7/30/2019 17 Ecclesiastes

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Ecclesiastes

Purpose

Ecclesiastesdemonstratesthatthereisnothinginlifeitselftomakeitworthlivingortogiveitmeaning.Tofindrealmeaning,wemustlookoutsideoflifeitselftoGod,whoistheultimatesourceofalltruepleasureandenjoyment.

Authorship&GenreThespeakerinthebookisidentifiedsimplyasthePreacher,thesonofDavid,kingin

Jerusalem(1:1).WhiletraditionallyidentifiedasSolomon,thespeakercouldhavebeenanyofthekingsofJudah.ItisnotclearifthebookwaswrittenbythePreacherhimself,or

byalaterindividualwhowassummarizingandcommentingonhiswords.Eitherway,the

bookwasheavilyinfluencedbyawisekingofJudahwhousedpoetrytocommunicatehisfindingsonthemeaningoflife.

KeyVerseEcclesiastes12:13-14:Theconclusion,whenallhasbeenheard,is:fearGodandkeepHis

commandments,becausethisappliestoeveryperson.ForGodwillbringeveryactto

judgment,everythingwhichishidden,whetheritisgoodorevil.(NASB)

Structure1:1-11 1:12 3:15 3:16 7 8 12:8 12:9-14

Introduction:

TheFutilityof

Life

TheProblemofFulfillmentinLife

Solution:Dontlook

forfulfillmentinlife.

TheProblemofFrustrationsinLife

Solution:Donttryto

escapefrustrations.

Guidelinesfora

PurposefulLife

Conclusion

:

FearGodandKeep

HisCommandm

ents

TheologicalThemes HumanExperience:ThePreachersexaminationoflifeisundertakencompletely

fromthehumanperspective.AccordingtoScripture,wisdomcanbegainedfrom

eitherpersonalexperienceorbyheedingthewordsofScripture.Experienceisthehardway,andmuchpaincanbesparedbysimplylearningfromothers.

Futility:ThewordtranslatedasVanityorMeaninglessindicatestheutterfutilityandpurposelessnessofhumanexistenceforitsownsake.Withoutsomething

greateroutthere,thereislittlereasontolive. Work:ItiscrucialthatwetakejoyandsatisfactioninourworkasaGod-giventask.

IfwedonotseeourselvesasultimatelyworkingforGod,thenperhapsweshouldreconsiderouroccupation!

TheChiefGood:AccordingtothePreacher,wecandonogreatergoodinlifethantohonorGod.Ultimately,itisthisthatgivesmeaningandpurpose.