An Ecclesiastes Study: Everything under the sun is vanity

"THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES"

              

INTRODUCTION

1. Why am I here?  What am I to be doing?

   a. These are questions that nearly everyone asks at some point in

      their life

   b. They are questions the author of Ecclesiastes sought to address

2. In our introductory lesson we saw...

   a. The author identified - 1:1

      1) The Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem

      2) I.e., Solomon

   b. The theme stated - 1:2

      1) All is vanity

      2) I.e., life from an earthly perspective ("under the sun") is

         futile, meaningless - 1:14

   c. The question raised - 1:3

      1) What profit is there for a man from all his labor under the

         sun?

      2) I.e., what benefit can one derive from all his efforts in this life?

3. In the first two chapters, Solomon demonstrates how he came to this

   conclusion

   a. From his observations regarding the cyclical nature of life and

      its apparent meaningless

   b. From his own experiences as he sought to find meaning through

      various avenues

Ecclesiastes 1:4-18

“One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come withthose that shall come after.12I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. 14I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 15That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.16I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. 17And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. 18For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”

I. THE FUTILITY OBSERVED IN THE CYCLES OF LIFE

   A. NOTHING SEEMS TO CHANGE - 1:4-7

      1. The earth appears to abide forever, even as generations of men

         come and go

      2. The sun is constant with its rising and setting

      3. The winds continue their whirling cycle

      4. The water cycle also, as rivers run into the seas, and then

         through evaporation and rain return to the rivers again

      -- Looking at nature, it seems nothing ever changes, it just goes

         in circles and remains the same!

   B. NOTHING SEEMS TO SATISFY - 1:8

      1. Despite all our labors, man is never truly satisfied

      2. What satisfaction one may think they have is only apparent and

         fleeting

      3. Given time, they soon desire something else

   C. NOTHING IS NEW UNDER THE SUN - 1:9-11

      1. What will be done is that which has been done

      2. If thought to be new, it is only because we have forgotten

         what occurred before

         a. What about our modern technological advances?

         b. What about the technology that created the pyramids,

            Stonehedge, etc.?

      -- Given time, future civilizations will forget what we are doing

         today, and only "rediscover" what has been learned again and

         again!

[Faced with what appeared to be such meaningless cycles in life, the

"Preacher" sought to determine man's true purpose.  He first shares

with us his own experience with...]

II. THE FUTILITY OF HUMAN WISDOM

   A. THE PREACHER PREFACES HIS SEARCH - 1:12-15

      1. He was king over Israel in Jerusalem

         a. I.e., Solomon

         b. Who had been given wisdom from God

1Kings 3:9-12

“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.”

1 Kings 4:29-34

“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 30And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. 32And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. 33And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. 34And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.”

      2. He determined to use such wisdom to seek and search all that

         has been done "under heaven"

         a. A task that he understood God had given to all men

         b. A task for which he knew he had been especially equipped

      3. He summarizes what he found, having seen all the works done

         "under the sun"

         a. He concludes they are vanity and grasping for wind

         b. For there is little one can do to make significant changes

   B. THE PREACHER APPLIED HIS GOD-GIVEN WISDOM - 1:16-17

      1. He acknowledged the greatness and wisdom he had attained

         a. In answer to prayer, Solomon had attained great wisdom

            1) Again,

1Kings 3:9-12

““Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.”

            2) Compare this also to

James 1:5

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

         b. This is "God-given wisdom", to be contrasted with "human

            wisdom"

      2. He therefore sought to apply it to wisdom, madness, and folly

         a. The "wisdom" here I believe is "human wisdom" (e.g.,

            philosophy)

         b. For this is wisdom that he set his heart to know (learn)

   C. THE PREACHER CONCLUDES HUMAN WISDOM IS FUTILE - 1:17-18

      1. He perceived that such wisdom was like grasping for wind, it

         did not provide the answer to his problem

      2. He also saw that such wisdom and knowledge provides much grief and sorrow

         a. As we might say today, it provides "information overload"

         b. One becomes burdened as they learn of many things in life

            1) Things they have no control over

            2) Yet things they often worry over

**If you would like to give your heart to Jesus today, repeat these words below:

'Dear Heavenly Father,i come to in the name of Jesus; Forgive me a sinner and wash me in your precious blood. Make this heart of stone to be made flesh, so that your word may be sown in it. Any addictions that i may have, remove them now in Jesus name! I've accepted Jesus Christ as my savior and believe that He died and rose from the dead! And from this day forward, i commit my life to you and seek for guidance and understanding in your word, as i walk in your path of righteousness, In Jesus name i pray, AMEN!!!'

If you have recited these words and meant them in your heart, you are saved and if the Lord would come today, you will be ready to go to Heaven!! I will keep you all in prayer, to continue to walk in the ways of Jesus Christ our Lord. READ, PRAY, SEEK and TRUST in Him and you will overcome this wicked world! **

I have also provided a link to the Full Gospel Holiness Church below, where you will find sermons from the word of God (no comprising to sin) but the Full truth to the Word of God! You can also view our contact information to email us or call us for prayer. May God bless you!

http://www.fghconline.com/