ecclesiastes sermon

*Ecclesiastes

1. Introduction
1. Ok, who wanted sermons from Ecclesiastes?
1. This is sort of a teaching sermon
2. Begin by reading chapter 1
1. How do you feel after hearing that? #. Depressed?
2. You might ask, "What in the world is a book like this doing in the Bible?"
1. A lot of people have asked that question
1. Some people believe that those who chose what books to include in the Bible made a mistake
2. You see, Ecclesiastes is a most remarkable book in the Bible
3. But it's a book that helps convince me of the truthfulness of the Bible
4. Why?
5. If you had faked a religion and faked documents, you would not have included Ecclesiastes
1. The book raises too many questions 1. But basically 2 problems with it
2. Ray Steadman wrote this, "The book of Ecclesiastes, or "the Preacher," is unique in scripture. There is no other book like it, because it is the only book in the Bible that reflects a human, rather than a divine, point of view." #. He goes on to say that it is a book filled with error
1. Does he mean that the book in itself is in error?
2. No, just that it contains erroneous views of life
3. We just read some of them--didn't we? #. SHOW "The Art of Staying Off Dead-end Streets"
4. What if you did not know anything about the Bible, & you opened & read the 1st chapter of Ecclesiastes?
1. Steadman goes on to say, "So it is quite possible to "prove" all kinds of utterly false things by quoting the Bible because in that sense the Bible is filled with error. But the Bible always points out the error which it presents and makes it clear that it is error, as in the case with this book. Because of its remarkable character, Ecclesiastes is the most misused book of the Bible. This is the favorite book of atheists and agnostics. And many cults love to quote this book's erroneous viewpoints and give the impression that these are scriptural, divine words of God concerning life. #. So, the 1st problem with ECC. is it is filled with human wisdom
2. The 2nd problem is that the order of this book also is nor orderly
1. It does not easily move from human pt. of view to God's pt. of view
2. It does start out with man's view, and ends in chapter 12 with God's view
3. But it is not an orderly movement
4. God shows up in chapter 3 & chapter 5, & in 7 & 8 & at the end in chapter 12
5. But man's wisdom is interspersed through out
1. So, those 2 things create problems for readers of Ecclesiastes
2. Well, we read chapter 1, let's take a closer look at the chapter
3. Read vs. 1 #. Teacher Preacher Quester #. That is actually the title of the book,

but you would never know that

1. The Hebrew title is "Qoheleth" (a ‘qoheleth’ was an official speaker

to an assembly of people).

1. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, this book

was given the name "Ekklesiates." #. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."

1. The name of the book translated

literally into English would be

"The Preacher" or "The Teacher."

1. Verse 1 also says, King David's son,

who ruled in Jerusalem

1. Now who would that be? #. Yes, Solomon
2. Some doubt that, but I believe it
3. And that is why you find this book where it is in the Bible
4. What else did Solomon write? Proverbs & Song of Solomon

(maybe the 2nd strangest book

in the Bible)

1. We will come back to Solomon

1. Read vs. 2
1. KJ or NKJ "Vanity of vanities"
2. Everything is meaningless
3. Have you ever felt that way?
4. I can't say that I ever have
1. Look at verses 3-10
1. The idea here is in verse 9 "Nothing under the sun is truly new."
2. Sun --wind --rivers
3. Same old same old
4. In vs. 3, What do you get for all your hard work?
5. Quite often a kick in the pants & then you die
6. You have to keep remembering here, God is not saying that AND neither am I
1. READ 11
1. What happens after you die?
2. People forget you
3. Ozymandias READ
1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

READ

1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

1. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."
2. The name of the book translated

1. Teacher Preacher Quester
2. That is actually the title of the book,

but you would never know that

1. The Hebrew title is "Qoheleth" (a ‘qoheleth’ was an official speaker

to an assembly of people).

1. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, this book

was given the name "Ekklesiates." #. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."

1. The name of the book translated

literally into English would be

"The Preacher" or "The Teacher."

