Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 12

Ecclesiastes 12



-Chapter 12, the concluding chapter of Ecclesiastes, begins with the completion of thoughts discussed at the end of chapter 11 concerning youth and the proper application of it. Solomon tells the youth to remember their Creator while they are young, “before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, ‘I have no delight in them; before the sun and the light, the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain.’” In those days of being elderly, the Preacher gives some description of the plight of growing old. This is when the watchmen of the house tremble (think of the trembling-feeble state of old people). Mighty men, when they are aged, stoop with bad posture due to the effects are living a long-hard life. The grinding ones refer to teeth, which are often gone in the old people. They stand idle to chew, because they are few. Eyesight also goes bad, as represented by the view out of windows growing dim that the king presents. Hearing is awful too, as they can’t hear doors being shut on the street or the sound of the grinding mill. Old people rise early (I can remember my grandfather and now father playing this fact out), with the sound of only the birds. All the daughters of song singing softly deals with the gentleness that we typically expect when dealing with the aged ones of our society. Furthermore, the king relates to us how the old men are no longer courageous in their exploits of valor. They become “afraid of a high place and of terrors on the road.” In our time, this has to do often with driving and the caution we often see with the elderly. Almond blossoms are white, like old people’s grey hair, which is a sign of glory and honor (Proverbs 16:31; 20:29). “The grasshopper drags himself along” refers to the manner in which the elderly get around with hardship and pain as their time to depart earth hastens. The caperberry ('abiyownah- stimulating appetite or desire with both food and sex) becomes ineffective as people get ready for their graduation from earth to their eternal home. As mourners go about in the street, a person’s spirit departs for the afterlife. All in this world is passing, broken, shattered, and crushed. Silver and gold cannot enter into the next life. “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” The Preacher calls earthly life, in the context of this fading world, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 12:1-8)!”

-As the book concludes, Solomon, using his title “Preacher,” adds to the fact he was a wise man that he also taught the people knowledge by pondering, searching out, and arranging many proverbs. He sought to find “delightful words” and to write “words of truth correctly.” The words of spiritually wise men are like ox goads and “masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd (I believe referring to the Messiah, the Holy Spirit, and God the Father).” Beyond this, or in this temporal world, he warns his son that the “writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books (or mindless learning) is wearying to the body.” “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:9-14).”

-*Application* It is a beautiful thing to watch the people of God grow old with His mercy and everlasting grace, which comes out of a fearful-reverence of Him. There is a gentle-quiet spirit that we observe when people truly KNOW the LORD and are assured of their final resting place with Him in Heaven. The damaging effects of this sinful world are real, and they help us to long for a better existence (Romans 8:16-23). We can’t stop ole father time, but we can receive the redemption that Jesus Christ offers through a new spiritual birth and everlasting-perfect life with Him in the eschaton (1 Corinthians 15, 2 Corinthians 5:17). I believe this is the whole and true wisdom of this book as we consider the futility of life here on earth and start to think in a new and lasting direction with Christ Jesus as our wonderful Savior. He becomes the positive, He becomes the life, He becomes the way, He becomes the truth (John 14:6). At the time of this writing, I have completed 48 trips around the sun. While my physical is waning, and I feel it powerfully on some days as I get older and older, my inner man is growing stronger and more powerful by His amazing grace, miraculous mercy, and unending faithful love (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Praise be to our God. Nothing is vanity with Him at the helm. There is indeed no hope in this life, but tons of it in the next if we have the Savior, Jesus Christ. For a great song dealing with this theme, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhf-BO_2wGw It will take about 11 minutes, but it’s well worth our time.






Verses to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 12:1, 7, 13-14

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 11

Ecclesiastes 11



-This brief chapter is the carpe diem section of Ecclesiastes as Solomon relates how risk and opportunity play into our earthly existence. He advises us to cast our bread upon the surface of the waters, and we will find it after many days. We should divide our portion to seven, or even to eight, due to the fact that we don’t know what misfortunate may occur on the earth. In other words, do not hoard in life. If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth. And, it doesn’t matter which way a tree falls, there it lies. The person who just watches the wind will not sow, and he who simply observes the clouds will not reap. That person is lazy. We cannot know the path of the wind or exactly how the LORD forms the bones of a baby in the womb. In the same way, we do not know the activity of God who is the Maker of all things. Therefore, the Preacher advises that we sow our seed in the morning and resist being idle in the evening because we don’t exactly know when we will succeed, and both times could be good if we are working. “The light is pleasant, and it is good for the eyes to see the sun (Ecclesiastes 11:1-7).”

