Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes Structure:

1. The Prologue (Eccl. 1:1)

a. The words of a Teacher who is described as a king and the son of David. (Eccl. 1:1)

2. The words of the Teacher

1. All is Vanity (Eccl. 1:2)

b. Creation and Humanity is an endless cycle (Eccl. 1:2-11)

i. Human’s endless cycle (Eccl. 1:1-4)

1. What do people gain from their toil under the sun? (Eccl. 1:3)

2. Generations come and go, but the earth remains forever (Eccl. 1:4)

ii. Creation’s endless cycle (Eccl. 1:5-7)

1. The sun continually rises and sets (Eccl. 1:5)

2. The wind continually blows around the around the earth (Eccl. 1:6)

3. Rivers continue to flow to the sea, but the sea is not full (Eccl. 1:7)

iii. The cycle of unsatisfaction (Eccl. 1:8)

1. All things are wearisome (Eccl. 1:8a)

2. The eyes and ears are not satisfied (Eccl. 1:8b)

iv. The cycle of nothing new (Eccl. 1:9-10)

1. There is nothing new under the sun. The past will repeat itself (Eccl. 1:9-10)

v. The cycle of un-remembrance (Eccl. 1:11)

1. Previous people are not remembered by those who replace them (Eccl. 1:11)

c. The cycle of unfulfillment (Eccl. 1:12-2:26)

i. The pursuit of wisdom leads to sorrow (Eccl. 1:12-18)

1. God’s gift of seeking understanding through wisdom leads to unhappiness (Eccl. 1:12-13)

2. All is vanity under the sun (Eccl. 1:14)

3. Things that are, cannot be changed (Eccl. 1:15)

4. Seeking to understand wisdom is like chasing after wind, it will only increase sorrow (Eccl. 1:16-18)

ii. Seeking fulfillment through worldly things is vanity (Eccl. 2:1-8)

1. Seeking fulfillment through pleasure is vanity (Eccl. 2:1-3)

2. Seeking fulfillment through work is vanity (Eccl. 2:4-6)

3. Seeking fulfillment through possessions is vanity (Eccl. 2:7-8)

iii. Seeking greatness is vanity (Eccl. 2:9-21)

1. Chasing after greatness is vanity (Eccl. 2:9-11)

2. Seeking wisdom is vanity, all die, no one is remembered. The teacher hates life (Eccl. 2:12-17)

3. Leaving behind a legacy/inheritance is vanity (Eccl. 2:18-21)

iv. Conclusion: Please God and enjoy his gifts (Eccl. 2:22-26)

1. Work produces no rest, it is vanity (Eccl. 2:22-23)

2. Any enjoyment that comes from one’s toils, is a gift from God. Enjoy them while they last. Please God, and he will give you enjoyment from your toils (Eccl. 2:24-26)

d. The cycle of events (Eccl. 3:1-)

i. The cycle of time (Eccl. 3:1-8)

1. Everything has a time. The teacher juxtaposes two opposites. (Eccl. 3:1-8)

ii. The cycle of sowing and reaping (Eccl. 3:9-15)

1. The God's sovereign gift is human toil, and the enjoyment of the fruits of such toil brings. This cycle of sowing and reaping is established by God and cannot be changed. (Eccl. 3:9-15)

iii. The cycle of life and death (Eccl. 3:16-4:3)

1. The righteous and the wicked are both judged. God brings death to both humans and animals. The cycle of life and death. (Eccl. 3:16-22)

2. The oppressed and the oppressors have no comforters. Death is better than life, and nonexistence is better than existence. (Eccl. 4:1-3)

iv. The cycle of unsatisfied work (Eccl. 4:4-8)

1. The three workers: 1) competitive workaholic, 2) the lazy worker, 3) A calm worker (Net Bible Notes). (Eccl. 4:4-6)

2. Obtaining wealth from toils never satisfy life (Eccl. 4:7-8)

v. The cycle of advice (Eccl. 4:9-16)

1. Two is better than one, and three is better than two (Eccl. 4:9-12)

2. Do not neglect advice from those around you. But the benefits of that advice will only last for one generation (Eccl. 4:13-16)

vi. Conclusion: Fear God (Eccl. 5:1-7)

1. Fear God. Be slow to speak and do not make vows before him. (Eccl. 5:1-7)

vii. The cycle of corruption (Eccl. 5:8-6:6)

