Post on 24-Feb-2016
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Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
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Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Bible Studies From Ecclesiastes
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Overview Man often “searches” for life’s meaning
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
“The meaning of life? Sorry, you’re on the wrong mountain. I’m the guru of handy
household tips.”
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Overview Man often “searches” for life’s meaning Asking this question is not bad…the
concern is where one looks for answers God inspired Ecclesiastes to aid the
“honest seeker” in his quest
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Overview Some see the book in “unflattering” ways
Full of contradictions Creates cynical, pessimistic readers
Proper view a positive affirmation of what really matters “under the sun”
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Overview Like all the rest of Scripture, Ecclesiastes
is relevant & timely…even “up-to-date” When sin entered the world, God subjected
creation to futility Rom 8:20 Gen 3:9-19 He did this “…in hope” This can give life a “puzzling” aspect
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Overview Because life “under the sun” now had to
be figured out, men searched for purpose Not everyone looks in the same place for
the answers Not everyone lives by the same rules
Judg 17:6
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Overview The book asks the question early on 1:3
Man tries to find the answers in pursuits that will only frustrate him 5:10-11
These will fail because they involve things that aren’t as eternal as man is 3:11
Col 2:22a 1 Jn 2:15-17
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Overview Besides answering the question, the book
also vindicates God’s dealings with man Yes…life does have injustices Yes…life is like a “puzzle” at times 1:15 But, God is always righteous…serving Him
is always best 8:12-13
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Overview After presenting all the “wrong” answers,
the book concludes properly 12:13-14 Life is best lived when man seeks to do his
Creator’s will Acts 17:26-27
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Authorship Who wrote the book? Do we know? The Bible does have anonymous books…
their messages can still be learned This book is different…we contend we
must know the author to properly learn what the book is teaching
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Authorship The book chronicles the author’s
experiences as he pursues life’s meaning His identity will validate his attempts to
answer the probing question re: life’s meaning
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Authorship He was “Koheleth” (“Preacher”) “Ecclesiastes” = the Greek equivalent His description 1:1, 12, 16 2:9a Who else but Solomon? 1 Kings 4:29-31
1 Chron 29:25 2 Chron 1:11-12
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Authorship Despite his promising & faithful beginning,
he fell…“affectionally,” not “intellectually” He went after what he felt, not what he knew This is how all men fall into sin He fell from what he had been, what he had
seen, and from what he had written
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Authorship Though God did not cause Solomon’s fall,
He still could use it to teach others Solomon reached a “plateau” no other man
will ever reach (wisdom, wealth, etc.) If he could not find happiness in those
areas, what will be our chances?
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Authorship Though God did not cause Solomon’s fall,
He still could use it to teach others Solomon apparently writes as an older man It is also assumed he repented If not, he would be the first apostate God
would inspire to write Scripture
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Authorship Though God did not cause Solomon’s fall,
He still could use it to teach others As such an “experienced” older man, he
tells his readers to not repeat his mistakes He tried them all…they all failed him He points us in the only right direction
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Message Koheleth is not…
…a “stoic” enjoy God’s gifts 2:24 …an “Epicurean” judgment 12:9, 14 …a “cynic” life has a purpose 8:12 …a “pagan” only 1 God 5:1-7 12:13
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Message Technically, Ecclesiastes is a “theodicy”
A justification of a righteous God and His dealings with humanity, especially in the face of inequities and unfairness
Life “under the sun” is unfair at times, but Koheleth strongly defends God
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Message Even though God’s purpose may not be
visibly clear at times, He always remains gracious & good in how He deals with man
His revealed will possesses the same characteristics Deut 6:24 1 Jn 5:3
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Message Some important truths taught about…
…God (He is wise, sovereign) 3:14 7:29cp. Isa 55:8-9 1 Cor 1:18-21
2:4-5 …death (life is short; death is certain) cp.
3:19 9:10-12 Jas 4:14 Heb 9:27
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Message Some important truths taught about…
…life (sometimes is hard, unfair)2:10, 21 cp. 2:24-26
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Message Key phrases found in the book
“Under the sun” (29 times) The visible or created world Living without a relationship with God Without such wisdom & meaning, life truly
is pessimistic & hopeless
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Message Key phrases found in the book
“Vanity” (37 times) Empty or unsatisfying activities God did
not design to have lasting value To make them more important than God
intended is to “grasp for the wind”
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Message Key phrases found in the book
“Vanity” (37 times) Man will indeed be left holding an empty
bag if he emphasizes temporal activities too much Mt 16:26
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Outline As with any Biblical book, one can find
several different outlines The one we will use is simple
There are some “sub sections” But, the basic structure is a simple 3-part
approach
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Outline The Prologue 1:1-11
An introduction of “themes” Solomon will discuss throughout the book
The Monologue 1:12 – 12:8 The largest section of the book Solomon’s “failed experiments”
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
Outline The Epilogue 12:9-14
The firm conclusion and “rational” exhortation re: life’s meaning & purpose
Lesson 1 – General Introduction
Life Under The SunBiblical Studies In Ecclesiastes
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