Griffin & Phoenix
GOD
Would
God
fit
in my
circle of
friends ?
Would God be
any fun
as a friend?
Is it right
to ask such
questions ?
“What comes into our
minds when we think about
God is the most important
thing about us.”
― A.W. Tozer
• Bruce Waltke
“Ecclesiastes is the most misunderstood
book in the entire Bible.”
• Old Scofield Reference Bible
Conclusions and reasonings of a man--not
truth from God.
Accurately recorded error . . .
like Satan's lies in Gen 3
• But...
• Solomon is the author, 1:1, “Son of David”,
many parallels between the “author” of this book
and the way Solomon is described elsewhere in
1 Kings ($$, wisdom, servants, building projects)
• The conclusion of the book says: these are
“delightful words” and “words of truth” (12:10);
they are like “well driven nails, given by One
Shepherd” (12:11)
Near
Horses
Gold
Wives
Far
970 BC
930 BC
Near
Far
970 BC
930 BC
• 24 There is nothing better for a man than to eat
and drink and tell himself that his labor is good.
This also I have seen, that it is from the hand of
God.
• 25 For who can eat and who can have
enjoyment without Him?
• 26 For to a person who is good in his sight He
has given wisdom and knowledge and joy,
• while to the sinner he has given the task of
gathering and collecting so that he may give to
one who is good in God’s sight. This too is
vanity and striving after wind.
ENJOY!
Near
Vanity!
Far
970 BC
930 BC
• “Vanity” or “meaninglessness” (NIV) used most
of the time to refer to ALL people, not just the
sinner!
• 11:8 But if a man live many years, and rejoice in
them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness;
for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity
• 12:7-8 then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
and the spirit will return to God who gave it. ‘Vanity of
vanities,’ says the Preacher, ‘all is vanity!’
• Kaiser is RIGHT when he says that God gives the
ability to enjoy life and is pleased when we do so,
BUT whatever this “vanity” is, everyone, not just the
sinner is getting a full dose of it.
Note the bookending of the word… (1:2; 12:8)
From the dictionary:
not “meaningless”
Transience, Perplexity, Vapor … but where does
this come from????
Where else in Scripture is the concept defined?
Romans 8
Genesis 3
Ecclesiastes 3
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us
19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons
of God to be revealed
20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not by its
own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it,
in hope
21 That the creation itself will be liberated from its
bondage to decay and brought into the glorious
freedom of the children of God
17 Then to Adam He said, “...Cursed is the
ground because of you; In toil you shall eat of it
all the days of your life.
18 Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
19 By the sweat of your face You shall eat
bread,
Till you return to the ground, because from it
you were taken; For you are dust, and to dust
you shall return.
19 For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of
beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the
other, indeed they all have the same breath and
there is no advantage for man over beast, for all
is vanity.
20 All go to the same place, All came from the
dust and all return to the dust.
“Under the sun” (as far as life right now is
concerned) the curse will get you just like it gets
road kill.
Futility, frustration, limitation and ultimately death
which every person experiences as a result of
living in a sin-cursed world.
Or succinctly:
Life as a result of the curse
• Show us how to approach life AFTER Eden
and BEFORE the Kingdom
Eden
Perfect life
Now
Curse
Kingdom
Kingdom
No spin zone
No cliché zone
1A Introduction, 1:1-11
1:2 Major point: “Vanity, vanity, laments the
Teacher, Absolute vanity. Everything is vanity!
All of life is affected by the curse ! ! !
1:3 What does man gain from all his labor at
which he toils under the sun
1:4 A generation comes and a generation goes
but the earth remains forever.
Genesis 1:26
26 Then God said,
“Let us make man in
our image, in our
likeness, and let them
rule over the fish of
the sea and the birds
of the air, over the
livestock, over all the
earth, and over all the
creatures that move
along the ground.”
Sun, 1:5
Wind, 1:6
Rivers, 1:7
Nobody remembers people
?
1:15 What is twisted cannot be
straightened;
what is lacking cannot be counted.
You can’t begin to find a cure for the curse
while on earth (under the sun).
He says this because he tried 3 “cures”
(sensuality, intellectualism & work) and
ultimately found them useless.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C Sensuality is ineffective, 2:1-11
2:1-2
1 I thought in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure
to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be vanity. 2
Laughter, I said, is foolish. And what does pleasure accomplish?