1. Verse 1 also says, King David's son,

who ruled in Jerusalem

1. Now who would that be? #. Yes, Solomon
2. Some doubt that, but I believe it
3. And that is why you find this book where it is in the Bible
4. What else did Solomon write? Proverbs & Song of Solomon

(maybe the 2nd strangest book

in the Bible)

1. We will come back to Solomon

1. Read vs. 2
1. KJ or NKJ "Vanity of vanities"
2. Everything is meaningless
3. Have you ever felt that way?
4. I can't say that I ever have
1. Look at verses 3-10
1. The idea here is in verse 9 "Nothing under the sun is truly new."
2. Sun --wind --rivers
3. Same old same old
4. In vs. 3, What do you get for all your hard work?
5. Quite often a kick in the pants & then you die
6. You have to keep remembering here, God is not saying that AND neither am I
1. READ 11
1. What happens after you die?
2. People forget you
3. Ozymandias READ
1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

READ

1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

1. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."
2. The name of the book translated

1. So, the 1st problem with ECC. is it is filled with human wisdom
2. The 2nd problem is that the order of this book

1. SHOW "The Art of Staying Off Dead-end Streets"
2. What if you did not know anything

about the Bible, & you opened

& read the 1st chapter of Ecclesiastes?

1. Steadman goes on to say, "So it is quite possible to "prove" all kinds of utterly false things by quoting the Bible because in that sense the Bible is filled with error. But the Bible always points out the error which it presents and makes it clear that it is error, as in the case with this book. Because of its remarkable character, Ecclesiastes is the most misused book of the Bible. This is the favorite book of atheists and agnostics. And many cults love to quote this book's erroneous viewpoints and give the impression that these are scriptural, divine words of God concerning life. #. So, the 1st problem with ECC. is it is filled with human wisdom
2. The 2nd problem is that the order of this book

also is nor orderly

1. It does not easily move from human pt. of view to God's pt. of view
2. It does start out with man's view, and ends in chapter 12 with God's view
3. But it is not an orderly movement
4. God shows up in chapter 3 & chapter 5, & in 7 & 8 & at the end in chapter 12
5. But man's wisdom is interspersed

through out

1. So, those 2 things create problems for readers of Ecclesiastes
2. Well, we read chapter 1, let's take a closer look at the chapter
3. Read vs. 1 #. Teacher Preacher Quester #. That is actually the title of the book,

but you would never know that

1. The Hebrew title is "Qoheleth" (a ‘qoheleth’ was an official speaker

to an assembly of people).

1. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, this book

was given the name "Ekklesiates." #. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."

1. The name of the book translated

literally into English would be

"The Preacher" or "The Teacher."

1. Verse 1 also says, King David's son,

who ruled in Jerusalem

1. Now who would that be? #. Yes, Solomon
2. Some doubt that, but I believe it
3. And that is why you find this book where it is in the Bible
4. What else did Solomon write? Proverbs & Song of Solomon

(maybe the 2nd strangest book

in the Bible)

1. We will come back to Solomon

1. Read vs. 2
1. KJ or NKJ "Vanity of vanities"
2. Everything is meaningless
3. Have you ever felt that way?
4. I can't say that I ever have
1. Look at verses 3-10
1. The idea here is in verse 9 "Nothing under the sun is truly new."
2. Sun --wind --rivers
3. Same old same old
4. In vs. 3, What do you get for all your hard work?
5. Quite often a kick in the pants & then you die
6. You have to keep remembering here, God is not saying that AND neither am I
1. READ 11
1. What happens after you die?
2. People forget you
3. Ozymandias READ
1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

READ

1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

1. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."
2. The name of the book translated

1. Teacher Preacher Quester
2. That is actually the title of the book,

but you would never know that

1. The Hebrew title is "Qoheleth" (a ‘qoheleth’ was an official speaker

to an assembly of people).

1. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, this book

was given the name "Ekklesiates." #. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."

1. The name of the book translated

literally into English would be

"The Preacher" or "The Teacher."

1. Verse 1 also says, King David's son,

who ruled in Jerusalem

1. Now who would that be? #. Yes, Solomon
2. Some doubt that, but I believe it
3. And that is why you find this book where it is in the Bible
4. What else did Solomon write? Proverbs & Song of Solomon

(maybe the 2nd strangest book

in the Bible)

1. We will come back to Solomon

1. Read vs. 2
1. KJ or NKJ "Vanity of vanities"
2. Everything is meaningless
3. Have you ever felt that way?
4. I can't say that I ever have
1. Look at verses 3-10
1. The idea here is in verse 9 "Nothing under the sun is truly new."
2. Sun --wind --rivers
3. Same old same old
4. In vs. 3, What do you get for all your hard work?
5. Quite often a kick in the pants & then you die
6. You have to keep remembering here, God is not saying that AND neither am I
1. READ 11
1. What happens after you die?
2. People forget you
3. Ozymandias READ
1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

READ

1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

1. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."
2. The name of the book translated

1. So, the 1st problem with ECC. is it is filled with human wisdom
2. The 2nd problem is that the order of this book

1. What if you did not know anything

1. He goes on to say that it is a book

*Introduction#. Ok, who wanted sermons from Ecclesiastes?

