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Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes. Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon. Solomon’s Books. Last Sunday, we concluded the life of Solomon as far as the record in I Kings is concerned, but Solomon left us with three books:. Proverbs. Probably his most studied and practical message is the book of Proverbs.

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Ecclesiastes

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  1. Ecclesiastes

  2. ProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon

  3. Solomon’s Books • Last Sunday, we concluded the life of Solomon as far as the record in I Kings is concerned, but Solomon left us with three books:

  4. Proverbs • Probably his most studied and practical message is the book of Proverbs. • It is a different book in as much as it is a collection of wise sayings. • I am not good at teaching Proverbs because it doesn’t have a “story to tell.” It doesn’t have context as we normally think of context.

  5. Proverbs • One marriage counselor recommended that newly weds read one chapter from Proverbs every day, and they can then read the entire book each month. (that has 31 days) • The book of Proverbs has many very timely suggestions for successful living.

  6. Song of Solomon • If you could omit one book from the Bible, which book would that be? • I realize we do not get to pick which books are included in the Bible, but I have talked to at least one man who had almost no time for the Song of Solomon. • I read it one afternoon this past week, and I understand his misgivings about the book.

  7. Ecclesiastes • Now we turn to the third book of Solomon’s, the book of Ecclesiastes. • It can be said that it is a very depressing book. • It starts with a very depressing tone, so with that, let’s get started.

  8. Ecclesiastes • (Eccl 1:1 NKJV) The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. • That description seems to fit Solomon. I don’t know anyone else who fits that description.

  9. "Vanity of vanities," • (Eccl 1:2 NKJV) "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

  10. "Vanity of vanities," • It runs like a theme through the book: • “Vanity” occurs 33 times in 29 verses. • “Vanity” occurs in all of the 12 chapters except chapter 10.

  11. "Vanity of vanities," • "Vanity of vanities,“ is the expression used by the old King James Version, the New King James Version, and the New American Standard Version. • The NIV renders it "Meaningless! Meaningless!" • The New Century version renders it: "Useless! Useless! Completely useless!”

  12. Everything is vanity • (Eccl 1:14 NKJV) I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

  13. “done under the sun” • (Eccl 1:14 NKJV) I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. • My Comment: “done under the sun” That’s taking God and eternity out of the picture.

  14. What did he observe? • We aren’t here very long: • (Eccl 1:3-4 NKJV) What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun? {4} One generation passes away, and another generation comes; But the earth abides forever.

  15. No real Satisfaction • (Eccl 1:8 NKJV) All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.

  16. “There is nothing new” • (Eccl 1:9-10 NKJV) That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. {10} Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us. • When do we say, “I’ve seen enough”?

  17. “no remembrance” • (Eccl 1:11 NKJV) There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.

  18. “no remembrance” I don’t take this as an absolute “No,” but in general. How much do we remember of the past? • Jonathan sometimes reviews history with me, and I find it interesting because the question is, how much do we remember of the past? • The other day, he asked me what was wrong with the Edsel? Why did they quit making it?

  19. “no remembrance” what about people? In my office there is a hand sewn plaque that was given to me and Carolyn by Veldor McCormick, but what if there had been no plaque? Sometimes I pass by Fama Vail’s home, or “Bill” McAllister, or Charlie Barksdale, or Rena Beth Simmon, but without some reminder, when do we remember these?

  20. What about Wisdom? • (Eccl 1:13 NKJV) And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.

  21. The Theme Again • (Eccl 1:14 NKJV) I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

  22. It Can’t be fixed!(under the sun) • (Eccl 1:15 NKJV) What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

  23. God can fix it! • (Isa 40:4-5 NKJV) Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; {5} The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

  24. Much Wisdom/Much Sorrow • (Eccl 1:16-18 NKJV) I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.”

  25. Much Wisdom/Much Sorrow • (Eccl 1:16-18 NKJV {17} And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. {18} For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

  26. Being Great/Much Sorrow • I Kings 3:16 and following tells the story of the two harlots that Solomon had to decide. • In a different sense, Dr. Whiddon is perhaps the best heart surgeon in the world. He has retired as a heart surgeon and does leg vein surgery. I asked him why he did that. Without hesitation, he said, “It just got too stressful. All they brought me were the worst cases.”

  27. Maybe Amusement? • (Eccl 2:1 NKJV) I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also was vanity.

  28. Lighten up! • (Eccl 2:2 NKJV) I said of laughter; "Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?" • There is no sense of accomplishment

  29. Augustine once said: • “You have made us for yourself, and our souls are restless until they rest in you.”

  30. What is the Answer? • (Eccl 2:3 NKJV) I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. • Wine, women, and song

  31. Wine, women, and song • (1 Ki 11:1-3 NKJV) But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites;

  32. Wine, women, and song • (1 Ki 11:1-3 NKJV {2} from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, "You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods." Solomon clung to these in love. {3} And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.

  33. Wine,women, and song • (Eccl 2:8 NKJV) I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. Wine,women, and song -- but he wasn’t satisfid.

  34. God is the answer. • (James 4:7-10 NKJV) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. {8} Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

  35. Ponder – Reflect -- Muse • (James 4:7-10 NKJV) {9} Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. {10} Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. • Get rid of the amusement long enough to get right with God.

  36. Solomon’s Conclusion • (Eccl 12:13 NKJV) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.

  37. Don’t take foolish chances. • (Prov 6:27-29 NKJV) Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? {28} Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? {29} So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

  38. What do we learn?

  39. What do we learn? • Solomon did not lack wisdom, but he lacked restraint and will power.

  40. What do we learn? • Solomon did not lack wisdom, but he lacked restraint and will power. • Things alone cannot make us happy or satisfied.

  41. What do we learn? • Solomon did not lack wisdom, but he lacked restraint and will power. • Things alone cannot make us happy or satisfied. • We will not be satisfied if God is left out of our lives.

  42. What do we learn? • Solomon did not lack wisdom, but he lacked restraint and will power. • Things alone cannot make us happy or satisfied. • We will not be satisfied if God is left out of our lives. • “Under the sun” means life without God. That life is not happy.

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