-Solomon wants everyone to rejoice in all the years of our lives remembering the days of darkness, “for they will be many.” Negatively, due to the nature of this cursed world, he states that everything in this realm will come to futility. He ends by telling the young to rejoice during childhood letting the heart be pleasant during the days of youth and following the impulses of the heart and the desires of the eyes. However, we had better know that God will bring everything we do in this world into judgment before Him. Therefore, the king tells the young to remove anger and grief from the heart and put away all forms of pain from the body, “because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting (Ecclesiastes 11:8-10).”

-*Application* It behooves us to seize the day, but we must remember that we are accountable unto the LORD. He is always watching us, and only through His Son, Jesus Christ, can we have forgiveness for the inevitable mistakes that we will make in life. Thankfully, He is redeeming those who trust in Him and receive the grace that He gives freely. Therefore, work hard, take chances, and fulfill the purposes of God in life remembering that all good and perfect things come from the Father (James 1:17). Also, forget about the heartaches of this world and walk in the light. “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, rejoice (Philippians 4:4).”





Verses to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 10

Ecclesiastes 10



-The conclusions from observing the reality of life continue in this thought provoking chapter. Dead flies stink up perfumer’s oil, or ointment. In the same way, a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. A wise man’s heart takes him to the right (biblical symbol for righteousness, John 21:6, Matthew 25:31-40), while the foolish man’s heart takes him to the left (biblical symbol for wickedness, Matthew 25:41-46). A fool can be spotted easily enough even when he/she is walking along the road. Their sense is lacking and their demonstrations prove they are foolish. I have seen this many times as I drive along, especially in urban settings. When a person in authority has their temper rise against us, we should not abandon our position. We should be confident, but composed. Composure, the Holy Spirit tells us through Solomon, allays (nuwach- settles, calms, quiets, reduces in intensity or severity, alleviates) great offenses. There is more evil that the Preacher has seen under the sun, like an error that goes forth from a ruler. That error of evil is folly finding itself in many exalted places, while rich men (I take this to mean rich in wisdom) can find themselves in humble places. Solomon had seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land. Extenuating circumstances made good people suffer hardships too often in this fallen planet. Wisdom continues as the king relates how one who digs a pit could actually fall into it themselves (Psalm 9:15; 57:6, Proverbs 26:27), and a person breaking through a wall may actually get snake bit. One who quarries stones can be hurt by them if they were to fall on them. And, the one who splits logs can also be endangered due to the laws of gravity. “If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.” The proverbial sayings go on to relate how wisdom, although valuable in dangerous and difficult tasks (like charming a snake), can lose its value with poor timing (Ecclesiastes 10:1-11).

-Words become the theme once more as the chapter concludes. Graciousness is indicative of a wise people’s words, while the lips of fools tend to consume them. Solomon says, “The beginning of talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.” Too much talk leads to much trouble in our world when people aren’t controlled by the Holy Spirit’s grace and kindness. Yet, the fool multiplies words, and the future becomes more and more uncertain with less and less predictability. The work of a fool so wearies him/her, that he/she will not even know how to go to a city. They get lost in other words. Woe is pronounced on lands where the king is young, inexperienced, foolish, and feasts (partying and drinking alluded to here) at inappropriate times. Blessing is pronounced though on lands where the king is noble, and where princes eat at the appropriate time for strength and not for drunkenness. This is wisdom. “Through indolence (`atslah- sluggishness, laziness, slothfulness) the rafters sag, and through slackness (shiphluwth-idleness, inactivity, remissness of the hands) the house leaks.” Temporal-worldly thinking arises again as Solomon breaks out with some realism, “Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything.” The New English Bible translation renders this verse, “The table has its pleasures, and wine makes a cheerful life; and money is behind it all (Ecclesiastes 10:19).” Worldly thinking typically concludes that money can meet all the demands and makes everything kosher. Then, the Preacher returns to the mouth theme by reminding us that even in the secret-private places, like our bedchamber or sleeping room, we still should not curse a king, or one in authority. A bird of the heavens will carry the sound of our hatred, complaining, irritations, and possibly gossip to make our defiling matter known before people of influence and power (Ecclesiastes 10:12-20).

