometh is vanity.
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth;
and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth,
and walk in the ways of thine heart,
and in the sight of thine eyes:
but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.

Rejoicing

Teacher's Conclusion - Overcome Vanity by Serving God (11:10 - 12:7) - Opening Statement

10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart,
and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.







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