Ecclesiastes #1

Introduction:

The book of Ecclesiastes has long fascinated many people. Some feel it is the most puzzling book in the Old Testament. It has been called one of the most melancholy books of the Bible. It has been used by some to teach that man ceases to exist after death.

It is not a book that Christians should ignore. As with all Old Testament Scripture, it was written for our learning (Ro 15:4) and admonition (1 Co 10:11). It is therefore profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness (2 Ti 3:16-17).

Romans 15:4 ESV

4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

1 Corinthians 10:11 ESV

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The book has special relevance today in our materialistic society, for it helps us to see the vanity of many earthly pursuits.

It contains lessons for all, but especially for the young who have so much to lose should they make the wrong choices early in life.

TITLE

In the Hebrew Bible, the book is called “Qoheleth” (Koheleth) which means “preacher” (cf. 1:1).

The term suggests one who speaks to an assembly.

The translators of the Septuagint (a Greek version of the Old Testament) called it “Ekklesiastes”, which also means “preacher”.

The word is derived from “ekklesia”, meaning “assembly”.

AUTHOR AND DATE OF WRITING

Jewish and early Christian tradition attribute the book to Solomon.

The author identifies himself as “the son of David, king in Jerusalem.”(1:1)

He also refers to himself as “the Preacher” (1:1,2,12; 7:27; 12:8,9,10).

Internal evidences point to Solomon.

PURPOSE FOR WRITING

The Preacher wondered what many have asked: “What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?” (1:3).

In other words, what value or purpose is there for living? What is the meaning of life?

Having been blessed with great material resources and wisdom, the Preacher was able to explore all avenues in his search.

He writes to share with us the results of his own investigation, and to offer observations and words of counsel gleaned from his search.

MESSAGE

There are two main messages.

The first is stated in the prologue: “All is vanity” (1:2).

English Standard Version Chapter 1

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2  Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,

vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

This theme is repeated by the Preacher time and again:

English Standard Version

The Hebrew term hebel, translated vanity or vain, refers concretely to a “mist,” “vapor,” or “mere breath,” and metaphorically to something that is fleeting or elusive (with different nuances depending on the context). It appears five times in this verse and in 29 other verses in Ecclesiastes

hebel = 72x’s in OT

vanities, vanity 36x’s; breath 9x’s; idols 7x’s

vain, vainly 7x’s; worthless, worthlessness 5x’s; false 2x’s

nothing 2x’s; empty 2x’s, gained hastily 1x; vapor 1x

Sense of Hebel = meaninglessness 55x’s; idol 11x’s; breath 8x’s

Throughout the course of his search:

The vanity of pleasure - 2:1

The vanity of industry (labor) - 2:11,22-23; 4:4

The vanity of human wisdom - 2:15

The vanity of all life - 2:17

The vanity of leaving an inheritance -2:18-21

Throughout his words of counsel and wisdom:

The vanity of earthly existence - 3:19-21

The vanity of acquiring riches over family - 4:7-8

The vanity of political popularity - 4:16

The vanity of many dreams and many words - 5:7

The vanity of loving abundance - 5:10

The vanity of wealth without the gift of God to enjoy it - 6:2

The vanity of wandering desire - 6:9

The vanity of foolish laughter - 7:6

The vanity of injustice in this life - 8:14

The vanity of the days of darkness - 11:8

The vanity of childhood and youth - 11:10

ALL IS VANITY!

A series of lessons given to convince man that striving for wisdom (50 times), knowledge (33 times) and wealth through labor (28 times) makes one a fool (18 times) because he is seeking for that which is “vanity and striving after wind” (30 times)

1) What is the book of Ecclesiastes called in the Hebrew Bible? What does it mean?

- Qoheleth (Koheleth); preacher

2) What does the word “ecclesiastes” mean? What Greek word is it derived from?

- Preacher;

- Ekklesia, meaning “an assembly”

3) According to Jewish and early Christian tradition, who is the author, and when was it likely written?

- Solomon; 945 B.C.

4) What internal evidence is there to identify the author? (1:16; 2:4-6,7-9; 12:9-10)

- His wisdom

- His building activities

- His wealth

- His activities after writing the book

The key word in this book is “vanity”.

It occurs 35 times in 29 verses. It means “futility, uselessness, nothingness.”

A key phrase to be noted is “under the sun”.

It is found 29 times in 27 verses.

It suggests that this message of vanity is true when one looks at life purely from an earthly perspective.

Leave God and the afterlife out of the equation, and life is truly vanity!

5) What question does the Preacher seek to answer in this book? (1:3)

- “What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?”

6) What key word is found in this book? What key phrase is repeated time and again?

- Vanity; under the son

The point is that whatever man does apart from God (without regard to Him in asking, thanking, serving etc.) amounts to nothing in the end … like a breath.

The reason he gives for this conclusion is that life (without God) is simply a repetitious cycle of events - it does not give nor does it possess lasting value or satisfaction.

Ecclesiastes 1:13–14 ESV

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.

The conclusion is that for a man without God, life, when examined, will be found to be empty and meaningless.

Many since Solomon have come to the same conclusion and have tried to inject, with their own philosophies, some sort of meaning to life that does not factor in the presence of God.

For example: ...

Materialism (life is about gathering and using resources)

Existentialism (life is what you make it)

Positivism (life is whatever works best for you)

Postmodernism (life is the sum total of our history)

Another message in this book is the importance of serving God throughout life.

This is the message the Preacher would leave with the young (cf. 11:9-12:1), and is stated in his final words:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Throughout the book, we will find what the Preacher later describes as “goads” and “nails” (cf. 12:11).

These are wise sayings that will “prod” our thinking, and exhortations that will provide stability and direction for living.

Ecclesiastes is certainly a book worthy of careful study!

Examples of Futility (Hebel)

Passing of Generations

Cycles of Nature

Curiosity of Man

Absence of Newness

For every universal, innate need of man there is an available and corresponding satisfaction

FOR EXAMPLE: Hunger – Food Sex – Sex Partner

Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A Ducking wants to swim:well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing.

7) What are the two main messages found in this book? (1:14; 12:13)

- The vanity of life under the sun (life purely from an earthly perspective)

- The importance of fearing God and keeping His commandments

BRIEF OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION AND PROLOGUE (1:1-3)

I. THE PREACHER’S SEARCH FOR MEANING IN LIFE (1:4-2:26)

II. THE PREACHER’S OBSERVATIONS FROM LIFE (3:1-6:12)

III. THE PREACHER’S COUNSEL FOR LIFE (7:1-12:7)

Think of Ecclesiastes as a journal or a diary written by a man who is consciously examining his own life's journey while he is experiencing it. He is on the outside looking in at himself.

8) According to the brief outline above, what are the three main divisions of the book?

- The Preacher’s search for meaning in life (1-2)

- The Preacher’s observations from life (3-6)

- The Preacher’s counsel for life (7-12)

When the author uses the term "under the sun" what does he mean by that?

Stephanie Sherrod

Looking at life from an earthly perspective

Tony Padgett

It suggests that this message of vanity is true when one looks at life purely from an earthly perspective. Leave God and the afterlife out of the equation, and life is truly vanity!