Ecclesiastes
I. Introduction
A. Ecclesiastes
1. What does it mean?
2. Hebrew qohelet, from word for "assembly"
3. Hence, "Preacher," or some other role within the assembly
4. Ecclesiastes from ekklesia, assembly
B. Perhaps the first "sermon" in the Bible!
1. Message of vanity of life
2. The nature of existence
C. Let us consider the book
II. Ecclesiastes: The Details
A. Authorship
1. Book attributed to son of David, king in Jerusalem, proverb
writer (Ecclesiastes 1:1, 12:9)
2. Likely, therefore, from Solomon
3. Ecclesiastes' presence in Scripture disputed previously;
name of God not in it; generally accepted as inspired based
on Solomonic authorship
B. Dating
1. Solomon lives around 950 BCE
2. Time of compilation unknown
C. Audience
1. The congregation, likely Israel
2. We can gain much also
D. Purpose
1. To warn regarding the vanities of life
2. To provide insight into life
III. Ecclesiastes: The Story
A. Main Sections
1. Vanity in Life (Ecclesiastes 1-2)
2. Under the Sun (Ecclesiastes 3-6)
3. The Challenges of Life (Ecclesiastes 7-12)
B. All is Vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:1-11)!
1. Words of Preacher (Ecclesiastes 1:1)
2. All is vanity-- theme of book (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3)
3. Perpetuation of existence, cyclical nature of life
(Ecclesiastes 1:4-7)
4. Man never satisfied (Ecclesiastes 1:8)
5. Nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)
6. Most things forgotten (Ecclesiastes 1:11)
C. Vanity in Various Conditions (Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:26)
1. Preacher seeks wisdom in toil of men, finds it all to be
vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:12-15)
2. Seeking after wisdom, knowledge itself vanity; leads to
further difficulty (Ecclesiastes 1:16-18)
3. Finds various forms of pleasure; laughter, building,
gardening, possessions, women; all also vanity
(Ecclesiastes 2:1-11)
4. Considers wisdom and folly; wisdom better than folly, but
same fate befalls all; thus all is vanity
(Ecclesiastes 2:12-17)
5. Considers effort: all effort expended to what end,
descendants very well will ruin it; work as vanity
(Ecclesiastes 2:18-23)
6. Nothing better than for a man to find enjoyment in work and
to please God (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)
D. A Season For All Things (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)
E. God, Justice (Ecclesiastes 3:9:21)
1. God has given man toil, makes things beautiful in His time;
eternity in man's heart; need to be joyful, do good, enjoy
toil (Ecclesiastes 3:9-13)
2. God's work endures forever, man to fear before Him
(Ecclesiastes 3:14-15)
3. Injustice even in place of justice; God will judge; humans,
animals all die; all return to dust; best for man to just
enjoy work (Ecclesiastes 3:16-21)
F. Events Under the Sun (Ecclesiastes 4-6)
1. Sees oppression, no comfort for oppressed, power with
oppressors; better to be dead or not yet born than to see
such things (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3)
2. Work as from envy of neighbor; vanity (Ecclesiastes 4:4)
3. Folly of fool; quietness over toil and vanity; man without
relatives yet covetous (Ecclesiastes 4:5-8)
4. Strength in numbers (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)
5. Value of accepting wisdom/advice, even as a ruler
(Ecclesiastes 4:13-16)
6. Fear God; speak few words before Him; pay vows to God; sin
not with mouth (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7)
7. Despite corruption, always a higher power
(Ecclesiastes 5:8-9)
8. No satisfaction in money or goods (Ecclesiastes 5: 10-12)
9. Lost riches; nothing really gained from toil in the end;
must find contentment in toil, God (Ecclesiastes 5:13-20)
10. An evil: one who obtains comfortable living, yet it is
enjoyed by another; one who does not find satisfaction in
