A MAN TIRED OF LIFE

ECCLESIASTES 1:1-18

I. Life is meaningless (1:2-3)

• If a man's days are not the Lord's
• If a man's dollars are not the Lord's

A. Someone who tried it all (2)

B. Someone who toiled for nothing (3)

II. Life is monotonous (1:4-11)

• If humanism is a man's religion
• If pessimism is a man's reasoning (2 Pet. 3:4)

A. Planet never changes (4-7)

1. Sun

2. Wind

3. Sea

B. People never change (8-11)

1. Ordinary

2. Orbit

3. Original

4. Old

III. Life is misleading (1:12-18)

• If a man studies the earth without heaven
• If a man seeks an education without God (1 Kg. 3:12)

A. Exploration (12-15)

1. Cynic

2. Skeptic

B. Experience (16-18)

1. Senseless

2. Sadness

A MAN SEARCHES FOR HAPPINESS

ECCLESIASTES 2:1-26

I. Search (2:1-8; see good-Gen. 3:6, 6:2; Jos. 7:21; 2 Sam. 11:2; Ps. 34:8)

A. Solomon searched for happiness in pleasure (1-3).

B. Solomon searched for happiness in projects (4-6; Dt. 8:12; Ps. 127:1; Am. 4:9, 5:11; Hag. 1:2).

C. Solomon searched for happiness in possessions (7-8; Hag. 2:8; 1 Kg. 10:14-25).

II. Satisfaction (2:9-11)

A. Wisdom did not satisfy Solomon (9).

B. Wealth did not satisfy Solomon (10).

C. Work did not satisfy Solomon (11).

III. Senseless (2:12-23)

A. Legacy of the wise is like the fools (12-16).

B. Labor of the wise is left for fools (17-23)

IV. Splurge (2:24-26)

A. Solomon enjoyed the temporary party (24-25; cf. Lk. 5:33, 12:19).

B. Solomon embraced the theology of prosperity (26; Prov. 13:22).

A MAN LOOKS AT TIME

ECCLESIASTES 3:1-22

I. Eventful time (3:1-8)

• Time to be born (Jer. 1:5) and a time to die (2 Chr. 18:34)
• Time to plant and a time to uproot (Jer. 1:10)
• Time to kill (Ex. 32:27; 1 Kg. 19:1) and a time to heal (2 Chr. 7:14; Job 5:18; Ps. 147:3; Is. 53:5; Jer. 3:22, 8:22; Hos. 6:1)
• Time to tear down (Neh. 1:3; Is. 5:5) and a time to build (Neh. 2:20; Hag. 1:2-8; Ps. 51:18, 127:1; Prov. 14:1 )
• Time to weep (Gen. 23:2, 43:30; 1 Sam. 1:10; 2 Sam. 12:21, 18:33; Neh. 1:4; Ps. 126:6, 137:1; Jer. 9:1; Jl. 2:17) and a time to laugh (2 Sam. 6:21)
• Time to mourn (Zech. 12:10) and a time to dance (1 Chr. 15:29)
• Time to scatter stones (Lev. 14:40) and a time to gather them (Ps. 147:2; Ezek. 39:28)
• Time to embrace (Gen. 33:4, 48:10) and a time to refrain
• Time to search (Ps. 27:4) and a time to give up (Est. 4:16; Ps. 142:4)
• Time to keep (Ex. 19:5; 1 Kg. 19:4; Ezek. 36:27) and a time to throw away
• Time to tear (Jos. 7:6; 2 Chr. 34:19-27; Ezra 9:3; Job 1:20; Is. 64:1; Jl. 2:13) and a time to mend (Gen. 3:7)
• Time to be silent and a time to speak (2 Kg. 7:9; Prov. 25:11; Is. 62:6)
• Time to love (S. S. 3:4) and a time to hate (Ps. 45:7, 119:113)
• Time for war (Ps. 120:7; Prov. 21:31, 24:6) and a time for peace (Ps. 37:11, 85:8, 122:6)