1. This is sort of a teaching sermon

1. Begin by reading chapter 1
1. How do you feel after hearing that? #. Depressed?
2. You might ask, "What in the world is a book like this doing in the Bible?"
1. A lot of people have asked that question
1. Some people believe that those who chose what books to include

in the Bible made a mistake

1. You see, Ecclesiastes is a most remarkable book in the Bible
2. But it's a book that helps convince me of the truthfulness of the Bible
3. Why?
4. If you had faked a religion

and faked documents,

you would not have included Ecclesiastes

1. The book raises too many questions 1. But basically 2 problems with it
2. Ray Steadman wrote this, "The book of Ecclesiastes, or "the Preacher," is unique in scripture. There is no other book like it, because it is the only book in the Bible that reflects a human, rather than a divine, point of view." #. He goes on to say that it is a book

filled with error

1. Does he mean that the book in itself is in error?
2. No, just that it contains erroneous views of life
3. We just read some of them--didn't we? #. SHOW "The Art of Staying Off Dead-end Streets"
4. What if you did not know anything

about the Bible, & you opened

& read the 1st chapter of Ecclesiastes?

1. Steadman goes on to say, "So it is quite possible to "prove" all kinds of utterly false things by quoting the Bible because in that sense the Bible is filled with error. But the Bible always points out the error which it presents and makes it clear that it is error, as in the case with this book. Because of its remarkable character, Ecclesiastes is the most misused book of the Bible. This is the favorite book of atheists and agnostics. And many cults love to quote this book's erroneous viewpoints and give the impression that these are scriptural, divine words of God concerning life. #. So, the 1st problem with ECC. is it is filled with human wisdom
2. The 2nd problem is that the order of this book

also is nor orderly

1. It does not easily move from human pt. of view to God's pt. of view
2. It does start out with man's view, and ends in chapter 12 with God's view
3. But it is not an orderly movement
4. God shows up in chapter 3 & chapter 5, & in 7 & 8 & at the end in chapter 12
5. But man's wisdom is interspersed

through out

1. So, those 2 things create problems for readers of Ecclesiastes
2. Well, we read chapter 1, let's take a closer look at the chapter
3. Read vs. 1 #. Teacher Preacher Quester #. That is actually the title of the book,

but you would never know that

1. The Hebrew title is "Qoheleth" (a ‘qoheleth’ was an official speaker

to an assembly of people).

1. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, this book

was given the name "Ekklesiates." #. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."

1. The name of the book translated

literally into English would be

"The Preacher" or "The Teacher."

1. Verse 1 also says, King David's son,

who ruled in Jerusalem

1. Now who would that be? #. Yes, Solomon
2. Some doubt that, but I believe it
3. And that is why you find this book where it is in the Bible
4. What else did Solomon write? Proverbs & Song of Solomon

(maybe the 2nd strangest book

in the Bible)

1. We will come back to Solomon

1. Read vs. 2
1. KJ or NKJ "Vanity of vanities"
2. Everything is meaningless
3. Have you ever felt that way?
4. I can't say that I ever have
1. Look at verses 3-10
1. The idea here is in verse 9 "Nothing under the sun is truly new."
2. Sun --wind --rivers
3. Same old same old
4. In vs. 3, What do you get for all your hard work?
5. Quite often a kick in the pants & then you die
6. You have to keep remembering here, God is not saying that AND neither am I
1. READ 11
1. What happens after you die?
2. People forget you
3. Ozymandias READ
1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

READ

1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

1. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."
2. The name of the book translated

1. Teacher Preacher Quester
2. That is actually the title of the book,

but you would never know that

1. The Hebrew title is "Qoheleth" (a ‘qoheleth’ was an official speaker

to an assembly of people).

1. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, this book

was given the name "Ekklesiates." #. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."

1. The name of the book translated

literally into English would be

"The Preacher" or "The Teacher."

