Life in Vanity FairLife in Vanity Fair

An Overview of Ecclesiastes

Summer Booklist• Heavenly Man by Brother Yun• A Chance to Die: the biography of

Amy Carmichael by Elizabeth Elliot• God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew • Christian Heroes by Janet & Geoff

Benge (at worldchristian.com)• To the Golden Shore: the

biography of Adonirum Judson by Courtney Anderson

Who Wrote Ecclesiastes?Who Wrote Ecclesiastes?

• 1:1-12:8 – “The Preacher”1:1-12:8 – “The Preacher”– 1:1 “son of David & king of 1:1 “son of David & king of

Jerusalem”Jerusalem”– 1:16 wiser than all predecessors1:16 wiser than all predecessors– 2:1-11 very, very rich2:1-11 very, very rich– Best fit = SolomonBest fit = Solomon

Who Wrote Ecclesiastes?Who Wrote Ecclesiastes?

• 12:9-1412:9-14– 33rdrd person and past tense person and past tense– Could be a follower of SolomonCould be a follower of Solomon– Could be Solomon himself later in Could be Solomon himself later in

lifelife

Who Wrote Ecclesiastes?Who Wrote Ecclesiastes?• 1:1-12:8 – Mid-life-crisis 1:1-12:8 – Mid-life-crisis

SolomonSolomon• 12:9-14 – Old & wise Solomon12:9-14 – Old & wise Solomon

Both…Both………believe in God as sovereign creator believe in God as sovereign creator and judgeand judge

……are remarkably wise and observantare remarkably wise and observant

Mid-life-crisis Solomon Mid-life-crisis Solomon SpeaksSpeaks

• Big Idea: Big Idea: If my hope is in this life, then I am If my hope is in this life, then I am destined for disappointmentdestined for disappointment

• His focus: His focus: Life “under the sun” (29x)Life “under the sun” (29x)– this present life as mankind observes itthis present life as mankind observes it

• His conclusion: His conclusion: All is “vanity” (1:12-14)All is “vanity” (1:12-14)– ““vanity, futility, worthlessness” (38x)vanity, futility, worthlessness” (38x)– Begins and ends his speech – 1:2; 12:8Begins and ends his speech – 1:2; 12:8

Mid-life-crisis Solomon Mid-life-crisis Solomon SpeaksSpeaks

Ecclesiastes 2:17, 20Ecclesiastes 2:17, 20So I hated life, for the work which had been done So I hated life, for the work which had been done

under the sun was grievous to me; because under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind. everything is futility and striving after wind.

Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit Therefore I completely despaired of all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the of my labor for which I had labored under the sun. sun.

Mid-life-crisis Solomon Mid-life-crisis Solomon SpeaksSpeaks

Ecclesiastes 4:2-3Ecclesiastes 4:2-3So I congratulated the dead who are already dead So I congratulated the dead who are already dead

more than the living who are still living. But more than the living who are still living. But better off than both of them is the one who better off than both of them is the one who has never existed, who has never seen the evil has never existed, who has never seen the evil activity that is done under the sun.activity that is done under the sun.

Four Reasons for His DespairFour Reasons for His Despair

1)1) All of us are profoundly All of us are profoundly brokenbroken

– All of us are sinners (7:20; 9:3)All of us are sinners (7:20; 9:3)– Our sin seems to go unpunished Our sin seems to go unpunished

(8:14)(8:14)– Our sin corrupts all our activities Our sin corrupts all our activities

(4:4; 5:8)(4:4; 5:8)– Not even the wisest can escape Not even the wisest can escape

our fall (1:18; 9:18)our fall (1:18; 9:18)

Four Reasons for His DespairFour Reasons for His Despair

2)2) This world will never get This world will never get any betterany better

– hebel = “vanity, futility” or hebel = “vanity, futility” or “breath”“breath”

– 1:2-10 – All our effort makes no 1:2-10 – All our effort makes no lasting differencelasting difference

Four Reasons for His DespairFour Reasons for His Despair

3)3) What this world offers can never What this world offers can never satisfy our infinite desire for satisfy our infinite desire for moremore

– Solomon’s resources – 2:3-10Solomon’s resources – 2:3-10• infinite moneyinfinite money•endless possessionsendless possessions• limitless food, drink, and leisurelimitless food, drink, and leisure•1,000 women at his beck and call1,000 women at his beck and call

– Solomon’s findings – 2:11Solomon’s findings – 2:11

Four Reasons for His DespairFour Reasons for His Despair

4)4) The pursuits and pleasures of The pursuits and pleasures of this life always end in deaththis life always end in death

– Remember progressive revelationRemember progressive revelation– The afterlife remained shrouded in The afterlife remained shrouded in

mysterymystery– Mid-life-crisis Solomon responds in Mid-life-crisis Solomon responds in

despairdespair• 9:5,109:5,10• 3:19-213:19-21

Mid-life-crisis Solomon’s Mid-life-crisis Solomon’s ConclusionConclusion

Disillusionment & despair lead to Disillusionment & despair lead to heresy:heresy:

““Enjoy this life because it’s all you know Enjoy this life because it’s all you know you’ll get.”you’ll get.”– 8:14-15 – all is futility, so pursue 8:14-15 – all is futility, so pursue

pleasurepleasure– 11:8-10 – life is short, so follow your 11:8-10 – life is short, so follow your

desiresdesires

Old & wise Solomon SpeaksOld & wise Solomon Speaks

• 12:9-11 12:9-11 – my observations were right– my observations were right• 12:12-14 12:12-14 – but my conclusion was wrong– but my conclusion was wrong

– v12 – knowledge only gets you so farv12 – knowledge only gets you so far– vv13-14 – all that really matters in this vv13-14 – all that really matters in this

life…life…•faithfaith that God will certainly set things that God will certainly set things right (v14)right (v14)

•motivates motivates obedienceobedience to God’s to God’s commands (v13)commands (v13)

ConclusionConclusion

Q: Q: How do we find meaning & satisfaction How do we find meaning & satisfaction “under the sun”?“under the sun”?

A: A: By keeping our eyes fixed “beyond the By keeping our eyes fixed “beyond the sun.”sun.”

Application: Application: Live for the next life through…Live for the next life through…- faith in God’s promisesfaith in God’s promises- obedience to God’s commandsobedience to God’s commands