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WISDOM, FOLLY & TRUE HAPPINESSEcclesiastes 1 & 2

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Introduction…• Name of the Book - “Ecclesiastes”

• Hebrew - Koheleth• Means the “words of the preacher” - 1:1

• A fascinating book• A puzzling book• A book of serious thoughts• A book that is abused by those who deny the soul of man

lives after death such as the JW’s• Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Psalms 146:4

• cf. Ecclesiastes 12:7

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“The Preacher” Described• Not specifically named in the book

• Evidence points to Solomon

• “The Preacher” described himself as…• The son of David & King in Jerusalem - 1:1• One of great wisdom - 1:16• One of great wealth - 1:16; 2:7-9• One who was a great builder - 2:4-11

• Called by some, the “wisdom writer”

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Purpose of this Writing

• Stated in Ecclesiastes 1:13 & 2:3• “And 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” - 1:13

• “...till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life” - 2:3

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Final & Ultimate Conclusion

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

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Theme & Question• “Vanity of vanities…all is vanity” - 1:2

• In view of true wisdom, all is useless, futile, meaningless, empty

• The question posed - 1:3• “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under

the sun?”• He seeks to answer this question

• If our labor is meaningless concerning this life, what do we do?

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The Prologue - 1:3-11• Man’s short life compared with the continued cycles of

the nature - vs. 4• Life is short (vanity of life), but the earth & its cycles continue• Illustrates there is “nothing new under the sun” - vs. 9

• There is seemingly no change - vs. 4-7• Generations come and go - life continues one• The sun follows it daily course• The winds & rivers continue on an endless cycle• There is a continued sameness

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The Prologue - 1:3-11• There is no satisfaction in life - vs. 8

• Desires are not quenched, the more one gets the more they want

• There is nothing new under the sun - vs. 9-10• The sameness continues

• Men live & die - the earth & universe continues

• Man will pass from the earth & be forgotten - vs. 11• Man’s influence is short lived• Over time, future civilizations will forget what is done today &

rediscover what is already known• All will go the way of the grave - 2:16; 3:19

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Futility of Human Wisdom - 1:12-13

• Determines to use “wisdom” (human) - vs. 12-15 • Searches all things done under heaven

• Tasks given by God to all men• Solomon was equipped with Godly wisdom to do this

• His prayer for wisdom answered by God - 1 Kings 3:9-12

• He summarizes his findings, after seeing all works under the sun - • Concludes that this is like “grasping for the wind”

• “All is vanity” - 2:11

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Chapter 2• Solomon Seeks Happiness & Meaning

• Searched based on human “wisdom” - Ecclesiastes 1:12-18• Using Godly wisdom to search out human “wisdom”

• Concluded human “wisdom” is futile • Ecclesiastes 1:16-18

• The source of much grief & sorrow - 1:18• This “wisdom” leaves one “grasping for the wind”• God given wisdom is the only reliable wisdom

• Proverbs 2:1-15; 3:13-18; James 1:5

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He Tested Things In Life• He gives a summary of his test…

• Riches & pleasure are vanity - 2:1, 2• Laughter brings no true happiness• Riches bring no lasting wealth

• He tells what he did…

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He Explains What He Did• He explored with wine & folly - 2:3

• He sought to find what was truly good for people to do “under heaven all the days of their lives”

• He built many great things - 2:4-6• Houses, vineyards, gardens, orchards, water pools

• 1 Kings 7:1-12

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He Explains What He Did• He satisfied his every desire - 2:5-8

• Servants, livestock, precious metals, treasures, singers & concubines - “delights of the sons of men”

• 1 King 9:28; 10:10, 14, 21, 27; 11:1-3

• He became great, seemingly happy - 2:9-10• Was greater than any before him• He enjoyed the fruits of his labors• Yet he retained his wisdom - vs. 9

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He Hated Life• Reflects on wisdom, madness & folly & its merits - 2:12

• Who could do more than he, the king?

• Realizes wisdom is better than folly - 2:13-14a• As light is better than darkness

• Human “wisdom” is vanity - 2:14b-16• Both the “wise” and the fool die - 9:2

• He hated life because all of his work done “under the sun” was…• Grievous • “Vanity and striving after the wind” - 2:17

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He Reflects on His Wealth• He relates why he hated his labor - 2:18-23

• Because he would leave it to someone after him• Did not know if they would be wise or a fool• Someone would enjoy the fruit of his labor

• He thought this was “vanity and a great evil” - vs. 21• What benefit does he have from his labor?

• Days of sorrow• Restless nights• Grievous work resulting in vanity

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He Accepts Life• Concludes that man should enjoy the fruits of his labor

• 2:24-26; 3:12-13, 22, 5:18-19; 9:7-9

• He is telling us to enjoy what God provides• 1 Timothy 6:17; cf. Luke 12:19

• This ability is a gift from God - 2:24b• Cannot truly enjoy life apart from God - 2:25

• The obedient are given wisdom, knowledge & joy - 2:26a• To sinners God gives gathering & grievous labor - 2:26b

• Some sinners accumulate wealth, but it is vain• 6:1-4

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Wisdom, Folly & True Happiness• Wisdom…

• Godly wisdom exceeds the “wisdom” of men• Proverbs 2:6, 7; 1 Corinthians 1:21-25

• Folly…• Is like darkness as compared to light (wisdom)

• Ecclesiastes 2:13; 1 Peter 2:9

• True happiness…• Belongs only to those who seek to please God by fearing Him and

keeping his commandments• Ecclesiastes 2:26• Hebrews 11:6

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The Final & Ultimate Conclusion

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” - Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

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The Bible Plan of Salvation

• The Alien Sinner must…• Hear - Romans 10:17• Believe the Gospel - Romans 10:14• Confess Christ - Romans 10:9• Repent of your sins - Acts 2:38• Be baptized into Christ - Acts 2:38

• Erring child of God must…• Repent and Pray - Acts 8:22-24