"OVERVIEW OF ECCLESIASTES"

Background into –

Author – Solomon

Solomon was plainly the author (Ec 1:12, 16; 2:15; 12:9). That the Rabbins attribute it to Isaiah or Hezekiah is explicable by supposing that one or the other inserted it in the canon. The difference of its style, as compared with Proverbs and Song of Solomon, is due to the difference of subjects, and the different period of his life in which each was written; the Song, in the fervor of his first love to God; Proverbs, about the same time, or somewhat later; but Ecclesiastes in late old age, as the seal and testimony of repentance of his apostasy in the intervening period: Ps 89:30, 33 proves his penitence.[ii]

“Jewish tradition asserts that Solomon wrote Song of Solomon in his youthful years, Proverbs in his middle years, and Ecclesiastes in his last years.”

Date – 935 BC

Theme – “Life lived apart from God is futile emptiness” – vanity, vanity, all is vanity

Proposition – This morning we are going to see how the theme – “Life lived apart from God is futile emptiness” is seen throughout the entire book.

1. Futility of life – 1-10

Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

· Vanity – meaninglessness

Eccl 1:14

I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

· Under the sun – has the idea of what is done below heaven – in other words what is done here on earth.

Eccl 2:11

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Eccl 2:15

Then I said in my heart, "What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?" And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

Eccl 2:17

So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Eccl 2:19

and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.

Eccl 2:21

because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Eccl 2:23

For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

Eccl 2:26

For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Eccl 3:19

For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity.

Eccl 4:4

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Eccl 4:8

one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, "For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.

Eccl 4:16

There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Eccl 5:10

He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity

Eccl 6:11

The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man?

Eccl 11:8

So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.

Eccl 11:10

Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Eccl 12:8

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

Under the sun. You will find this important phrase twenty-nine times in Ecclesiastes and with it the phrase “under heaven” (1:13; 2:3; 3:1)[iii]-

Nine times he uses the phrase “striving after wind” – Let’s try to get a better understanding of what this phrase means –

Chasing after the wind –

Eccl. 1:14

I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Eccl. 1:17

And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.

Eccl. 2:11

Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Eccl. 2:17

So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Eccl. 2:26

For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Eccl. 4:4

Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Eccl. 4:6

Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.

Eccl. 4:16

There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

Eccl. 6:9

Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

· Allegory - a visible symbol representing an abstract idea

He concluded that they are all a heavy burden (v. 13, ‘inyan rā‘, “a bad or unpleasant task”; trans. “a miserable business” in 4:8 and “some misfortune” in 5:14) and thus futile or meaningless. In fact they are as useless as chasing after the wind, a graphic picture of effort expended with no results gained since no one can catch the wind by running after it. Solomon used this phrase nine times, all in the first half of the book (1:14, 17; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6, 16; 6:9).[iv]

The conclusion so far is that life is meaningless. You must understand the main point that Solomon has in mind. Remember he was the greatest man who ever lived. And yet he fell into all of the immorality in the book of kings. The point that he is making is that life is meaningless apart from God.

Life is meaningless if you –

· Life lived apart from God

· Life focused on material gain

2. Fulfillment of life – 11-12

Eccl. 11:9

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

What is the book of Eccl. About? You have got to keep the big picture in order to understand the book within its context.

How can a youth rejoice in his youth?

Eccl. 12:9-14

Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

· Fear – Awe and reverence

· Commandments – what God expects

If you are going to have a fulfilled life, then –

· Life lived for God – pursuing Christ likeness

· Life focused eternal gain

Application –

1. Are you living a futile or a fulfilled life?

[i] [ii] Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., Fausset, A. R., Brown, D., & Brown, D. (1997). A commentary, critical and explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. [iii] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be satisfied. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books. [iv] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Ec 1:12–15). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.