-*Application* Whether we are in authority or under authority, we desperately need these words of wisdom to conduct our lives in an honorable, peaceful, and practical manner. Composure is key to handling any kind of conflict or opposition. We must keep our cool and not over react in worldly anger (James 1:20). This will defuse our enemies and create an opportunity to speak the life of Christ Jesus into the situation. We must always use our words wisely and under the LORD’s commands to build up and not tear down (Ephesians 4:29).

-*Application* Referring to the knowledge in Ecclesiastes 10:10, this old axe story is a good one. One day there was a contest between two woodsmen in chopping down trees. One began ferociously swinging and hit the wood with more and more and more force without stopping. We wore himself out with effort as he observed his opponent taking breaks and leaving the scene of the contest with his axe in hand. As the time wore on though, the man who was taking all the breaks was actually cutting down more trees and eventually won the contest. When asked how he did this taking so many perceived breaks in the action, he rationally explained to them that he wasn’t taking breaks; he was sharpening his axe for deeper, more precise cuts into the wood. Work smarter, not harder.





Verses to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 10:4, 10, 18

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 9

Ecclesiastes 9



-Solomon’s final conclusions to all he has pondered begin in this chapter and will go for the final four chapters in the book. He has taken all these things to heart with the realization that righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are fully in the Hand of God Almighty. Anything and everything can happen to a person. Like Forrest Gump has said, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” We just don’t know exactly what will transpire. It could be love or hate and everything in between. The fate that we all experience in the end is physical death. Both good and bad will see an end to their lives because of the sin nature that has corrupted our bodies of flesh. No amount of sacrifice can stave off our passing away into eternity. The Preacher surmises that we are all full of evil and insanity in our hearts throughout our lives. Only the grace and mercy of God can save us for the eschaton. Hope is for the living Solomon says. He philosophizes that a living dog is better than a dead lion, and this is true in the temporal world. The living have knowledge that they will one day pass on, but the king presents, for whatever reason, a worldly understanding of the afterlife where the dead don’t know anything, have no reward, and their memory is forgotten. There is no longer a share in all that is done under the sun among the living. Their love, their hate, and their zeal have perished from this world. Because of these certainties, the advice is, once again, to eat bread in happiness and drink wine with a cheerful heart “for God has already approved your works.” Further, people are advised to enjoy the symbols of happiness and celebration with white clothes and the anointing of oil on the head. He tells humanity to enjoy life with the woman that we have been given in our fleeting lives, for she is a great reward in life (Proverbs 18:22) and in toil for which we have labored under the sun (Ecclesiastes 9:1-9).

-The realness of this temporal existence continues as Solomon tells his audience to do everything that we find to do with all our might, “for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where we are going. I take this to mean that it is a cessation of earthly activities, but not eternal activities of this sort. We definitely get a different perspective from the spiritual man, Paul, when he tells us to work heartily in everything we do as for the LORD, and not man, knowing that we will receive the inheritance (eternal inheritance) as our reward for serving Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:23-24). On this earth, the injust forces at work often give the race to the one who is not swift and the battle to the one who is not the best warrior. Neither does bread always go to the wise, nor wealth to the discerning, nor favor to people of ability. Time and chance have a way of overtaking the best of intentions in this world. In other words, we don’t always get what we want, or even deserve, due to the effects of a sinful, corrupted, and fallen world. Evil can have its way of suddenly falling upon us and we don’t know our time, “like fish caught in a treacherous net and birds trapped in a snare.” Solomon came to see this as wisdom under the sun, and it impressed him greatly. There was a tiny-little city with few men in it that came under siege from a mighty king. It was surrounded with large siegeworks placed against it. But, a poor-wise man was found in the small city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. However, no one cared enough to remember the poor man. This led Solomon to the conclusion that, “Wisdom is better than strength,” but the poor man’s wisdom is despised without heeding his words. There will always be injustice in this world. “The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good (Ecclesiastes 9:10-18).”

