Ecclesiastes

Meaning: Koheleth (Hebrew) preacher

Author: Solomon [schelomo -Hebrew] – “Peaceable”

Written toward end of his reign 970-930 B.C.

Terms of the Davidic Covenant: I Kings 9:1-9

>David‘s dynasty depended on obedience

Solomon’s problem: I Kings 11:1-13

>He married foreign women [Sin]

>He worshiped their pagan Gods [Apostasy]

>God took the kingdom from his son [Punishment]

Solomon’s lifestyle had affected his belief system.

Is it any wonder that he would eventually say that everything is meaningless?

Eccl. 1:2

The sin of the unbeliever leads to condemnation. John 3:18

The sin of a believer leads to apostacy which then leads to punishment in God’s love.

Don’t be a SAP!

2 Corinthians 13:14

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof,

For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 3:11-12

In spite of his unequalled wisdom, Solomon allowed his wealth to infuse enough paganism into his life to cause him to question the beliefs he had held since childhood. But which of those would eventually win?

1. Solomon had reached a point where he believed that everything was meaningless. 1:2

2. As he described the cycle of life, the constant was nature instead of God. 1:3-7

3. He had become disillusioned with everything including wisdom itself. It was all the same old thing. 1:8-10,12-18

4. He wasn’t sure what happens after death and was very afraid of being forgotten. 1:11;3:21

5. He had whatever he wanted and found fulfillment in none of it. 2:1-11

6. He figured that nothing mattered because everyone dies. 2:12-23

7. Solomon’s original belief system is peeking through when he says that to enjoy life is a gift from God. 2:24-26

Solomon is on a philosophical and spiritual seesaw. This is the danger of pagan behavior in the life of the believer.

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

Proverbs 14:12

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

This is an exciting chapter, in that we get a better glimpse of Solomon’s original belief system at its core, deep down inside. That is, until his current humanist thinking rears its ugly head.

3:1-11a He said everything has beauty in the proper time.

3:11b God has placed an awareness of eternity in the heart of man but we can’t understand God’s big view.

3:12-13 Again he says, to enjoy life is a gift from God.

3:14 He acknowledges that God is sovereign and does what He does so men will revere Him.

3:15-17 All the things he described as the cycle of life will continue but someday, God will judge.

3:18-22 Once again, his humanist thinking causes him to doubt his beliefs, especially about eternity.

Solomon expresses the beauty and peace of knowing Jehovah but then clearly demonstrates the dead end nature of humanist thinking. It is the enemy of the cross.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

Solomon now begins to bemoan a litany of things that he sees as inequities of life -- things that just aren’t right with the world of man, including himself.

Vss 1-3. Oppression of the poor; It seems that the dead are better off than the living.

Vss 4-6. Achievement from envy. (Keeping up with the Jones)

Vss 7-8. No contentment with wealth especially with no one to pass it on to.

Vss 9-12.Parenthesis: Cord of three strands not quickly broken (strength in numbers)

Vss I3-16. Promotion of fools, -

Better to be a poor wise youth than an old foolish king

Conclusion:

Solomon was frustrated that he couldn’t change human behavior and now sees himself as an old fool, corrupted by his own choices, at a dead end.

Solomon complains about more things that he says just aren’t right with the world and his life. It is dominated by his humanist thinking but punctuated by recollections of belief in Jehovah.

Chap 5

1-7. Don’t bargain with God. Better to not vow than to not keep one.

8-11. No one can ever have enough.

12-17. Laborers sleep better than the rich but they both die.

18-19. To enjoy life is a gift from God.

20. Possessions can pollute our perception of life.

[Ps. 90] Make the most of the time you have.

Chap 6

1-6. God gives some so much they can’t live long enough to enjoy it.

7-10. Our appetites are never satisfied. Nothing ever changes.

11-12. The more we talk the less we say, but nothing will matter when we’re dead?