Ecclesiastes 2:3
3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly my
mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was
worthwhile for men to do under heaven during the few days of
their lives.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C Sensuality is ineffective, 2:1-11
Ecclesiastes 2:4-5
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and
planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all
kinds of fruit trees in them.
Ecclesiastes 2:8
8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of
kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a
harem as well the delights of the heart of man.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C Sensuality is ineffective, 2:1-11
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my work,
and this was the reward for all my labor.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was vanity, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C Sensuality is ineffective, 2:1-11
3C Intellectualism is ineffective, 2:12-17
2:12 Then I turned my thoughts to consider wisdom,
and also madness and folly.
What more can the king’s successor do
than what has already been done?
2:13 I saw that wisdom is better than folly,
just as light is better than darkness.
14 The wise man has eyes in his head,
while the fool walks in the darkness;
but I came to realize
that the same fate overtakes them both.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C Sensuality is ineffective, 2:1-11
3C Intellectualism is fruitless, 2:12-17
2:16 For the wise man, like the fool, will not be long
remembered;
in days to come both will be forgotten.
Like the fool, the wise man too must die!
2:17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the
sun was grievous to me. All of it is vanity, a chasing after the
wind.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C Sensuality is ineffective, 2:1-11
3C Intellectualism is fruitless, 2:12-17
4C The pursuit of labor is ineffective, 2:18--6:9
Ecclesiastes 2:18-21
18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I
must leave them to the one who comes after me. 19 And who
knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have
control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and
skill under the sun. This too is vanity.
20 So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor
under the sun. 21 For a man may do his work with wisdom,
knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to
someone who has not worked for it. This too is vanity and a
great misfortune.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C Sensuality is ineffective, 2:1-11
3C Intellectualism is fruitless, 2:12-17
4C The pursuit of labor is ineffective, 2:18--6:9
Ecclesiastes 2:24-26
24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction
in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him,
who can eat or find enjoyment? 26 To the man who pleases him, God
gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness,
but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to
hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is vanity, a chasing
after the wind.
Although there is no immediate “cure” for the pain of the curse, God
wants you to be deeply satisfied in life
so when you feel the curse closing in, and you're tempted to run,
you will only find that satisfaction if you turn to him not away from him
toward your own "cure" (pleasure, work etc).
4C The pursuit of labor is empty, 2:18--6:9
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1 There is a time APPOINTED for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to heal and a time to kill,
a time to build and a time to tear down,
4 a time to laugh and a time to weep,
a time to dance and a time to mourn,
5 a time to gather stones and a time to scatter them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to mend and a time to tear,
a time to speak and a time to be silent,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for peace and a time for war.
4C The pursuit of labor is empty, 2:18--6:9
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1 There is a time APPOINTED for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
You can’t
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
simply
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
“choose red”
3 a time to heal and a time to kill,
and avoid the
a time to build and a time to tear down,
4 a time to laugh and a time to weep,
blue!
a time to dance and a time to mourn,
5 a time to gather stones and a time to scatter them,
The curse will
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
find its way
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
into your life in
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
significant
7 a time to mend and a time to tear,
a time to speak and a time to be silent,
ways!
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for peace and a time for war.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C The pursuit of pleasure is ineffective, 2:1-11
3C The pursuit of wisdom is fruitless, 2:12-17
4C The pursuit of labor is empty, 2:18--6:9
3:12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to
be happy and do good while they live. 13 That
everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all
his toil this is the gift of God.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C The pursuit of pleasure is ineffective, 2:1-11
3C The pursuit of wisdom is fruitless, 2:12-17
4C The pursuit of labor is empty, 2:18--6:9
3:19 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same
fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other.
All have the same breath; man has no advantage over
the animal. Everything is subject to the curse. 20 All go
to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all
return.
3:22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man
than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C The pursuit of pleasure is ineffective, 2:1-11
3C The pursuit of wisdom is fruitless, 2:12-17
4C The pursuit of labor is empty, 2:18--6:9
4:1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking
place under the sun:
I saw the tears of the oppressed
and they have no comforter;
power was on the side of their oppressors
and they have no comforter.