life worse off than a stillborn child (Ecclesiastes 6:1-6)
11. Vanity of toil to satisfy appetite (Ecclesiastes 6:7-9)
12. Inability for man to know much beyond the present sphere
(Ecclesiastes 6:10-12)
G. Wisdom and Folly (Ecclesiastes 7)
1. Proverbs relating to wisdom and folly (Ecclesiastes 7:1-13)
2. God makes day of prosperity and adversity
(Ecclesiastes 7:14)
3. Value in not being overly wise or a fool
(Ecclesiastes 7:15-18)
4. Value of wisdom; no completely righteous man; do not let
criticism get you down; tested by wisdom
(Ecclesiastes 7:19-24)
5. Searching for wisdom, folly; danger of adulterous woman;
man seeks out schemes (Ecclesiastes 7:25-29)
H. The King and God (Ecclesiastes 8)
1. Act wisely before a king; man does not know future
(Ecclesiastes 8:1-9)
2. Burial of wicked; since God's judgment not speedy, man
sets heart to sin; in the end, all well only with those
fearing God (Ecclesiastes 8:10-13)
3. Righteous suffer, wicked prosper: man must just enjoy work,
what is for him, since God's hand is everywhere-- man does
not understand or see (Ecclesiastes 8:14-17)
I. Death and Living (Ecclesiastes 9:1-10)
1. No matter how you live, death comes to you; dead as knowing
nothing, forgotten (Ecclesiastes 9:1-6)
2. Thus, enjoy life, small pleasures therein; enjoy wife; do
what you can to the best of your ability
(Ecclesiastes 9:7-10)
J. More on Wisdom and Folly (Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:20)
1. Randomness of events (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12)
2. Wisdom greater than might, even if not recognized; value
of wise words (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)
3. Proverbs on wisdom, folly (Ecclesiastes 10:1-4)
4. Evil: folly exalted, the high lowered (Ecclesiastes 10:5-7)
5. Proverbs on effort, wisdom (Ecclesiastes 10:8-11)
6. Proverbs on wise vs. fools, benefit to land of good rulers
(Ecclesiastes 10:12-17)
7. Proverbs on laziness, benefits of life, wisdom in not even
thinking evil (Ecclesiastes 10:18-20)
K. Youth and Age (Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8)
1. Benefits of feeding others; value of work over observation
(Ecclesiastes 11:1-4)
2. Man ignorant of God's ways; do good; appreciate light, life
(Ecclesiastes 11:5-7)
3. Value of youth; rejoice in it; yet act wisely
(Ecclesiastes 11:8-10)
4. Remember Creator in days of youth, before age sets in;
description of physical deterioration; ends at death
(Ecclesiastes 12:1-7)
5. All is vanity/emptiness (Ecclesiastes 12:8)
L. Conclusion (Ecclesiastes 12:9-13)
1. Preacher as wise, teaching knowledge; writing proverbs;
wrote words of truth (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10)
2. Value of wise words (Ecclesiastes 12:11)
3. Weariness of many books, study (Ecclesiastes 12:12)
4. Conclusion of matter: fear God, keep His commandments;
whole duty of man; God brings all into judgment
(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
IV. Ecclesiastes: Important Passages
A. Ecclesiastes 1:2-- all as vanity
B. Ecclesiastes 1:9-- nothing new under the sun
C. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
D. Ecclesiastes 3:11
E. Ecclesiastes 7:10
F. Ecclesiastes 9:7-10, 11
G. Ecclesiastes 11:9
H. Ecclesiastes 12:1-8
I. Ecclesiastes 12:12-14
V. Conclusion
A. The conundrum known as Ecclesiastes
1. Rather depressingly cynical
2. Yet only too true!
B. Ecclesiastes helps us keep things in perspective
1. Ought not to be taken to hedonistic ends
2. Recognition that most of designs, intentions of man
ultimately futile
3. True satisfaction found in the blessings that God has
given
C. Let us consider the matter soberly!
1. All endeavors of man are vanity and emptiness
2. Glory not to be found in things, organizations of man,
all that perishes
3. Benefits in life found in people, enjoying what we do,
serving God
D. Let us keep a good perspective and serve God!
E. Invitation/songbook