Study Helps - Lesson 2

Lesson 2

*January 6–12

Nothing New Under the Sun

Memory Text: Ecclesiastes 1:9 NKJV 9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

Sabbath Afternoon

Sunday

Kohelet in Jerusalem

Ecclesiastes 1:1 NKJV 1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Ecclesiastes 1:13 NKJV 13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.

Ecclesiastes 1:16 NKJV 16 I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge."

Ecclesiastes 1:17 NKJV 17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Monday

Vanity of Vanities

Ecclesiastes 1:2 NKJV 2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

Psalms 144:4 NKJV 4 Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow.

Isaiah 52:3 NKJV 3 For thus says the LORD: "You have sold yourselves for nothing, And you shall be redeemed without money."

Matthew 6:19-20 NKJV 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Mark 8:36 NKJV 36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

James 4:14 NKJV 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Ecclesiastes 2:10 NKJV 10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor.

Tuesday

The Sun Also Rises

Proverbs 1:17-19 NKJV 17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; 18 But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.

Proverbs 6:6-9 NKJV 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. 9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?

Proverbs 17:12 NKJV 12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

Proverbs 26:1-3 NKJV 1 As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool. 2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight. 3 A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool's back.

Proverbs 26:11 NKJV 11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

Proverbs 31:10 NKJV 10 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

Ecclesiastes 1:4-11 NKJV 4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose. 6 The wind goes toward the south, And turns around to the north; The wind whirls about continually, And comes again on its circuit. 7 All the rivers run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full; To the place from which the rivers come, There they return again. 8 All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.

Psalms 19:1-7 NKJV 1 <<To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat. 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;

Isaiah 40:26 NKJV 26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Wednesday

Beyond the Cycles

Ecclesiastes 1:9 NKJV 9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-4 NKJV 1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." 3 What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? 4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.

1 Corinthians 15:26 NKJV 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15:51-55 NKJV 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"

Hebrews 2:14 NKJV 14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Revelation 21:4 NKJV 4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Isaiah 65:17 NKJV 17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

Thursday

Wisdom “Under the Sun”

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 NKJV 12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered. 16 I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge." 17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Ecclesiastes 1:3 NKJV 3 What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 1:9 NKJV 9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:14 NKJV 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

John 16:33 NKJV 33 "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

2 Timothy 3:7 NKJV 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Ecclesiastes 1:15 NKJV 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

Friday

Ecclesiastes 1:4 NKJV 4 One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.

Ellen G. White, Healthful Living, p. 293

God has illuminated the human intellect, and poured a flood of light on the world in the discoveries of art and science. But those who view these from a merely human standpoint will most assuredly come to wrong conclusions. The thorns of error, skepticism, and infidelity are disguised by being covered with the garments of philosophy and science. Satan has devised this ingenious manner of winning the soul away from the living God, away from the truth and religion. He exalts nature above nature's Creator.--U. T. {HL 293.1}

1194. Some may suppose that these grand things in the natural world are God, but they are not God; they but show forth his glory. The ancient philosophers prided themselves upon their superior knowledge. But let us read the inspired apostle's understanding of the matter: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. . . . Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever." {HL 293.2}

In its human wisdom the world knows not God. Its wise men gather an imperfect knowledge of God through his created works, and then in their foolishness exalt nature and the laws of nature above nature's God. Nature is an open book which reveals God. All who are attracted to nature may behold (p. 294) in it the God that created them. But those who have not a knowledge of God, in their acceptance of the revelation God has made of himself in Christ, will obtain only an imperfect knowledge of God in nature. This knowledge, so far from giving elevated conceptions of God, so far from elevating the mind, the soul, the heart, and bringing the whole being into conformity to the will of God, will make men idolaters. Professing to be wise, they become as fools.-- U. T., July 3, 1898. {HL 293.3}