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Ecclesiastes 1 ECCLESIASTES 1 ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER OUTLINES One Year Through the Bible 1 Ecclesiastes 1 Ecclesiastes is the Book of Emptiness. “Vanity 1. The theme for the Book is immediately of vanities! All is vanity.” Living a life without established (Eccl. 1:2). Christ, and without the clear direction of the a. “Vanity of vanities” = the ultimate vanity Word of God, is an empty life. Solomon, as he (emptiness). forsakes his wisdom, attempts to find meaning b. “All is vanity” is the great confession of in life though human viewpoint, and finds only human viewpoint. emptiness. 1) Unbelievers are limited to this Believers should find a great warning in this viewpoint in life. Book. If the wisest man in history can depart 2) Believers limit themselves to this from Divine wisdom, any believer is vulnerable viewpoint when they abandon the to such apostasy. Divine viewpoint of God’s Word. TITLE c. The context for this viewpoint is established—“under the sun” (Eccl. 1:3). The English title “Ecclesiastes” comes from the 2. Physical sciences, such as genealogy Greek Septuagint title, meaning preacher (Ecc. 1:4a), geology (v.4b), astronomy (v.5), (related to ekklesia: church/assembly). This meteorology (v.6), & hydrology (v.7), fail to translation comes from the Hebrew title, provide spiritual peace (v.8a) as the Qoheleth, meaning collector, or preacher. experimental process falls short (v.8b). This AUTHOR process leads the natural mind st st Universal tradition ascribes Ecclesiastes to (1 Cor. 2:14), and the carnal mind (1 Solomon. Of all the sons of David, who became Cor. 3:1), to a uniformitarian, evolutionist world view , and a cyclic view King in Jerusalem (Ecc. 1:1), Solomon best fits (Eccl. 1:9,10) of human history . the picture of the pursuit of pleasure (Ecc. 2:1-3), (Ecc. 1:11) impressive accomplishments (Ecc. 2:4-6), and 3. Chapter One concludes with Solomon’s unparalleled wealth (Ecc. 2:7-10). The order of testimonial concerning his human Solomon’s works appears to be Proverbs, Song viewpoint efforts, and where it took him— of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, although this cannot providing the theme for the remainder of be proved with certainty. the Book (Eccl. 1:12-18). a. Rather than guarding his heart CHAPTER TITLES (Prov. 4:23), Solomon set his heart to the 1. Nothing Satisfies the Carnal Believer “exploration” by means of philosophy 2. Pleasures & Materialism Do Not Satisfy (Eccl. 1:13a). b. Philosophy proves just as ineffective as 3-4. Egotism Does Not Satisfy science, as it grapples with the concept 5-6. Empty Religion and Wealth Do Not Satisfy of evil (Eccl. 1:13b), fails to identify any 7-12. Humanitarian Works Do Not Satisfy purpose in life (v.14), proves ineffective 12:13,14 Get Back in Fellowship & Walk with for human criminal rehabilitation the Lord (v.15a), & makes no real provision for the physical needs of man (v.15b). c. Solomon’s efforts to find happiness in life apart from God found no solutions 1 The Through the Bible series was taught at Austin in either secular education (Eccl. 1:16), Bible Church by Pastor Bob Bolender. Grace Notes or psychology (Eccl. 1:17). material is in the public domain and has been compiled and edited from authors notes, by Warren Doud: [email protected] ECCLESIASTES 2 Ecclesiastes 2 3. Human viewpoint rejects the eternal 1. Solomon’s next effort to find meaning in life judgment, and chooses to view man on a apart from God was an experiment in plane with the animals (Eccl. 3:16-22). hedonism (Eccl. 2:1-11). Ecclesiastes 4 a. Entertainment cannot replace reality 1. Human viewpoint sees the world as a cruel, (v.2). violent place (Eccl. 4:1-3). b. Chemical stimulation cannot replace 2. Human viewpoint sees the world as a reality (v.3). competitive, ambitious place . c. The domestic pursuits of architecture (Eccl. 4:4-6) (v.4a), viticulture (v.4b), horticulture 3. Human viewpoint sees the world as a (v.5), aquaculture (v.6a), & forestry selfish place (Eccl. 4:7,8). (v.6b) provided no spiritual meaning 4. Human viewpoint sees cooperation only as (vv.4-6). a means of mutual self-benefit d. The accumulation of wealth provided (Eccl. 4:9-12). no happiness (vv.7,8a), and neither did 5. Human viewpoint sees value in people, only engagement in sexual extravagance so long as they remain useful (v.8b). (Eccl. 4:13-16). e. The only reward hedonism offered was Ecclesiastes 5 the immediate gratification it provided: the passing pleasures of sin 1. Human viewpoint is often quite opinionated (Eccl. 2:9-11). when it comes to religion (Eccl. 5:1-7). a. Human viewpoint doesn’t guard the 2. Solomon even considered that wisdom was better than folly in the short-term, but both heart (Prov. 4:23)—it guards the steps were equal in the long-term, so why bother (Eccl. 5:1). with wisdom? (Eccl. 2:12-17). b. “Draw near to listen” and “let your words be have the appearance of 3. Solomon’s conclusion that life was empty few” (Eccl. 5:1,2) produced anger and despair, that his legacy wisdom (Jms. 1:19), but are actually a would be left to one who had not labored as human viewpoint warning against he had done (Eccl. 2:18-23). getting too religious. 