-*Application* Proverbs, another book written primarily by Solomon, has the perspective of how the ideal life would go if everyone acted fairly. Ecclesiastes, on the other hand, truthfully explains what usually happens as consequences in our sinful, pathetic, and imperfect world. In light of this, we interpret these Scriptures for what they are, and keep an eternal perspective on things through Christ Jesus’ redemption. Do NOT let the discriminations of this fading life keep us from sober, enthusiastic service to our King.





Verse to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 9:18

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 8

Ecclesiastes 8



-Obedience to ruling authorities takes up the majority of this chapter as to its thematic excellence. Interpreting a matter is best left to the wise man who has illumination brightening his countenance. When I think of illumination, I always thing to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives (John 16:13). Solomon’s advice is to keep the command of the king since we are under oath before God. He says we should not be in a hurry to leave him in joining an evil matter, for the king has power and does whatever he pleases. No one but God can say to him, “What are you doing?” Keeping royal commands from authority causes one to experience no trouble, and a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure to address issues and every delight, even in heavily troubled times (Ecclesiastes 8:1-6).

-“If no one knows what will happen, who can tell when it will happen?” No one of mankind can have the power to restrain the wind with the wind, nor can they claim authority over the day of death. There is no discharge in the time of war, and evil absolutely will NOT deliver those who practice its demonic functions. Solomon now discusses all he had seen and applied to his mind concerning deeds done under the sun wherein a man had exercised authority over another to his hurt. He had seen the wicked buried, presumably there in Jerusalem on the other side of the Kidron Valley on the Mount of Olives, those who he had seen go in and out of the holy place (the Temple he had built under his Father and father’s command, 1 Kings 5-8, 1 Chronicles 22, 2 Chronicles 2-7). He may have even had his half-brother, Absalom, in mind here who had incited a rebellion against David, his father (2 Samuel 15-18). Absalom is buried in this graveyard at the base of the Kidron. But, these were quickly forgotten without people taking enough notice to learn from their treacherous mistakes, which the Preacher saw as futility. He accurately comments, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.” Then he supports the fear of God theme saying, “Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly.” In contrast, it will NOT be well for the evil man and he typically will NOT lengthen his days like a shadow. Why? Because he does not have a healthy fear of the LORD (Ecclesiastes 8:7-13).

-More futility that Solomon sees revolves around this reoccurring theme of injustice that he has seen under the sun. He has observed righteous men getting the penalty of the wicked and evil men getting away with having the rewards of righteous somehow. These are temporary blessings from a loving Creator in the grand scheme of things, but it bothers the king as we see here in this passage. When judging just on temporal arrangements, things often appear futile. Eating, drinking, and being merry seem to be the only things that stand beside a person in their toils on earth during God’s gift of life. As Solomon continued to express the giving of his heart to know wisdom and observe the task of this earth, which was tireless and all-consuming, he saw every work of God undiscovered by man under the sun. Even though man may seek it out laboriously, he cannot discover such mysteries even though in his pride he may think that somehow he knows (Ecclesiastes 8:14-17).

-*Application* Apart from the LORD’s revelation, we as humans are doomed to disaster and hopelessly applying momentary solutions to an eternal problem. The labor we feel in trying to get things right is obviously draining and too demanding. We must come under God’s authority and the authorities He’s set up in our lives for our well-being (Jeremiah 29:4-7). There is no authority in government, or elsewhere, that has not been established by the God of the universe for His transcendent plan and purpose (Romans 13:1-4). Obedience is key along with a healthy fear. Unfortunately, we see in these last days much lawlessness and anarchy, which destabilizes everything (Matthew 24:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 2 Timothy 2:7, 1 John 3:4). Fortunately, King Jesus will return and straighten everything out (Matthew 7:23; 13:41, Revelation 19:11-16).