1. Corruption in government goes to the top (Eccl. 5:8-9)

2. The love of money, the prosperity of life, and human toil is nothing because all will die (Eccl. 5:10-17)

3. Find enjoyment in whatever your toil produces, because however many days you live is a gift from God (Eccl. 5:18-20)

4. The first time EVIL is mentioned. God gives wealth and honor, but does not let them enjoy it (Eccl. 6:1-6)

viii. The cycle of wisdom (Eccl. 6:7-)

1. There is no difference between the wise and to fool. Chasing after wisdom is vanity (Eccl. 6:7-12)

2. Death and morning are better than life and happiness (Eccl. 7:1-4)

3. Rebukes are better than praise (Eccl. 7:5-6)

4. Corruption corrupts the wise heart. (Eccl. 7:7)

5. Better is the end of a thing than its beginning (Eccl. 7:8)

6. Do not be quick to anger (Eccl. 7:9). Eccl. 11:7-10 )

7. Learn from wisdom to be content with the good and bad in life. God has made them both for humans to endure (Eccl. 7:10-13)

ix. The cycle of injustice (Eccl. 7:15-)

1. The righteous perish but the wicked prosper (Eccl. 7:15-18)

2. The Teacher: "Through wisdom, I found that God made humans for righteousness, but humans pursue unrighteousness." (Eccl. 7:19-29)

3. Humans have no control over the cycles of life, so just obey the one who is in charge (Eccl. 8:1-9)

4. Even though the wicked live a prosperous life, it is good for those who fear God (Eccl. 8:10-13)

5. Since the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer, just enjoy the days of your life which God has given you. (Eccl. 8:14-15)

x. The cycle of life and death (Eccl. 8:16-9:12)

1. No one can understand the mystery of life which God has made (Eccl. 8:16-17)

2. Everyone dies and the memory of them is lost (Eccl. 9:1-6)

3. Enjoy the life you have been given, all its blessings and curse's. Because all will die (Eccl. 9:7-12)

xi. The cycle of wisdom (Eccl. 9:13-10:7)

1. Wisdom is still better than folly, even though little good can come from it (Eccl. 9:13-18)

2. Folly corrupts wisdom (Eccl. 10:1-3)

3. calmness will undo anger (Eccl. 10:4)

4. Life does not happen the way we expect. Those with honor live like those with none (Eccl. 10:5-7)

xii. The cycle of cause and effect (Eccl. 10:8-20)

1. Every action has a consequence (Eccl. 10:8-11)

2. Wise words bring favor, but foolish words bring madness (Eccl. 10:12-15)

3. Work and rest at the proper time (Eccl. 10:16-19)

4. Do not curse the king, because he might find out what your said (Eccl. 10:19-20)

xiii. Conclusion: Accept the cycles of life that God has ordained (Eccl. 11:1-7)

1. Do not strive to understand life, just accept how things are, and be diligent with each task (Eccl. 11:1-6)

2. Rejoice in the good days, and do not be anxious about the bad days. All experience bad days and God's judgment is coming, so do whatever you like, because the cycle of death takes every living thing. Life is vanity (Eccl. 11:7-12:7)

3. The Epilogue (Eccl. 12:9-12)

1. These are the words of the Teacher, who wrote and studied many things (Eccl. 12:9-10)

2. The sayings of the wise are like a shepherd's stick, they guild the student. There is no end to knowledge, and it will only bring weariness (Eccl. 12:11-12)

4. The Climax (Eccl. 12:13-14)

1. Fear God and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For judgment will come to all (Eccl. 12:13-14)

i. The cycle of time (Eccl. 3:1-8) ///

i. The cycle of sowing and reaping (Eccl. 3:9-15) /// i. The cycle of cause and effect (Eccl. 10:8-20)

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

i. The cycle of life and death (Eccl. 3:16-4:3) /// i. The cycle of life and death (Eccl. 8:16-9:12)

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to be born, and a time to die

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time for war, and a time for peace.

i. The cycle of unsatisfied work (Eccl. 4:4-8) /// i. The cycle of labor (Eccl. 11:1-6)

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

i. The cycle of generations (Eccl. 4:9-16) /// i. The cycle of generations (Eccl. 11:7-10)

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to weep, and a time to laugh

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to mourn, and a time to dance

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to love, and a time to hate;

i. The cycle of corruption (Eccl. 5:8-6:6) /// i. The cycle of injustice (Eccl. 7:15-8:15)

i. The cycle of wisdom (Eccl. 6:7-7:14) /// i. The cycle of wisdom (Eccl. 9:13-10:7)

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

The New Revised Standard Version Everything Has Its Time

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

i. Conclusion: Fear God (Eccl. 5:1-7) /// i. Conclusion: Accept the cycles of life that God has ordained (Eccl. 12:1-7)