The Bible Series Ecclesiastes
Notes
Transcript
The book of Ecclesiastes (Meaning: one who speaks before an assembly “preacher or teacher”) is probably the most philosophical book in the scriptures. PROVERBS addresses the general principles and truths of life and wisdom… whereas this book ponders the many exceptions & problematic portions of life…
Being a book of “ponderings” I sat down this week with my son Preston to ponder the vanity aspects or meaningless portions of life...
I was thrilled when our conversation took my son to look at and consider CONTEXT
Not knowing the CONTEXT of this book Ecclesiastes he looked to the CONTEXT of scripture as a whole… which ultimately directed the conversation to JESUS...
Scripture answers the DEEPEST PONDERINGS of mankind’s deepest questions:
1- Where did we come from???
2- Why are we here???
3- Where are we going???
Each of these questions are broached in some form… YET to find the answers complete we look to scripture as a whole!
Three Characters to Consider
Three Characters to Consider
A Narrator who introduces the “preacher” or “Teacher” and who also summarizes at the end the words or ponderings of this individual
He helps us look at the teachings of the preacher and come to a right conclusion
The Preacher/Teacher… is a wise individual (I personally see evidence to believe this to be Solomon) who is looking, observing life from a HUMAN perspective “UNDER THE SUN” and finds life… EMPTY
His ponderings are very “EPISODIC” as he will look at or ponder then move on to another area or subject
He ask the questions many seek to know the answers too
Similar to the book of Job, we see the question of WHY, WHAT USE, WHAT FOR… is there REASON???
Like the book of Job these questions remain still pondered and we are pointed to not the question or its answer but rather the ONE who knows and OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HIM!
The final character is The Assembly or audience…
You and I… those who read these words are to consider these things as well and the implications to our lives
YET!!!… we are to do so with the perspective of:
The Lord and His Word, the scriptures, as a whole
AND the final conclusion we see in this book in the last verses… Ecc 12:13-14
The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
We need to keep this perspective because this book as Wilkinson states is looking at:
“life under the sun” and, from the human perspective, declares it all to be empty. Power, popularity, prestige, pleasure—nothing can fill the God-shaped void in man’s life but God Himself! But once seen from God’s perspective, life takes on meaning and purpose, causing Solomon to exclaim, “Eat…drink…rejoice…do good…live joyfully…fear God…keep His commandments!” Skepticism and despair melt away when life is viewed as a daily gift from God.”Wilkinson, B., & Boa, K. (1983). Talk thru the Bible (p. 169). T. Nelson.
This perspective is needed as we see the way this book begins and continues its line of thinking… Ecc. 1:2-11
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun? A generation goes and a generation comes, But the earth remains forever. Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; And hastening to its place it rises there again. Blowing toward the south, Then turning toward the north, The wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns. All the rivers flow into the sea, Yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, There they flow again. All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? Already it has existed for ages Which were before us. There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come later still.
Overview of Ecclesiastes
Overview of Ecclesiastes
The preacher takes a look at LIFE… from the perspective of “under the sun”… a human perspective.
The KEY WORD in this book is the Hebrew word “hebel” literally meaning a breath or vapor...
Meaningless, vanity, or futile emptiness
You reach for it but never grasp, it is fleeting
Soooo many things in this life fall under this definition of “hebel”
The preacher finds “hebel” as he seeks happiness yet comes up empty
These vapors are sought out in various QUEST...
Women
Work
Wealth
Wine
Pleasures of life on all fronts… yet “hebel”
The preacher ponders God and His Sovereignty & Power
He looks into the depths of wisdom
He sees the irony of foolishness and the end that come to both the wise and the fool
There is an in depth look at man’s sinfulness… and the preacher comes to conclude “hebel”
In the preacher’s episodic approach he jumps around from one pondering to another… some will overlap and some he comes back to still seeking answers yet finding “hebel”...
Life and Death… it comes to Good and Evil
Good can die young, evil can live long and old
The strength of youth and vigor
The wisdom of aged and grey haired
ALL THESE THINGS ARE “HEBEL”!!!
The preacher after challenging the assembly to consider with him and ponder… declares Ecc. 12:8
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “all is vanity!”
The Narrator concludes for us the summation: “FEAR GOD & KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS”
I told you about that conversation I had with my son and how he pointed to Jesus… See LIFE REALLY IS MEANINGLESS UNTIL YOU FIND MEANING… and there is no meaning found outside of Jesus that fills the void!
CONTRAST
CONTRAST
There is a vast CONTRAST between “Life UNDER the sun” and “Life WITH the Son”…
What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun?
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6)
That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation… (2 Cor. 5:17)
I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind.
Be steadfast, immovable…knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58)
Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
Being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col. 1:10)
For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?
Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)
So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13)
and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously, he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, “I know,” he cannot discover.
Now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also am known (1 Cor. 13:12)
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one fate for all men. Furthermore, the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil and insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives. Afterwards they go to the dead.
God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (1 John 5:11)
I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.
God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty (1 Cor. 1:27)
before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain;
YES LIFE UNDER THE SUN WILL CEASE… BUT GOD
These are written… That you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13)
Life is meaningless… until there is meaning!
Life is meaningless… until there is meaning!
I love the words of Jesus in John 10:10
John 10:10
“The thief (prince of this world “things under the sun”) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
Scripture declares YOU and I were created on purpose for a purpose and our lives hold purpose and meaning when we pursue HIM!
1- God created you and I formed us (and in Christ we are a new creation!!!)
2- Know God… Love God with all our heart soul mind and strength… and make Him known to all as we go through life
3- Because of knowing Christ… He made a way for life eternal with Him!
In Communion We Celebrate & Remember
In Communion We Celebrate & Remember
Because of His shed blood we are made new
Because of His body broken we have a purpose to know Him and make Him known
Because of Calvary… we can have life eternal with Him
For the BELIEVER in Christ… it is time that we cease from living this life “under the sun” and begin to view and live this life “With the Son”!
What a POWERFUL PURPOSE & PERSPECTIVE on life!