Verses to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 8:5, 12

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 7

Ecclesiastes 7



-The practical counsel of a wise man looking back on the things he’s learned in life by observation of a marred world continues in chapter seven. He contrasts the wise and the foolish as he weaves his way through some diverse and common themes. Solomon begins with the fact that a good name is better than good ointment. In other words, it does a person well to keep a good reputation in society. The day of one’s death is considered better than the day of one’s birth for one of two reasons. He may be looking forward to the afterlife of the faithful in the LORD as their reward, or he could be alluding to the fact that life is hard in this broken and cursed world where we exist with pain and trauma. Wisdom is found in the following words, “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart.” Contemplation concerning the eternal things happen in the house of mourning, when death is making us aware of our temporal state on this earth. It goes squarely against some of his worldly wisdom that has been previously considered (Ecclesiastes 2:24; 5:18; 8:15). Sorrow, the Preacher says, can be better than laughter, because a sad face may indicate a more healthy and happy heart since grief has been dealt with properly rather than ignored or suppressed. The mind of the wise resides in the house of the mourning, while the mind of the fool is in the house of pleasure (Ecclesiastes 7:1-4).

-Rebukes now get some run as a theme. It is better to listen carefully and responsively to the reprimands of a wise person than to listen to “the song of fools.” The laughter of a fool is short-sighted like the “crackling of thorn bushes under a pot.” It is futile (Ecclesiastes 7:5-6).

-Oppression makes even the wise mad, and a bride corrupts the heart. The end of a matter is better than the beginning of it. Patience in one’s spirit is far better than haughtiness of spirit. Solomon tells his audience in wisdom to not be eager in our heart to be angry. Why? Because worldly anger resides only in the bosom of fools (James 1:20). Looking back to the “good old days” is not of wisdom. Current conditions are probably as good, if not better, and human memory tends to think back only to the positive in nostalgia. An inheritance is fine as long as it has wisdom with it, plus it is an advantage to those who see the sun. Solomon must have been an outdoorsman, not to mention the health benefits we now know come from Vitamin D. Wisdom is protection, so is money, and “the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.” Solomon goes on to announce that we should consider the work of God, asking, “For who is able to straighten what He has bent?” God is in utter control, and no one can even attempt to thwart His transcendent plans and purposes. In the day of prosperity, we should be happy. But, in the day of adversity, we need to consider that God has made one as well as the other. Another way of saying this is to say that the LORD has great purposes in suffering as He draws us to Himself and redeems all that’s wrong. Man has a hard time discovering this concept though, because of our temporal and hardened mindset (Ecclesiastes 7:7-14).

-The Preacher goes on to tells us that he’s seen everything during his lifetime of futility. There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and also a wicked man who prolongs his days in his wickedness. There seems, for a time at least, to be no real justice in the world. Because of this carnal attitude, Solomon concludes that humans need not be excessively righteous nor overly wise. That would ruin some worldly pleasures just as much as being excessively wicked and foolish, which kill people before their time. God will send His rain on the just and unjust (Matthew 5:45). This is biblical, but mysterious. It is His righteousness that saves us, not our own. Therefore, the wise man concludes that it is good to grasp one thing and also not let go of the other, “for the one who fears God comes forth with both of them (meaning good times and bad times in life I believe).” It is wisdom that affords a person to have more strength than ten rulers of a city. “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:15-20, Romans 3:23).”

-Also, it is important for the wise person not to take seriously all words which are spoken. Otherwise, we may find even those far beneath us cursing us, which is absurd and should not be received when it is unfounded. We have cursed others many times ourselves, and we need to realize the uselessness of such accusations and demeaning words. We need to speak life is what I believe the Preacher is getting at here. All in all, Solomon begins to realize himself that even in the testing of all this wisdom that he is coming short of perfection and that total righteousness was far from him. The past is remote and exceedingly mysterious, and he wonders who can discover it? He directed his mind to know, investigate, seek wisdom, and find explanation for all the folly of evil and the foolishness of madness. What he discovered was that the woman whose heart is snares and nets and hands are chains is more bitter than death. “One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.” Through all his life he sought out good people, using hyperbole to say maybe “one man among a thousand,” but he had not found a woman who was good at all among all these. All he had found was that mankind has sought out many wicked devices even though God originally created them to be upright (Ecclesiastes 7:21-29).

