By Mike Dawson
Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia

Focal Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 

Robert Wolgemuth recently authored a book entitled Gun Lap. I’d never heard of the gun lap, even during the Olympics. Yet in a long-distance race, whenever the leading runner starts his final lap, the starting gun is fired a second time. That pistol shot signals the start of the gun lap — a runner’s last chance to go all out for the win. So Gun Lap is about finishing strong, focusing on the final lap in life’s race.

Our focal passage, Ecclesiastes 12:1-14, asks “What’s Life All About?” No one could answer better than the aging King Solomon, who had tried almost everything. His words prompt us to think seriously about running our “gun lap.” As I move through my eighties, I personally aim to give my best for the Lord and to finish strong. You likely have that same desire. So today’s lesson provides a great opportunity to leave it all out on the track. [Read more…]

By Mike Dawson
Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia

Focal Passage: Ecclesiastes 9:1-10 

In 1789 Benjamin Franklin quoted: “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except DEATH and TAXES.” In the aftermath of the COVID epidemic, someone added a third certainty: JOB INSECURITY. We could all give a collective amen/moan to that! But the truth is, as we await Jesus’ return to earth with judgment to follow, only one thing is absolutely certain — DEATH. 

A politician was asked, “What’s the death rate in your district?” He replied, “Same as yours. One out of one.” What’s the percentage of deaths in your community? Same as ours: 100 percent. 

Dying is the one thing we can be certain of while living. In our focal passage, Ecclesiastes 9:1-10, old King Solomon lets his depression speak regarding that one certain thing.  [Read more…]

By Mike Dawson
Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia

Focal Passage: Ecclesiastes 7:11-22 

Remember learning to ride a bicycle? It was about balance: being balanced getting up on (and off) the bike, staying balanced while riding, and remaining balanced when braking.

 Leaning heavily to one side or the other meant falling over — resulting in “skint knees” and elbows or worse. In our focal passage (Ecclesiastes 7:11-22), King Solomon looks over his life and encourages his readers to avoid heavy leaning and seek a healthy balance instead. The text could fall into 5 ‘balancing acts.’ 

(1) Finding balance by comparing man’s wisdom to God’s work (verses 11-13). Solomon was “sometimes up and sometimes down” in these verses. He was certainly viewing life from ‘see-level’ in speaking of wisdom being profitable and a defense — as money is a defense (verse 12). But then Solomon looks UP, inviting us to consider the work of God which is permanent — in a day when nothing seems to last (verse 13).  [Read more…]

By Mike Dawson
Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia

Focal Passage: Ecclesiastes 4:13-5:7 

Some older readers may remember “Hey There,” a popular song in the 50’s. It’s about a young lady in love, trying to talk herself into making wise decisions. She says, “Will you take this advice I hand you, like a mother? Or, am I not seeing things too clear? Are you just too far gone to hear? Is it all goin’ in one ear — and out the other?”

Our focal passage, Ecclesiastes 4:13-5:7, seems to reveal King Solomon in a very similar conversation with himself. He had reached a goin’-in-one-ear-and-out-the-other stage. He describes himself as “an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more” (Ecc. 4:13).

Composing the book of Proverbs earlier in his life, Solomon gathered hundreds of wise sayings. One of his most-used words was ‘better.’ For example, “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.” (Proverbs 15:17) I have a message from that text about marriage and family; I call it “When a Salad is Better than a Steak.” Solomon wrote that and many other ‘betters’ when he was younger and wiser.  [Read more…]

By Mike Dawson
Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia

Focal Passage: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 

A Jewish rabbi was once asked by an inquirer, “Why do Jewish teachers always seem to answer a question with a question?” The rabbi replied, “Why not?” Of course that was originally told as a joke, but it’s actually quite true; the greatest Rabbi ever, Jesus Himself, often answered questions with questions. 

Each of our studies in the book of Ecclesiastes starts with a question; the first one (last week) was “What’s the Use?” (Ecc. 1-2). The second one is today, “What Time Is it?” (Ecc. 3), and is followed by “Why Listen?” from chapters 4 and 5. After that, we’re to study in chapter 7, “Where Is the Balance?” Our next-to-the-last question, found in Ecclesiastes 9, will be “Facing Death?” And our final study, from Ecclesiastes 12, will ask “What is Life About?” 

Some of these profound questions are answered by even more questions from the now old and cynical author of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon.   [Read more…]

By Mike Dawson
Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia

Focal Passage: Ecclesiastes 1:12-15; 2:18-26 

Remember your (or your child’s) first chocolate ‘Easter’ bunny? Maybe it was huge, and you could hardly wait to enjoy its chocolaty sweetness. So you took a big bite into one of those long ears, only to find the bunny rabbit was — hollow. Many people around us have been disappointed like that. That’s why the book of Ecclesiastes, although written nearly 3,000 years ago by King Solomon, is so relevant; it speaks of an emptiness, hollowness and void which multitudes these days are feeling. 

The Old Testament contains three main divisions: the Historical books (Genesis through Esther), the Poetical books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon), and Prophetical books (Isaiah through Malachi). Our study this quarter involves two of the five Poetical books; we completed Job last week; we begin today in Ecclesiastes. 

‘Ecclesiastes’ refers to someone who speaks to the assembly (ecclesia) — ‘a preacher’ or ‘a philosopher.’ Dr. J. Vernon McGee says that he prefers ‘philosopher’ because it’s less likely to be misunderstood. Solomon had come to a different point in his life than when he wrote Proverbs. Earlier he wrote under the Spirit, now he’s writing “under the sun” — a phrase he puts in his book 29 times. He had used his God-given (heavenly) wisdom at first, now he’s using man-made (earthly) wisdom. Solomon was walking with God in Proverbs; here in Ecclesiastes he has walked away from God. Yes, one of the wisest of men has become one of the biggest fools!  [Read more…]