Sermon Notes 20241124

Ecclesiastes 1:1–18 NASB 2020

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Futility of futilities,” says the Preacher, “Futility of futilities! All is futility.” What advantage does a person 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 hurrying 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; No one can tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing. What has been, it is what will be, And what has been done, it is what will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? It has already existed for ages Which were before us. There is no remembrance of the earlier things, And of the later things as well, which will occur, There will be no remembrance of them Among those who will come later still. I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom about everything that has been done under heaven. It is a sorry task with which God has given the sons of mankind to be troubled. I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is futility and striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.” And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know insanity and foolishness; I realized that this also is striving after wind. Because in much wisdom there is much grief; and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.

Sermon Notes 20241124 Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

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 New American Standard Bible (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 2020), Proverbs

Do you want to receive Your Full Inheritance?

Revelation From God

Author

The author of Ecclesiastes identified himself, in Hebrew, as Qo?helet? (Ecc 1:1-2, Ecc 1:12, Ecc7:27, Ecc 12:8-10). Though this is sometimes treated as a proper name and hence transliterated, the presence of the article on the Hebrew word in Ecc 12:8 (and probably also in Ecc 7:27) shows that it is a title. The Old Testament uses this title of no other person. Nor is the form of the verb from which the title is derived used elsewhere. Therefore the exact meaning of this term is in doubt. Suggestions for its significance are generally drawn from the related Hebrew noun "assembly." For example, the Septuagint entitles the book Ekkle?siaste?s ("one who calls an assembly"), whence the English word "Ecclesiastes." Several English versions of the Bible translate Qo?helet? in relation to the function he supposedly played in the assembly (e.g., "The Teacher," NIV; "The Preacher," KJV; "The Leader of the Assembly," NIV marg.).

The author also identified himself as a "son of David" (Ecc 1:1), a "king in Jerusalem" (Ecc 1:1), and "king over Israel in Jerusalem" (Ecc1:12). Moreover, in the autobiographical section (Ecc 1:12-2:26) he said he was wiser "than anyone who [had] ruled over Jerusalem before" him (Ecc 1:16); that he was a builder of great projects (Ecc2:4-6); and that he possessed numerous slaves (Ecc 2:7), incomparable herds of sheep and cattle (Ecc 2:7), great wealth (Ecc_2:8), and a large harem (Ecc 2:8). In short he claimed to be greater than anyone who lived in Jerusalem before him (Ecc 2:9). These descriptions have led many Jewish and Christian interpreters to identify the author as Solomon though his name is never explicitly used in the book. This is according to the Bible Knowledge Commentary.

Date

The true date of Ecclesiastes is unknown, if it was written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 BCE., it would have to been after his prayer for wisdom, 1 Kings 3:1-28.  

History

Ecclesiastes is written in a time of peace and prosperity, it was written during Solomon's reign 971-931 but after his prayer for wisdom, 1Ki 3:1-28.

Structure

Ecclesiastes consists of a combination of the contradictory views of three men (a skeptic, a writer of wisdom, and a believer) or so it would seem, it is really a collection of wisdom sayings, much like Proverbs. It is a deep look into the pleasures of life and the wisdom of the Lord and which path one should follow.

Ecc 1 has two main Pericopes, Vanity that has 4 Sub-pericopes, and The Vanity of Wisdom, which has three sub-pericopes. To me this means that the fourth element of YHWH, YHWH the Church, YHWH Qahal, Ecclesia is being directed to the fact that all wisdom, understanding and knowledge come from YHWH and especially through the second element, that is the word of God, Christ Jesus our Lord. Notice that the chapter has two main pericopes with 7 sub pericopes which total 9 the prefect number of the YHWH Ruach, 3*3 = 9 and the total number of verse are 18 or 9 *2 all pointing to wisdom, understanding and knowledge being of Christ Jesus. Exo 31:3, Exo 35:31, Col 2:2-4!!!

Purpose

The purpose of Ecclesiastes, Qo?helet? (The Preacher or the Teacher) Is trying to teach us to follow the wisdom of YHWH not the pleasures of this world.

The purpose of Ecclesiastes 1, is to teach all that man's wisdom is nothing but pride and vanity, 1Co 13:8-10, Col 2:2-4, Php 1:9-10!!!

Exegesis / Hermeneutical

All is Vanity  All is Vanity Ecc1:1-3 : Solomon is so clearly telling us that man is nothing with out God, How can man think that He can know all things, be wise in all things and understanding all things, Man is God's creation not vis-a-versa, so when man seek man's wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, it is pride and vanity, it is not God's Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge, Pro11:2! We must seek God's wisdom, understanding and knowledge or we are seeking foolishness. Pro 14:8, Pro 14:18, Pro 14:24, 1Co1:18-31!!! A Full Circle Ecc1:4-7 : God is the light of all ages Joh8:12, Joh9:5 , Rev22:5, He is the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end Rev1:8, In God is hidden all wisdom, understanding and knowledge Col 2:2-4, Isa11:2, Dan2:21, Col1:9!!! See and Hear Ecc1:8 : This is asking for the Holy Spirit to open up and prepare the eyes of man to see and the ears of man to hear, that they may receive the Love God in all manner of workmanship, Exo31:3, 1Jn4:8, Mat13:10-17!!! I am the Alpha and Omega Ecc1:9-11 : This is a repeat of pericope 2 God is the light of all ages Joh8:12, Joh9:5, Rev22:5, He is the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end Rev1:8, In God is hidden all wisdom, understanding and knowledge Col 2:2-4, Isa11:2, Dan2:21, Col1:9!!! The Vanity of Wisdom Seek Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge Ecc1:12-13 : This is a repeat of the 1 Pericope in the Main Pericope, Solomon is so clearly telling us that man is nothing with out God, How can man think that He can know all things, be wise in all things and understanding all things, Man is God's creation not vis-a-versa, so when man seek man's wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, it is pride and vanity, it is not God's Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge, Pro11:2! We must seek God's wisdom, understanding and knowledge or we are seeking foolishness. Pro14:8, Pro14:18, Pro14:24, 1Co1:18-31!!! Man's Works Ecc1:14-15 : Solomon is saying that everything that man can do for man is in vain when it is not done for the Love of God and Love of Neighbors, Mat22:36-40, 1Jn4:7-21!!! Man's Wisdom Brings Grief Ecc1:16-18 : This a very interesting ending because no could read it as if Solomon was sorry that he had so much wisdom, understanding and knowledge that it had brought him immeasurable grief, I believe what is really saying is that God is grieves at all whom will choose not to enter the narrow gate that will chose the path of destruction. Mat7:13-14!!!

Application

YHWH, teach me to seek You ways and not man’s, In YHWH Yeshua Holy and Precious name I pray and I claim this Petition Amen Amen Amen Amen !!!!

How is the church supposed to apply the instruction of the teacher? We are to seek God in all that we do, we are to seek His Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Man’s or other wisdom is foolish folly, 1Co1:18-31!!! If we want to receive our eternal inheritance the only wisdom, understanding and knowledge that we can seek is God's Rev20:1-6!!!

Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 1, teaches all that man's wisdom is nothing but pride and vanity, 1Co 13:8-10, Col 2:2-4, Php 1:9-10!!!

Do you want to receive Your Full Inheritance? 

Then you must walk and seek God's ways and not mans'!!! John 8:44, Rom 8:1-9!!!