1) Listening is o.k., because you may 4. After these forays into carnality, Solomon came to appreciate the simplicity of the learn something profitable. 2) Sacrificing is foolish because you’re Christian Way of Life (Eccl. 2:24-26). wasting your wealth. a. The Christian Way of Life is a simple life of satisfaction with the Lord’s provision c. God is in heaven, and you’re on earth, so (vv.24,25). don’t worry about it (Eccl. 5:2b). b. The Lord takes uses the achievements d. Prayers are “answered” as you work of the wicked to meet the needs of the hard for your wealth, and frequent righteous (v.26; Job 27:16,17; prayer is only for the foolish (Eccl. 5:3). Prov. 13:22). e. Since you’re accountable for spoken vows, don’t make any vows, and avoid Ecclesiastes 3 all accountability (Eccl. 5:4-6). 1. Divine viewpoint recognizes the Father’s f. Human viewpoint sees organized purpose and timing for every activity in religion as empty, and personal God’s plan (Eccl. 3:1-8). “spirituality” as the solution (Eccl. 5:7). 2. Divine viewpoint recognizes that man’s 2. Human viewpoint sees corruption at all profit is an eternal profit (Eccl. 3:9-11), and levels of human government (Eccl. 5:8), and such thinking provides for a spiritual walk is willing to tolerate that corruption so long in time (Eccl. 3:12-15). as the nation is advantaged (Eccl. 5:9). ECCLESIASTES 3 3. Solomon’s human viewpoint perspective on Ecclesiastes 9 riches is then detailed (Eccl. 5:10-20). 1. Human viewpoint becomes fatalistic with Ecclesiastes 6 respect to physical life, physical death, and eternal rewards (Eccl. 9:1-6). 1. Human viewpoint resents the application of 2. Human viewpoint emphasizes living Divine sovereignty for human happiness physical life for the immediate pleasures of (Eccl. 6:1-6). physical life (Eccl. 9:7-9). a. Happiness in career success (v.2). 3. Human viewpoint becomes fatalistic with b. Happiness in family blessings (v.3). respect to time and chance (Eccl. 9:10-12). c. Happiness in lifespan (v.6). 4. Human viewpoint is impressed by earthly 2. Human viewpoint resents the eternal wisdom (Eccl. 9:13-18; Jms. 3:15,16). perspective of God (Eccl. 6:7-9). 3. Human viewpoint resents God’s eternal Ecclesiastes 10 Sovereignty (Eccl. 6:10-12). 1. Chapter ten consists of more human Ecclesiastes 7 viewpoint proverbs. 2. A little bit of foolishness outweighs a whole 1. Solomon composes a proverbial psalm of lot of wisdom (Eccl. 10:1). human viewpoint thoughts concerning 3. Human viewpoint attempts to substitute physical death (Eccl. 7:1-14). composure for love (Eccl. 10:4; cf. 2. Human viewpoint makes a person think Prov. 10:12). that they’ve seen it all (Ecc. 7:15a). 4. Human viewpoint becomes cynical when it a. Human viewpoint thinks that there’s observes the inequities of life (Eccl. 10:5-7). really no profit to Godliness, and there 5. Human viewpoint can see the difference are even rewards for wickedness between a good king and a bad king (Eccl. 7:15b). (Eccl. 10:16,17). b. Human viewpoint thinks that some kind 6. Human viewpoint thinks money can solve of balance should be achieved between all our problems (Eccl. 10:19). righteousness and wickedness (Eccl. 7:16-18). Ecclesiastes 11 3. Wisdom is a needed in temporal life 1. The human viewpoint proverbs continue (Eccl. 7:19-23), but cannot be attained from chapter ten. through human means (Eccl. 7:23,24). 2. Human viewpoint puts forth some practical a. Wisdom turns to folly and madness business investment principles when the believer no longer pleases (Eccl. 11:1-6; Lk. 16:8). God, but is ensnared by sin 3. Human viewpoint strives to enjoy life when (Eccl. 7:25,26). it can (Eccl. 11:7-10). b. Solomon speculates that one out of a thousand men & women might have Ecclesiastes 12 such upright Godliness, but he hasn’t 1. Solomon urges his audience to learn from found that one yet (Eccl. 7:27-29; cf. the Lord in youth (Eccl. 12:1; Prov.
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