1. Verse 1 also says, King David's son,

who ruled in Jerusalem

1. Now who would that be? #. Yes, Solomon
2. Some doubt that, but I believe it
3. And that is why you find this book where it is in the Bible
4. What else did Solomon write? Proverbs & Song of Solomon

(maybe the 2nd strangest book

in the Bible)

1. We will come back to Solomon

1. Read vs. 2
1. KJ or NKJ "Vanity of vanities"
2. Everything is meaningless
3. Have you ever felt that way?
4. I can't say that I ever have
1. Look at verses 3-10
1. The idea here is in verse 9 "Nothing under the sun is truly new."
2. Sun --wind --rivers
3. Same old same old
4. In vs. 3, What do you get for all your hard work?
5. Quite often a kick in the pants & then you die
6. You have to keep remembering here, God is not saying that AND neither am I
1. READ 11
1. What happens after you die?
2. People forget you
3. Ozymandias READ
1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

READ

1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

1. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."
2. The name of the book translated

1. So, the 1st problem with ECC. is it is filled with human wisdom
2. The 2nd problem is that the order of this book

1. SHOW "The Art of Staying Off Dead-end Streets"
2. What if you did not know anything

about the Bible, & you opened

& read the 1st chapter of Ecclesiastes?

1. Steadman goes on to say, "So it is quite possible to "prove" all kinds of utterly false things by quoting the Bible because in that sense the Bible is filled with error. But the Bible always points out the error which it presents and makes it clear that it is error, as in the case with this book. Because of its remarkable character, Ecclesiastes is the most misused book of the Bible. This is the favorite book of atheists and agnostics. And many cults love to quote this book's erroneous viewpoints and give the impression that these are scriptural, divine words of God concerning life. #. So, the 1st problem with ECC. is it is filled with human wisdom
2. The 2nd problem is that the order of this book

also is nor orderly

1. It does not easily move from human pt. of view to God's pt. of view
2. It does start out with man's view, and ends in chapter 12 with God's view
3. But it is not an orderly movement
4. God shows up in chapter 3 & chapter 5, & in 7 & 8 & at the end in chapter 12
5. But man's wisdom is interspersed

through out

1. So, those 2 things create problems for readers of Ecclesiastes
2. Well, we read chapter 1, let's take a closer look at the chapter
3. Read vs. 1 #. Teacher Preacher Quester #. That is actually the title of the book,

but you would never know that

1. The Hebrew title is "Qoheleth" (a ‘qoheleth’ was an official speaker

to an assembly of people).

1. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, this book

was given the name "Ekklesiates." #. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."

1. The name of the book translated

literally into English would be

"The Preacher" or "The Teacher."

1. Verse 1 also says, King David's son,

who ruled in Jerusalem

1. Now who would that be? #. Yes, Solomon
2. Some doubt that, but I believe it
3. And that is why you find this book where it is in the Bible
4. What else did Solomon write? Proverbs & Song of Solomon

(maybe the 2nd strangest book

in the Bible)

1. We will come back to Solomon

1. Read vs. 2
1. KJ or NKJ "Vanity of vanities"
2. Everything is meaningless
3. Have you ever felt that way?
4. I can't say that I ever have
1. Look at verses 3-10
1. The idea here is in verse 9 "Nothing under the sun is truly new."
2. Sun --wind --rivers
3. Same old same old
4. In vs. 3, What do you get for all your hard work?
5. Quite often a kick in the pants & then you die
6. You have to keep remembering here, God is not saying that AND neither am I
1. READ 11
1. What happens after you die?
2. People forget you
3. Ozymandias READ
1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

READ

1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

1. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."
2. The name of the book translated

1. Teacher Preacher Quester
2. That is actually the title of the book,

but you would never know that

1. The Hebrew title is "Qoheleth" (a ‘qoheleth’ was an official speaker

to an assembly of people).

1. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, this book

was given the name "Ekklesiates." #. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."

1. The name of the book translated

literally into English would be

"The Preacher" or "The Teacher."

1. Verse 1 also says, King David's son,

who ruled in Jerusalem

1. Now who would that be? #. Yes, Solomon
2. Some doubt that, but I believe it
3. And that is why you find this book where it is in the Bible
4. What else did Solomon write? Proverbs & Song of Solomon

(maybe the 2nd strangest book

in the Bible)

1. We will come back to Solomon

1. Read vs. 2
1. KJ or NKJ "Vanity of vanities"
2. Everything is meaningless
3. Have you ever felt that way?
4. I can't say that I ever have
1. Look at verses 3-10
1. The idea here is in verse 9 "Nothing under the sun is truly new."
2. Sun --wind --rivers
3. Same old same old
4. In vs. 3, What do you get for all your hard work?
5. Quite often a kick in the pants & then you die
6. You have to keep remembering here, God is not saying that AND neither am I
1. READ 11
1. What happens after you die?
2. People forget you
3. Ozymandias READ
1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

READ

1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

1. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."
2. The name of the book translated

