Being Satisfied In God's Sovereignty - Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

Title: Being Satisfied In God's Sovereignty
Text: Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

Introduction.
Solomon explained last time that God was above man, and He was in control of all time and all season that happen in our lives. First he identified that God is above man, and outside of time in the heavenly realm who is in control of all the seasons of this life, and everything we go through during our residency on earth.

Remember Solomon introduces God in his examination and evaluation of the meaning of life in chapter 3 unlike the previous first two chapters. However, in our text, Solomon will clarify that God is inside man. God has placed an eternity in his soul, that bears a special place in the hearts of man for a relationship with it's Creator, God. He has made everything beautiful and edifying to all of us. Also Solomon will testify that God is around man. God is involved and revolves around our lives. His hand is in full control of our lives as our Shepherd.

Knowing God's sovereignty is a very important to our Theology of how we view the Lord. God wants us to know that He is all powerful, all knowledgeable, present everywhere and in the midst of all things that exist, and that He is eternal - the everlasting God. The way we view God is the way we will initially obey Him. In our text, we will talk about several things that will refine our thoughts and hearts. God wants us to be completely satisfied in His sovereignty, trusting in Him for everything in our own personal lives.

We will notice that God is three things in our text:
He is Source: Creator of all things and Giver of all gifts.
He is Sovereign: King over all things.
He is Scared: Holy and Righteous.

Let's read Ecclesiastes 3:9-15.

He is Source: Creator of all things.
1. (vv.3:9) – Solomon repeats vv.1:3 about the exhaustiveness and the emptiness of labor, work, and man’s quest of life. However, Solomon asks this question in a new perspective. Solomon asked this question in the view of things under the sun, the things that are only on earth, but now he poses this questions in the view of things in the Son, Jesus Christ. He acknowledges God for the substantial evidence for all things that exist and is the stabilizer of time, life, and death. He is the one in control of all three. He is the author of all three. Therefore, having the knowledge and understanding of this, we are instructed to know God, and enjoy everything he has made.

2. (vv.3:10) – Solomon proceeds to analyze the “God-given task” as he did in vv.1:13. He later explains this in vv.2:26. The God-given task is something given to man by God. It is to work, and learn and grow in your life, to go through the tough life that has been tainted by sin, and to bear the load of the wear and tear circumstances life inhabits.

3. (vv.3:11) – Solomon how declares that things that are made are made beautiful by God in it’s time. Psalm 19:1-5. God repeats in Genesis in the creation account that everything he made, he made “good.” Also, Solomon adds that God has not just created everything beautiful, but he has sowed into our hearts a root of eternity. The reason why is because when he created us it was in the His image, which initially is His likeness. Not humanly attributes, but heavenly ones. We were created to be with Him in the heavenly kingdom forever, but we sinned and fell away from His glory and holiness, and therefore are depraved and lost because of the sin that separates us from God. However, all man is created with the knowledge of God. Romans 1:19 Knowledge of God is revealed to all man. Romans 1:20 Knowledge of God is revealed in all things. Solomon lastly explains that God has made all things that are clearly seen, and other things that are clearly secret. Romans 11:33, Isaiah 55:8.

He is Source: Giver of all gifts
4. (vv.3:12-13) – James 1:17 says, "Every good gift is from above." We need to recognize where things come from. Psalm 24:1 declares "The earth [is] the LORD's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein." Also we need to know what to do once we understand who gives us such gifts. We need to be thankful and count our blessings, because although we should do that ethically, but we should be thankful spiritually, because God has given these things we do not deserve.

The Bible has a lot to says about gifts:
-We have spiritual gifts - Romans 12:6-9, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Peter 4:10
-We have relational gifts - Proverbs 18:22 (life companion), Psalm 127:3 (children),
Proverbs 27:17 (friendships)
-We have material gifts – Ecclesiastes 5:19
-We have eternal gifts – Matthew 6:19-21 (treasures in heaven), 2 Timothy 4:8 (crown of righteousness),James 1:12 (crown of life), 1 Peter 5:4 (crown of glory).

The greatest gift of all is "God's sovereign redeeming salvation of our souls through Jesus Christ the Righteous."

A. Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God.”

B. Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

He is Sovereign: Supreme Ruler of all things.
1. (vv.3:14a) - What God establishes, God establishes forever. His promises are eternal. His covenants are forever. God's word will abide forever, Isaiah 40:6-8. God's kingdom will abide forever, Psalm 45:6.

Three Theological truths are explained here that we need to understand about the triune God:

A. Omniscience - God knows all things and is absolutely perfect in knowledge.

B. Omnipotence - God can bring to pass everything which He wills. God's power admits of no bounds or limitations.

C. Omnipresence - God is everywhere present. This attribute is closely connected with the omniscience and omnipotence of God, for if God is everywhere present He is everywhere active and possesses full knowledge of all that transpires in every place.

Therefore, we need to recognized these truths and apply them to our lives. God has all knowledge, and if we need an answer we need to ask Him for understanding. God is in control of our lives, as our days our numbered and our lives are in His eternal purposes. So if we have trials that come, we need to trust in God that he is in control and establishing His perfect will in our lives. Also, we need to know that God is with us wherever we go, and he working in the affairs of man to fulfill His will on earth as in heaven.

He is Sacred: Holy and Righteous
1. (vv.3:14b-15) - God does things that are established forever in perfect holiness. Everything the Lord does corresponds to His perfect purity and holiness. "It is His holiness by which He desires to be remembered as that is the attribute which most glorifies Him." We need to have a heavy understanding of God's holiness and righteousness and how He executes justice. If we have a light understanding of God's holiness and righteousness, then we will have a light understanding of sin and the catastrophic need for atonement. It is essential that we see God in His holiness. He lives in holiness. He is holiness.

For God is absolutely holy. (Isaiah 57:15)

We are also to be holy just as He is holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16)
Holy in the Greek "Hagios" - means to be consecrated, set apart, sanctified in Christ.
Holy in the Hebrew "Qadash" means to be sanctified, dedicated, wholly appointed to God.

Wrapping Up
God is Source of all things that are Created and given to us. God has created us beautiful, and everything else in its time. Being made in His image, which is His likeness, we need to reflect God's beautiful attributes of love, mercy, grace, and patience.

God is Sovereign and establishes things forever. His covenants are forever. His promises are forever. He is in control of all things. He is all knowledgeable, all powerful, and always present. Therefore we need to go to the Lord for understanding, for provision and trust, and know He is living in and through us.

God is Sacred. He is holy and perfect in all his judgments. He is completely righteous in everything He does. Therefore we know that God will not ever wrong us, but will establish what is right and just in our lives. We also need to imitate the holiness and righteousness of God in our lives. Be holy for he is holy. Be righteous for He is righteous.