-*Application* Our sin nature keeps us from proper relationship with God until that point and time when the Son shines His loving Light on us by seeking us lost people out (1 John 4:19). Otherwise, we have no chance. He calls out for us to come home by His grace, mercy, and compassion. God never desires for us to perish, or be disillusioned (Ezekiel 18:23, 1 Timothy 2:3-5, 2 Peter 3:9). He instead wants to bring clarity to the mysteries of this fallen world through His redemptive acts. Sometimes it is even the house of mourning that brings us to that place. Trust Him today!





Verses to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 7:2, 9, 14, 21

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 6

Ecclesiastes 6



-Solomon’s practical counsel now begins with some thoughts on the futile life spent apart from the saving and sustaining power of a holy, righteous, and loving God. The Preacher has seen the evil of man gaining, as a gift from God, riches, wealth, and honor to the point that his soul lacks nothing only to find that a foreigner has enjoyment of his material blessings. This is vanity and a severe affliction by decree. Even if a man fathers a hundred children (hyperbole, but in his time with the many wives that he had it was certainly possible) and lives many years but has an unsatisfied soul with the good things and an improper burial at the time of his death, Solomon says (not God notice), “Better the miscarriage than he.” Miscarriages never see the sun and never know anything, but they are better off than the futile man even if he lives 2,000 years without enjoying good things. Everyone will die, this is the one place that he speaks of. This is NOT a declaration of universalism or nihilism in any form. It is simply an acknowledgement that mankind all has the same destiny because of the curse of sin, that being physical death. All a man’s labor is for his taste buds in his mouth, but the appetite is never satisfied. In this depressed state, Solomon wonders what advantage a wise man, as well as the poor man who is industrious, has over a fool. The futile and striving after the wind mind believes that what is seen by the eye (the physical-material world) is better than what the soul desires. Existence has already been named, by the Almighty, and it knows what man is. Man cannot dispute with Him (I take this pronoun as a reference to God here), because He is stronger than mankind. There are many words that increase futility, and they are of no advantage. The questions remain for the unsaved person, “For who knows what is good for a man during his lifetime, during the few years of his futile life? He will spend them like a shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun (Ecclesiastes 6:1-12)?”

-*Application* Only God knows the future, and man can never really predict it with total accuracy. Each day must be lived with its own value, and this is what Jesus taught as well (Matthew 6:34). This is why we must seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and then all these enjoyable, life-giving, things will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33). Therefore, like Jesus has clearly told us, do not worry about tomorrow. We must resolve NOT to live a futile life.





Verse to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 6:12

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 4

Ecclesiastes 4



-Solomon turns his attention back at all the acts of oppression which are being done under the sun. He noted the tears of the oppressed, and that they had no one to comfort them in this sad and unloving world. On the side of their oppressors was worldly power. It was grievous to contemplate this greedy situation leading the king to congratulate the dead whose suffering had ended. In fact, he considers those who have never existed to be better off than the living and the dead because of all the evil in this world. This is an impossibility indeed, but the hyperbole accentuates the problem of a marred creation with great effect. Solomon next makes an astute observation as to why these awful conditions exist in human society. He states, “I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry (qin'ah- ardor, zeal, jealousy) between a man and his neighbor. This too is vanity and striving after the wind (Ecclesiastes 4:1-4).”

-*Application* Paul will later state in Philippians that we as Christians should do NOTHING from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but instead do EVERYTHING with humility of mind regarding others as more important than ourselves like Christ did (Philippians 2:3-8). We should not merely look out for our own personal interests, but truly care about the interests of others, especially those who are suffering and oppressed. Rivalry is still a huge problem in our world, and unfortunately, I’ve seen it exceptionally strong even in the American church. Satan is excellent at dividing the brethren, and all humanity, by means of jealousy, greed, and lust for power. God’s true Kingdom is a whole lot different than that. God’s law revolves around loving Him and our neighbor as much as ourselves (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:29-31, Luke 10:27, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14).