A. Critical

B. Crisis

C. Conquer

D. Change

E. Celebrate

F. Conscientious

G. Cause

II. Enjoying time (3:9-13)

A. Drudgery (9-10)

B. Immortality (11)

C. Merry (12-13)

III. Eternal time (3:14-22)

A. Fear (14-15; Ecc. 12:13)

1. Alpha and Omega

2. Ancient of Days

B. Future (16-21; Heb. 9:28)

C. Fun (22)

A MAN CONSIDERS THE PROBLEMS OF PEOPLE

ECCLESIASTES 4:1-16

I. Problems of those fighting against the system (4:1-3)

A. Disadvantage (1)

1. Persecuted

a. Cry

b. Comfort

2. Powerful

B. Distress (2-3)

1. Suicidal (Job 3:11)

2. Skeptical

II. Problems of those grinding out a living (4:4-8)

A. Competitive (4)

B. Complacent (5)

C. Contented (6)

D. Cautious (7-8)

III. Problems of those going it alone (4:9-12)

A. Strength of one (9a)

B. Synergy of two (9b-12a; Mk. 6:7)

1. Fall (Ex. 21:33)

2. Frigid

3. Fight

C. Safety of three (12b; 2 Sam. 23:16; Dan. 3:16)

1. Cord

2. Connect

IV. Problems of those looking for heroes (4:13-16)

A. Old king (13)

1. Unteachable

2. Unpopular

B. New kid (14-16; 2 Sam. 15:5-6)

1. Celebration

a. Poor

b. Prison

2. Criticism

3. Circle (cf. Solomon and Rehoboam)

A MAN GOES TO THE HOUSE OF GOD

ECCLESIASTES 5:1-20

I. Making promises (5:1-7)

A. Caution to fools (1-3 [Guard your steps])

1. Hear (readiness to obey)

a. Formality (doing wrong)

b. Hypocrisy (spiritual sacrifices-Ps. 141:2; Rom. 12:1-2, 15:16; Phil. 4:18; Heb. 13:15)

2. Hasty (Mt. 6:7, 12:34-37 [heart])

a. Constraint (abundant words like abundant dreams)

b. Careless (Mal. 1:10; greatness of God-1 Kg. 8:27; flippancy)

B. Covenant to fulfill (4-7a; Gen. 28:20)

1. Bond (offering, dedication, promise)

a. Late

b. Lie (making vows without the intention of keeping them)

2. Brash (attempting to bribe God)

a. Error

b. Excuse (telling the prophet or priest that the vow was a mistake)

C. Call to fear (7b; Ps. 96:4)

II. Material prosperity (5:8-12)

A. Injustice (8-9 [LB-the matter is lost in red tape and bureaucracy])

1. Poverty

2. Profit

B. Increase (10-12)

1. Dissatisfied (getting and guarding money--Lk. 12:15; 1 Tim. 6:10)

2. Distressed (friends show up and tax agent comes)

a. Spend

b. Sleep (LB-rich must worry and suffer insomnia)

III. Meaningful purpose (5:13-20)

A. Wealth (13-15)

1. Vault

2. Vanish (Job 1:21; riches suddenly lost; One man ruined himself by becoming a miser, the other lost the wealth and had nothing to leave his son.)

B. Wellness (16-17)

1. Toil

2. Travail (wealth actually cost more than it gave)

C. Work (18-20)

1. Eat

2. Enjoy

A MAN DISCOVERS THE UPRIGHT MAN

ECCLESIASTES 7:1-29

I. Discover the sayings of the wise (7:1-10)

A. Name is better (1a [reputation from character])

B. Death is better (1b)

C. Mourning is better (2; Job 1:4 )

D. Sorrow is better (3)

E. Weeping is better (4)

F. Rebuke is better (5-6)

G. Integrity is better (7)

H. End is better (8a)

I. Patience is better (8b-9)

J. Modern is better (10 ["good ole days"])

II. Discover the secret of wisdom (7:11-24)

A. Wisdom shields (11-12)

B. Wisdom submits (13-14)

C. Wisdom struggles (15-18)

1. Problems of the righteous

2. Prosperity of the wicked (Ps. 73-look at the end)

D. Wisdom suspects (19-20; Gen. 6:9; Ps. 119:11)

E. Wisdom suffers (21-22)

F. Wisdom sidesteps (23-24)

III. Discover the scheme of wickedness (7:25-29)

A. Snare of a woman (25-26; Jud. 15:14; Prov. 18:22, 19:14)

B. Search for a man (27-29; Jos. 23:10)

Solomon looked for one man that walked straight (Hab. 2:4). He found 999 out of 1000 who walked crooked and strayed into every imaginable evil. Why?.

• Loosing of morals in women
• Looking for manhood in wrong places (1 Kg. 11:14; Prov. 11:14, 13:20)
• Longing for material wealth (Dt. 17:15-17; 1 Kg. 10:27-28)
• Loving the marriages to the world (1 Kg. 11:1)
• Leaving the manifestations to walk away (1 Kg. 9:1-4, 11:9)

A MAN REFLECTS ON THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD

ECCLESIASTES 9:1-18

I. Man's destiny (9:1-2)

A. Did God destine my life for good or evil? (1; in God's hands-Job 2:10)

1. Love

2. Hate

B. Did God destine my soul for heaven or hell? (2)

1. Righteous and wicked (Gen. 18:23; Ps. 1:5-6; Mal. 3:18)

2. Clean and unclean (Lev. 10:10; Ezek. 44:23)

II. Man's death (9:3-6)

A. Does this temporal existence determine eternal existence? (3)

1. Good (Job 2:3)

2. Evil (Ps. 141:4)

B. Do the righteous have hope in death? (4)

C. Does the soul consciously exist after death? (5-6; Mk. 12:27; Rom. 14:9)

1. Reward

2. Remembrance (Job 18:17; Ps. 6:5)

a. Perish (Ecc. 3:6)

b. Part (Ecc. 3:22)

