Sermon Tone Analysis

Ecclesiastes - Enjoy Life & Fear God

Annie Edson Taylor

Annie Edson Taylor was a teacher who, in 1901, on her 63rd birthday, became the first woman to survive a trip over Niagara Falls in a barrel.

After she was fished out of the water, she told reporters that she would "caution anyone against attempting the feat."

WikiMedia Commons

So, what do you think the news talked about the day after she accomplished this feat?

I think it might have been headlines around the world.

But, why does nobody talk about it today.

In fact, there are millions of people who have done amazing things in their lifetimes, and nobody talks about them today.

What is the point of the great things that we do in life?

What about the small things.

What are we working so hard for?

That is what the book of Ecclesiastes is about.

Is everything meaningless?

What gives purpose to life?

Mr. Teacher

Ecclesiastes is latin for “The Preacher”

Qoheleth is Teacher, but with a title attached.

Although not stated, it seems very likely that King Solomon is the author.

ALthough not stated, it seems very likely that King Solomon is the author.

CLUES

-vs 1 - A son of David

-vs 2:9 - became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem

King Solomon

He was literally the riches, wisest person alive.

People would come from all over the world to hear his wisdom.

There is no modern day equivalent of Solomon, so just pretend with me that he is the King of Canada.

His riches have completely reshaped and rejuvenated our economy.

Our lives are better for his leadership.

Neighbouring governments are constantly sending dignitaries, representatives and family members to hear his wisdom, and many many nations are paying tribute and taxes to Canada.

On the negative side, even though Solomon built an incredible Temple for God, he has also intermarried with all of the surrounding nations, taking 700 wives for himself as well as 300 concubines, building temples and idols to represent their religious backgrounds as well.

These woman stole Solomons heart and turned him against God.

Now, at the end of his life, Solomon writes the book of Ecclesiastes.

He is writing to the wealthy, people whose lives have shifted from being farmers, to becoming economic drivers in their nation.

He wants for them to consider why are they working so hard.

What is the point of wisdom?

Where can they find meaning in their lives.

Even though this book is written around 935 BC (that’s 2,954 years ago), its message is very helpful for us today.

How Should We Read It

We are in a culture that values pleasure, hard work and living life to the fullest.

But we need to step back from it all and ask the question, WHY?

Ecc 1-2

I’m going to read the first 2 Chapters of Ecclesiastes and then come back and reflect on the words.

Listen to this teaching from a wealthy, wise King talking to those who are living at the heights of prosperity.

Ecclesiastes Vocabulary

Ecclesiastes Vocabulary

futility, meaningless, vanity = breath, vapour.

Breath - Illustration

-Put your hand in front of your mouth.

Now blow onto it.

Now, where is the breath?

It’s gone.

Its passed

That is what Mr Teacher is teaching, everything is short, and you can’t catch it, you can’t hold it, it’s like a breath.

under the sun

-everything that’s on the earth, without acknowledging what is in the heavens (that is, life without God, a secular perspective).

Gain is profit = net gain

If you are in the ping pong ball business and it costs you 45 cents to make a ping pong ball, but you sell it for $1.00, then you have 55 cent profit.

In Ecclesiastes, you can see what is the gain for your effort in life.

Everything is Futile ()

Everything is futile.

Meaningless.

“Hevel”, a breath that can’t be grasped.

What do people gain from all of the work that they do here on the earth?

What is the point of profit?

Breath - Illustration

-Put your hand in front of your mouth.

Now blow onto it.

Now, where is the breath?

It’s gone.

Its passed

That is what Mr Teacher is teaching, everything is short, and you can’t catch it, you can’t hold it, it’s like a breath.

Generations come and go, but the earth outlives them all.

The sun rises, falls and repeats.

The wind goes and blows, then stops and blows some more.

Is it just on repeat, what’s the point?

Water runs to the sea, but the sea is never filled.

We are being shows the weary cycles of nature, the point is futility, what is the point of nature consistently running its course?

The eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear with hearing.

The eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear with hearing.

The eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear with hearing.

An acknowledgement of our mortality.

We see, but have limits to what we can understand, (same for hearing.)

Illustration - Our inability to understand quick news hits.

This week it was a quote about people who drive Ford F 350 pickups that got our attention.

But then, once we get all of the details, etc.

We still our limited in our ability to comprehend the entire situation.

If all that there is is life under the sun, then we will never know, understand or truly enjoy life.

It just doesn’t seem to add up.

We have less importance than we think.

All of the profit we earn, all of the work we achieve, is just a long cycle, and one day people will go to a service to remember us, to the cemetery to bury us, and then back to the church for potato salad.

We have less importance than we think.

All of the profit we earn, all of the work we achieve, is just a long cycle, and one day people will go to a service to remember us, to the cemetery to bury us, and then back to the church for potato salad.

If that’s all there is to life, then What are we living for?

What’s the point?

Its just like Chasing the Wind.

But don’t forget, Mr Teacher is only focussing on what is “under the sun”

Life has been described to us from a secular perspective.

This is the atheists reality, if there is no God, then what is the point of anything?

Do you believe that there is more to life then what we can see under the sun with our eyes, and more than we can hear with our ears?