-Solomon goes on from his lamenting over the problem of evil in the world to a statement on a foolish person who folds his hands and consumes his own flesh with the wanton practices of a sluggard. But, he concludes that one hand full of rest is better off than two fists of anger and full of labor, which amounts to striving after the wind. He looked again at the vanity under the sun to see certain men without dependents, having neither son nor a brother to share their inheritance. These types of people had no end to their labor because of their dissatisfaction and ambition for fading riches. They just kept laboring and depriving themselves of pleasure, or enjoyment, in life, which was vanity and a grievous task (Ecclesiastes 4:5-8).

*Application* The answer for us to consider is to work hard, but use moderation and enjoy life at appropriate times. As they say, we must, “Stop and smell the roses.” Life is too short to be overly ambitious for temporal things.

-Unity becomes the next theme as Solomon rightly concludes that two are better than one as to having a good return for their labor. If one falls, the other can lift up his companion. He pronounces woe to the one who falls alone with no one to help him up. Furthermore, when two lie down together they can keep warm, but it is much more difficult alone. Any survival tactic will agree with this scientific fact. A person can be overpowered if he/she is alone, but two can resist much more effectively. “A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).”

*Application* We all need each other, and close friends are often hard to find. When we can get connected to righteous people that we can trust, we have found a treasure. Let’s take time to appreciate our real companions today and tell them how much we love them. They strengthen and encourage us more than we often give them credit for.

-Receiving instruction is so important as the Preacher continues. It is better to be a poor yet wise lad than to be an old, cynical, foolish king that thinks he knows it all. There is definitely some ambiguity to the next verse in fourteen as the pronoun he could refer to one of the previous individuals in verse thirteen, or it could be a rival to the throne of some other sort. Whoever the “he” is, he comes from out of prison to ascend to the throne as king, even though he was poor beforehand in his kingdom. Solomon sees the masses throng to the side of this second lad who replaces him, whoever that may be. Whatever the case, there is no end to the people, to all who were before them, and even the ones who will come later that are not happy with him. This ambiguous situation is vanity and chasing after the wind too (Ecclesiastes 4:13-16).

*Application* Advancement to the top in whatever situation is meaningless without the understanding of why the LORD has advanced us. Position, popularity, and prestige are all poor goals in and of themselves for a person’s life work. People are fickle and change their minds on a whim. To get true direction we are to place our identity in Christ. His love never changes, and He declares us worthy of sacrifice.





Verses to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12-13

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 5

Ecclesiastes 5



-Chapter five begins a section on our attitudes toward God in some more of Solomon’s general observations. His first wisdom is that we should guard our steps as we go to the House of God drawing near to listen rather than offering a sacrifice of fools. This is evil without knowing it, and can bring upon ourselves all sorts of disaster in regards to the LORD’s blessing. Solomon states that we should never be “hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God.” Because God is above us in Heaven and we are on the earth in subjection, we should obviously let our words be few (check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK66CfwBWLQ). Translations differ on the words of verse three. The New American Standard Bible renders it, “For the dream comes through much (rob- multitude, abundant, greatness) effort (`inyan- occupation, job, task),” while others render it, “For a dream cometh through the multitude of business.” The word for “dream” can be interpreted as being the ordinary subconscious thoughts during sleep due to an overactive lifestyle, or it can be interpreted possibly as prophetic in a biblical sense. Getting a word directly from God, in this later interpretation, includes hard work. Otherwise, we could say that what Solomon is getting at is the fact that putting our own human effort into things tends to unsettle our sleep with weird dreams and mixed thoughts while trying to rest. Interpreting the article as “the (definite)” or “a (generic)” plays a part in developing our understanding here as well. The second part of verse three is much easier to decipher. Foolish people expose themselves with their many words (Ecclesiastes 5:1-3).

-When making a vow before the LORD, we should never be late in paying it. In other words, what we promise before God, we should quickly and accurately fulfill. God takes no delight in fools. We should do what we tell God we are going to do and not compromise. It is better that we don’t make vows to Him rather than telling Him we will do something and then not come through. What Solomon is discussing here has to do with degrees of sin when making promises. Our voice can get us into much trouble when we make careless vows before God. This can destroy the work of our hands as God rescinds possible blessings. “For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God (Ecclesiastes 5:4-7).”