III. Man's delight (9:7-10)

A. Enjoy your moments (7-8; now; Ecc. 2:24, 3:13, 5:18, 8:15])

B. Enjoy your mate (9; Gen. 2:24; 1 Kg. 11:1; Ps. 128:3; Prov. 19:14)

C. Enjoy your might (10)

IV. Man's dilemma (9:11-12)

A. Is man a victim of chance? (11; grace-Ex. 33:13-17)

1. Swift (Is. 19:1, 30:16; Am. 2:14)

2. Strong (2 Sam. 1:25)

3. Smart (1 Kg. 3:11)

B. Is man a victim of circumstances? (12)

1. Trap (Ps. 91:3, 141:9; Jer. 18:22)

2. Time (Ecc. 8:6)

V. Man's decision (9:13-18)

A. Wisdom better than strength (13-16; Ecc. 4:13; Ps. 90:10, 147:10)

1. Disregarded (cf. Ps. 8:4)

2. Despised (1 Sam. 17:22; 2 Sam. 6:16; Neh. 2:19; Ps. 22:6; Is. 53:3)

B. Wisdom better than shouts (17; Ecc. 4:6; Is. 30:15)

C. Wisdom better than swords (18; Ps. 55:18)

A MAN WARNS AGAINST FOOLS

ECCLESIASTES 10:1-20

I. Fools make bad companions (10:1-3)

A. Spoiled wisdom (1)

B. Shifted wrong (2 [fault in the heart])

C. Stupid walk (3)

II. Fools make bad leaders (10:4-7)

A. Calm restraint (4)

B. Choose recruits (5-7; cf. Rehoboam-1 Kg. 12:8)

1. Positions

2. Promotions

III. Fools make bad fortunes (10:8-11)

A. Snake bit (8-9)

B. Sharpen blunt (10-11; Prov. 27:17)

IV. Fools make bad talkers (10:12-14)

A. Destructive talk (12)

B. Dangerous talk (13)

C. Ditto talk (14 [talk like experts on everything])

V. Fools make bad workers (10:15-18)

A. Laziness (15, 18)

B. Drunkenness (16-17; 2 Sam. 18:32)

VI. Fools make bad economics (10:19-20)

A. Blow money (19)

B. Boisterous mouth (20; 2 Sam. 16:9)

A MAN LEARNS TO ENJOY LIFE

ECCLESIASTES 11:1-12:1

I. Rest in the Lord through uncertainty (11:1-6)

A. Money (1-2)

1. Bread (1 Kg. 18:4 [send out your grain in ships])

2. Benevolent (Neh. 8:10; not put everything in one venture)

B. Mystery (3-6; not worrying about wind toppling trees or clouds pouring rain)

1. Natural

a. Water (1 Kg. 18:44-45)

b. Wind

c. Womb (Job 10:11)

2. Spiritual

a. Ways (Ecc. 3:11)

b. Will

II. Rejoice in the Lord with purity (11:7-10)

A. Sweetness (7; life a fresh gift from God to enjoy)

B. Shortness (8; Am. 5:18)

C. Secretiveness (9)

D. Sinfulness (10)

III. Remember the Lord before eternity (12:1)

A. Easiest time (2 Chr. 34:3; Mt. 18:3)

1. Creator

2. Conversion

B. Evil time (Heb. 3:7)

1. Conviction

2. Callous

A MAN FINDS VICTORY OVER VANITY

ECCLESIASTES 12:8-14

• Meaninglessness of unbridled pleasure (2:1)
• Monotony of unfulfilling work (2:11, 4:4)
• Misery of untold sorrows (2:23)
• Mindfulness of unavoidable death (3:19, 6:2-12, 11:8)
• Memory of unrewarded existence (4:16)
• Madness of unending explanations (5:7)
• Making of unprofitable money (5:10)
• Mystery of unjust suffering (7:15, 8:14)

I. Ancient Word (12:9-10)

A. Seek Word (9)

1. People

2. Proverbs (1 Kg. 4:32; Prov 1:1)

B. Search written (10; Prov. 25:2)

1. Right

2. Upright (1 Kg. 9:4)

II. Authoritative Word (12:11-12)

A. Sharp (11; 1 Sam. 13:21; two pictures-sharp stake to prod animal and nails to build temple)

1. Conviction

2. Construction

3. Consistent

B. Sufficient (12)

1. Warning (Ezek. 3:17, 33:7-9; add-Rev. 22:18-19)

2. Weariness (Dan. 1:4)

III. Accountable Word (12:13-14)

A. Fear of God (13)

1. Conclusion (Ecc. 3:1)

2. Commandments (Dt. 30:16; 1 Kg. 2:3, 3:14, 6:12, 8:58, 9:6, 11:34; Prov. 4:4)

B. Judgment of God (14)

1. Seen

2. Unseen

a. Good

b. Evil (Ps. 34:14; Am. 5:14)