2 And I declared that the dead,
who had already died,
are happier than the living,
who are still alive.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
2C The pursuit of pleasure is ineffective, 2:1-11
3C The pursuit of wisdom is fruitless, 2:12-17
4C The pursuit of labor is empty, 2:18--6:9
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to
eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor
under the sun during the few days of life God has given
him for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any
man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy
them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work this is a
gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life,
because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
2A Main Argument: Obey, Enjoy, 1-11
1B Even though all of life is under “curse” 1-6
2B Even though Man does not know . . ., God intends that man enjoy life
as a gift 6-11
OR… watch out for these two things that will keep you from enjoying life to the
fullest!!!
1C Introduction, 6:10-12
2C Man does not know WHAT IS GOOD, 7-8
3C Man does not know THE FUTURE, 9-11
6:12 For who knows what is good for a man
in life, during the few and vain days he
passes through like a shadow? Who can tell
him what will happen under the sun
afterwards?
2B Even though Man does not know ... 6-11
1C Introduction, 6:10-12
2C Man does not know WHAT IS GOOD, 7-8
Are you having a good or a bad day?
You may not even really know.
7:1 A good name is better than fine perfume,
7:2 It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of every man;
the living should take this to heart.
Ecclesiastes 7:5
5 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke
than to listen to the song of fools.
2B Even though Man does not know ... 6-11
3C Man does not know THE FUTURE, 9-11
9:1 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the
wise and what they do are in God's hands, but no man knows whether
love or hate awaits him.
We either worry about it, or effectively only live in it.
9:7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful
heart, for it is now that God favors what you do. 8 Always be clothed in
white, and always anoint your head with oil. 9 Enjoy life with your wife,
whom you love, all the days of this cursed life that God has given you
under the sun all your days of vanity. For this is your lot in life and in your
toilsome labor under the sun.
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the
grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor
knowledge nor wisdom.
2B Even though Man does not know ... 6-11
3C Man does not know THE FUTURE, 9-11
Wise advice in light of the fact that we don't know the future.
11:2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight,
for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.
11:3 If clouds are full of water,
they pour rain upon the earth.
Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where it falls, there will it lie.
2B Even though Man does not know ... 6-11
3C Man does not know THE FUTURE, 9-11
11:6 Sow your seed in the morning,
and at evening let not your hands be idle,
for you do not know which will succeed,
whether this or that,
or whether both will do equally well.
3A Exhortation and Conclusion, 11-12
1B Exhortation, 11:7--12:8
1C Introduction, 11:7-8
11:7 Light is sweet,
and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.
8 However many years a man may live,
let him enjoy them all.
But let him remember the days of darkness,
for they will be many.
Everything to come is vanity.
--as age increases so does the grip of the curse
3A Exhortation and Conclusion, 11-12
1B Exhortation, 11:7--12:8
1C Introduction, 11:7-8
2C Counsel, 11:9--12:7
11:9 Be happy, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.
Follow the ways of your heart
and whatever your eyes see,
but know that for all these things
God will bring you to judgment.
11:10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are vanity.
3A Exhortation and Conclusion, 11-12
1B Exhortation, 11:7--12:8
2C Counsel, 11:9--12:7
12:1 Remember your Creator
in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say,
I find no pleasure in them
2 before the sun and the light
and the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds return after the rain;
3 when the keepers of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
when the grinders cease because they are few,
and those looking through the windows grow dim;
3A Exhortation and Conclusion, 11-12
1B Exhortation, 11:7--12:8
1C Introduction, 11:7-8
2C Counsel, 11:9--12:7
12:5 when men are afraid of heights
and of dangers in the streets;
when the almond tree blossoms
and the grasshopper drags himself along
and desire no longer is stirred.
Then man goes to his eternal home
and mourners go about the streets.
7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
8 Vanity! Vanity! says the Teacher.
Everything is Vanity!
3A Exhortation and Conclusion, 11-12
1B Exhortation, 11:7--12:8
2B Conclusion, 12:9-14
Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
Or “This will make a man whole.”
Would God be
any fun
as a friend?
If you knew him as he
really is,
there is no one else you’d
rather be with
The thief comes only
to steal and kill and
destroy; I have come
that they may have life,
and have it to the full.
Jesus
“The place God calls
you to is the place
where your deep
gladness and the
world's deep hunger
meet.”
- Frederich Buechner