IBeam Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

INTERPRETATION

Isolation of the Text (Select the text)

Ecclesiastes 1;12-18

Investigation of the Text (Study the text)

Interrelation of the Text (Structure the text)

(ESV)

12 I the Preacher

the Preacher

have been king over Israel

12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 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. 18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

have been king

over Israel in Jerusalem.

in Jerusalem.

And I applied

13 And I applied my heart

my heart

to seek and to search out

by wisdom

to seek and to search

out by wisdom

all that is done under heaven.

It is an unhappy business

all that is done under heaven.

that God has given to the children of man

It is an unhappy business

is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 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. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” (, ESV)

that God has given

to be busy with.

to the children of man

14 I have seen everything

that is done under the sun,

to be busy with. I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 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. For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” (, ESV)

and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,

and what is lacking cannot be counted.

16 I

said in my heart,

“I have acquired great wisdom,

surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

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.

18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

INCOMPLETION (Human need in text)

People think wisdom gives their life meaning.

IMPRESSION (Big exegetical idea)

Subject (What is author talking about?)

wisdom

Specifics (What is author saying about subject?)

subject?)

subject?)

is an applied discipline

under heaven

unhappy buisness

not the answer

related to madness and folly

grievous, brings sorrow

Impression (One sentence summary of text)

The search for wisdom, as the meaning of life, proved to bring sorrow.

IMPLICATION (Big homiletical idea)

Indication (Primary idea of the text)

Worldly wisdom does not result in a meaningful life

Interrogation (Probing journalistic questions)

Why?

Integration (Plural noun keyword)

these observations

Implication (One sentence summary of message)

Believers will discover that “wisdom” is not the “source of meaning”; this is based on these observations:

search for wisdom is an unhappy buisness

“wisdom” does not cure the evils of society

absolute wisdom is the answer

wisdom is related to madness/folly

increases wisdom increases sorrow

INTENTION (Specific goal of message)

I want my hearers to understand that wisdom without God is not the answer that people are looking for.

therefore?

Matthew 6:33 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

INDENTATION (Message design or structure)

Identification (Title of message)

Is Wisdom the Answer?

Introduction

Ingression (Transitional sentence from introduction to Scripture reading)

Inspiration (Scripture reading)

Ingression (Transitional sentence from Scripture reading to first point)

Itemization (1) (First message point or movement)

Ideation (1) (Thoughts about first point)

Instruction (1) (Explanation)

Illustration (1)

Implementation (1) (Application)

Interconnection (Transition between message points)

Itemization (2) (Second message point or movement)

Ideation (2) (Thoughts about second point)

Instruction (2) (Explanation)

Illustration (2)

Implementation (2) (Application)

Interconnection (Transition between message points)

Itemization (3) (Third message point or movement)

Ideation (3) (Thoughts about third point)

Instruction (3) (Explanation)

Illustration (3)

Implementation (3) (Application)

Interconnection (Transition between message points)

Itemization (4) (Forth message point or movement)

Ideation (4) (Thoughts about forth point)

Instruction (4) (Explanation)

Illustration (4)

Implementation (4) (Application)

Importation (Final exhortation to apply goal of message)