Conclusion:

Solomon’s humanist thinking focused on the inequities of life and lead him to depression and false conclusions.

Focusing on the Lord empowers us to deal with them.

Hebrews 12:2

“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Solomon continues his tirade about all the things he sees that “just ain’t right” and that he can’t change, but he mixes in error with the truth.

Solomon says:

Chap 7

1-6. Life has nothing to be happy about. E

7-9 Patience is good but anger corrupts. T

10. Don’t ask about the good ol’ days? E

11-14 The wise remember God when things are bad. T

15-19 The wicked live long so avoid extremes. E

20. There is no one who is righteous. T

21-26 “I sought wisdom but the women corrupted me.” E

27-29. God made man righteous; man sinned. T

Chap 8

1-11 There is purpose to the law. T

12-13 It will be better for the righteous. T

14. In this life: The righteous get what wicked deserve; T

The wicked get what righteous deserve.

15. To enjoy life is a gift of God. T

16-17.No one fully understands life or God. T

Conclusion:

Solomon was depressed that he couldn’t change the inequities of life and tragically doesn’t see repentance as an option for his failures.

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

Humanist thinking is a dead end and has Solomon firmly in its grip. He continues to vacillate.

SOLOMON WAS RIGHT WHEN HE SAID:

The destiny of man is in God’s hands and no one knows what awaits them. 9:1

Everyone knows they will die but they just don’t know when. 9:5

Wisdom of the humble is better than might of powerful.

9:13-18

SOLOMON WAS WRONG WHEN HE SAID:

That death is the worst thing that happen to us. 9:2-4

Our days on the earth are meaningless. 9:6-9

The results of our efforts cease at death. 9:10-12

Heb 9:27

Conclusion:

The dead end nature of humanist thinking deceives people into believing that there are no eternal consequences.

“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself…. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:3,7

The human personification of wisdom wrestles with more issues in such a way as to reveal that he still has the capacity to speak God’s wisdom.

SOLOMON WARNS THAT:

1. A few sins can ruin everything 1-9

2. Dull or inappropriate tools make life hard 10

3. Many words make foolishness look like wisdom. 11-15

4. A ruler’s character affects the destiny of a nation.16-17

5. Be careful how you talk about leaders 18-20

HE HAD ALREADY SAID THAT:

God will guide those who trust & live for Him.

Prov 3:5&6

HIS FATHER, DAVID, SAID:

A fool says there is no god. Psalm 14:1-3

So then, there are two kinds of fools:

One is a fool to God.

One who is a fool for God.

Ask yourself, what kind of fool am I?

1 Cor 1:18,21

Finally, Solomon gets off of the seesaw long enough to speak God’s truth! But can we handle that truth?

Vss. 1-2

1. Share what you have, it will multiply. Luke 6:38

Vss. 3-4

2. Don’t worry about what you can’t change because it keeps you from doing God’s work.

Vss. 5-6

3. We can’t understand God’s purposes so work hard at everything.

Vss 7-8

4. Keep the good and bad in perspective. The end is coming.

Vs. 9

5. Enjoy youth while it lasts but if we follow our heart, God will judge.

Vs. 10

6. Don’t trust in youth & strength. Both will disappear.

Conclusion:

Life will end and God will judge.

Can we handle this truth?

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts…” Col 3:15

“always giving thanks to God the Father for everything..” Eph 5:20

Previously, Solomon warned us not to trust in our youth and strength to deal with all of these inequities of life.

So, what does this wise man say we should do about all of this awful stuff?

Vss 1-5

1. Acknowledge God in your youth before trouble comes.

Vss 6-7

2. Don’t wait until it’s too late Luke 21:33-34

Vs 8

3. Again he complains that nothing has meaning.

Vss 9-12

4. He warned his son that God’s wisdom is sharp.

Heb 4:12

Conclusion:

Vss 13-14

The whole duty of man is to fear & obey God because He will judge everything.

Hebrews 9:27-28

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”