ECCLESIASTES

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ECCLESIASTES
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Written by Solomon later in his life around 935
B.C.
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• Ecclesiastes 11 The words of the Preacher, the
  son of David, king in Jerusalem.
• Solomon is the only son of David that was king in
  Jerusalem.
• When you read Ecclesiastes 112 211, you will
  see that this writer was the king of Israel,
  known for his wisdom, known for his luxuries, and
  for his accomplishments in building and business.
  
• Ecclesiastes 129 says that he set in order many
  proverbs.
• Who else could this be other than Solomon?

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The key word in our book is vanity, which occurs
37 times.
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The key chapter is Chapter 12 Ecclesiastes 1213
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter
Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is
man's all.
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Colossians 31 If then you were raised with
Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2
Set your mind on things above, not on things on
the earth.
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11-11 Introduction 112-18 Solomon seeks
happiness in wisdom 21-26 in wealth 31-520 in
prominence, power, prestige 61-817 in pleasure.
91-127 Solomon discovers that genuine
happiness is not in wisdom, wealth, prominence,
and pleasure, but through devotion to duty here,
and preparation for the life to come. 128-13
Conclusion.
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Ecclesiastes 11 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." 3 What profit has a
man from all his labor In which he toils under
the sun? 4 One generation passes away, and
another generation comes But the earth abides
forever. 5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes
down, And hastens to the place where it arose. 6
The wind goes toward the south, And turns around
to the north The wind whirls about continually,
And comes again on its circuit. 7 All the rivers
run into the sea, Yet the sea is not full To the
place from which the rivers come, There they
return again. 8 All things are full of labor
Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied
with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.
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9 That which has been is what will be, That which
is done is what will be done, And there is
nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything
of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It
has already been in ancient times before us. 11
There is no remembrance of former things, Nor
will there be any remembrance of things that are
to come By those who will come after.
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Ecclesiastes 11 The words of the Preacher, the
son of David, king in Jerusalem.
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"Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher "Vanity
of vanities, all is vanity."
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3 What profit has a man from all his labor In
which he toils under the sun?
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Mark 836 "For what will it profit a man if he
gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
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One generation passes away, and another
generation comes But the earth abides forever.
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• Our word forever is used to describe
• the Sabbath (Ex. 3117)
• the Passover (Ex. 1214)
• burnt offerings (Ex. 2942)
• These things only lasted until the time of the
  cross when Jesus nailed these requirements to the
  cross (Col. 214).

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2 Peter 310 But the day of the Lord will come as
a thief in the night, in which the heavens will
pass away with a great noise, and the elements
will melt with fervent heat both the earth and
the works that are in it will be burned up.
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5 The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And
hastens to the place where it arose. 6 The wind
goes toward the south, And turns around to the
north The wind whirls about continually, And
comes again on its circuit. 7 All the rivers run
into the sea, Yet the sea is not full To the
place from which the rivers come, There they
return again.
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8 All things are full of labor Man cannot
express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
Nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 That which
has been is what will be, That which is done is
what will be done, And there is nothing new under
the sun. 10 Is there anything of which it may be
said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in
ancient times before us. 11 There is no
remembrance of former things, Nor will there be
any remembrance of things that are to come By
those who will come after.
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Ecclesiastes 112 I, the Preacher, was king over
Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I set my heart to
seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that
is done under heaven this burdensome task God
has given to the sons of man, by which they may
be exercised. 14 I have seen all the works that
are done under the sun and indeed, all is vanity
and grasping for the wind. 15 What is crooked
cannot be made straight, And what is lacking
cannot be numbered.
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And I set my heart to seek and search out by
wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven
this burdensome task God has given to the sons of
man, by which they may be exercised.
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1 Kings 311 Then God said to him "Because you
have asked this thing, and have not asked long
life for yourself, nor have asked riches for
yourself, nor have asked the life of your
enemies, but have asked for yourself
understanding to discern justice, 12 "behold, I
have done according to your words see, I have
given you a wise and understanding heart, so that
there has not been anyone like you before you,
nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 "And
I have also given you what you have not asked
both riches and honor, so that there shall not be
anyone like you among the kings all your days.
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14 I have seen all the works that are done under
the sun and indeed, all is vanity and grasping
for the wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be made
straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered.
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SOLOMON IDENTIFIES AT LEAST 18 THINGS THAT ARE
VAIN 1. All the works of men (114). 2. Pleasure
(21). 3. The profit from ones labor (211). 4.
The quest for wisdom (215). 5. The focus on
earthly accomplishments (221). 6. An
over-emphasis or mis-emphasis on life and living
(319). 7. Competition (44). 8. Stockpiling
riches (47,8). 9. Trying to please everyone
(416). 10. The foolish use of words and promises
(54-7).
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11. Money (510-12). 12. Having wealth but
failing to properly use it (61-6). 13. Being
able to use words masterfully (611). 14.
Associating with those who do not think soberly
about life (76). 15. Mans attitude toward evil
(810). 16. The system of justice and retribution
(814). 17. The desire to retrieve the past
(118). 18. Death itself (121-8).
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Ecclesiastes 116 I communed with my heart,
saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and
have gained more wisdom than all who were before
me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great
wisdom and knowledge." 17 And I set my heart to
know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I
perceived that this also is grasping for the
wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief, And
he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
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Acts 1730 "Truly, these times of ignorance God
overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere
to repent, 31 "because He has appointed a day on
which He will judge the world in righteousness by
the Man whom He has ordained.
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