1. So, the 1st problem with ECC. is it is filled with human wisdom
2. The 2nd problem is that the order of this book

1. What if you did not know anything

1. He goes on to say that it is a book

reading chapter 1

1. How do you feel after hearing that?
2. Depressed?
3. You might ask, "What in the world is a book like this doing in the Bible?"
1. A lot of people have asked that question
1. Some people believe that those who chose what books to include

in the Bible made a mistake

1. You see, Ecclesiastes is a most remarkable book in the Bible
2. But it's a book that helps convince me of the truthfulness of the Bible
3. Why?
4. If you had faked a religion

and faked documents,

you would not have included Ecclesiastes

1. The book raises too many questions 1. But basically 2 problems with it
2. Ray Steadman wrote this, "The book of Ecclesiastes, or "the Preacher," is unique in scripture. There is no other book like it, because it is the only book in the Bible that reflects a human, rather than a divine, point of view." #. He goes on to say that it is a book

filled with error

1. Does he mean that the book in itself is in error?
2. No, just that it contains erroneous views of life
3. We just read some of them--didn't we? #. SHOW "The Art of Staying Off Dead-end Streets"
4. What if you did not know anything

about the Bible, & you opened

& read the 1st chapter of Ecclesiastes?

1. Steadman goes on to say, "So it is quite possible to "prove" all kinds of utterly false things by quoting the Bible because in that sense the Bible is filled with error. But the Bible always points out the error which it presents and makes it clear that it is error, as in the case with this book. Because of its remarkable character, Ecclesiastes is the most misused book of the Bible. This is the favorite book of atheists and agnostics. And many cults love to quote this book's erroneous viewpoints and give the impression that these are scriptural, divine words of God concerning life. #. So, the 1st problem with ECC. is it is filled with human wisdom
2. The 2nd problem is that the order of this book

also is nor orderly

1. It does not easily move from human pt. of view to God's pt. of view
2. It does start out with man's view, and ends in chapter 12 with God's view
3. But it is not an orderly movement
4. God shows up in chapter 3 & chapter 5, & in 7 & 8 & at the end in chapter 12
5. But man's wisdom is interspersed

through out

1. So, those 2 things create problems for readers of Ecclesiastes
2. Well, we read chapter 1, let's take a closer look at the chapter
3. Read vs. 1 #. Teacher Preacher Quester #. That is actually the title of the book,

but you would never know that

1. The Hebrew title is "Qoheleth" (a ‘qoheleth’ was an official speaker

to an assembly of people).

1. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, this book

was given the name "Ekklesiates." #. In our English Bibles, the title was transliterated and called "Ecclesiastes."

1. The name of the book translated

literally into English would be

"The Preacher" or "The Teacher."

1. Verse 1 also says, King David's son,

who ruled in Jerusalem

1. Now who would that be? #. Yes, Solomon
2. Some doubt that, but I believe it
3. And that is why you find this book where it is in the Bible
4. What else did Solomon write? Proverbs & Song of Solomon

(maybe the 2nd strangest book

in the Bible)

1. We will come back to Solomon

1. Read vs. 2
1. KJ or NKJ "Vanity of vanities"
2. Everything is meaningless
3. Have you ever felt that way?
4. I can't say that I ever have
1. Look at verses 3-10
1. The idea here is in verse 9 "Nothing under the sun is truly new."
2. Sun --wind --rivers
3. Same old same old
4. In vs. 3, What do you get for all your hard work?
5. Quite often a kick in the pants & then you die
6. You have to keep remembering here, God is not saying that AND neither am I
1. READ 11
1. What happens after you die?
2. People forget you
3. Ozymandias READ
1. Verses 12 through the end of the chapter

talk about wisdom

1. Who might have been the wisest man who ever lived?
2. Solomon #. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
3. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
4. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked

cannot be made straight."

1. Solomon had to have written this book

towards the end of his life

1. He is looking back about 15 to 20 years, from the time he was 40 to a time

near his death at 60.

1. He evaluates what he went through as he strayed from the truth of God.
2. Solomon became king when he was 20
3. He had 20 yrs. of rule when he was faithful to God

and then at about age 40,

he relied on his own human wisdom

1. Remember that Solomon asked God for wisdom & God said that Solomon would also be given riches & honor

1. How did Solomon go wrong? 1. I think that is important for us to look at
2. Before we make a list of how Solomon went wrong, we need to look at
3. Deuteronomy 17:15-17 READ
1. Listen carefully to 4 pts. made about what an Israelite king must not do
2. Written about 500 yrs. before Solomon

1. READ 16-18 #. He comes to the conclusion, "The wiser I got the more grief I got."
2. And how about verse 15, "What is wrong cannot be righted."
3. Or in NKJ, "That which is crooked