-Some monetary thoughts now consume the king’s mind as he goes on. If we see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteous in the province, we should not be shocked. The king is in total and absolute control and one official is watching over another official with lines of authority. The land will find advantage if there is justice and righteousness at the top, eventually and providentially. The person who loves money will never be satisfied with money in and of itself. The love of abundance with its income too is vanity. When there is prosperity, there is greater consumption by the population, and Solomon economically doesn’t see the advantage for the owners except to look on (Ecclesiastes 5:8-11). American-capitalist economists might disagree here, don’t ya think?

-The sleep of the working man is pleasant because of their hard labor, whether they eat little or much. But, the worries, drama, and stresses of the luxurious often times negatively affect the sleep of the rich. Solomon sees a grievous evil under the sun, that being riches which are hoarded by their owner to his own hurt. Riches lost in bad investing has disastrous effects on the younger generation when there is nothing to support them. They will return to the dust as they came from their mother’s womb, naked and taking nothing from the fruit of his labor carried in his hand. This state of dying exactly as a person is born is also a grievous evil in the Preacher’s sight. He sees no advantage to him who toils for the wind. He sees people eating throughout their lives in darkness with great vexation, sickness, and anger. What he has seen to be “good and fitting” is to eat, drink, and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor during the few years of life God apportions. This is mankind’s only reward. But, this is flawed thinking, a temporal worldview perspective once again as we have seen in past chapters. Furthermore, if one is blessed enough to have great wealth and riches, they should realize that this is a gift of the Almighty. Why? Because most of the time they have a tendency to not consider the years of their lives due to the fact that God keeps them occupied with the gladness of their heart (Ecclesiastes 5:12-20).

-*Application* The current American culture reflects much of what Solomon is talking about as a human condition 3,000 years ago. Not much has changed. The rich tend to hoard for themselves, bad investments take place which drain the family’s accountants leaving no inheritance for the future generations, and stress levels are through the roof. Often, people are so distracted by money matters that they either worry themselves sick about the situation or make their wealth their god consuming themselves with materialism. It is important in this climate, to consider our attitudes towards God. Don’t make empty promises to Him. It’s better to not make any guarantees at all if we are lying to Him. Come before His presence with few words. Our pride too often gets in the way of enjoying God’s true direction, plans, and purposes. We need to watch being hasty in our words and impulsive in our thoughts. He is God in Heaven and we are here on earth. It reminds us to pray the prayer Christ taught us, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10).” In many dreams and in many words there will be emptiness; rather, we should fear, reference, adore, and be in awe of the LORD.





Verses to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 5:2, 7

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 3

Ecclesiastes 3



-Pessimism mixed with some valuable truths of Scripture make up the bulk of this well-known and often quoted chapter. Solomon begins with the fact that there is “an appointed time for everything…and there is a time for every event under heaven.” There is a time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time tear down and a time to build up; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to be sad and a time to dance; a time to cast stones and a time to gather them; a time to embrace in unity and a time to shun embracing; a time to search and a time to ceasing searching and give up as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away; a time to tear apart and a time to bring together; a time to be silent and a time to speak up; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace. And, as the Byrds say, “I swear it’s not too late (see https://www.bing.com/search?q=turn+turn+turn&form=EDNTHT&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&refig=2b26a5ed150a4e56e23c57594d613547&sp=-1&pq=turn&sc=0-4&qs=n&sk=&cvid=2b26a5ed150a4e56e23c57594d613547).” By the end though, the king is lamenting again the lack of perceived profit for the worker in all this toil. He had observed the task which the LORD had given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves during their sojourn on earth, and he acted disgruntled (Ecclesiastes 3:1-10).

-Verse eleven is extraordinarily insightful though, “He (God) has made everything appropriate (yapheh- beautiful, well, pleasant) in its time. He has also set eternity in their (mankind’s) heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end (Ecclesiastes 3:11).”

-*Application* We would do well to contemplate this verse for a while. God does all things well and they work together for His good purposes to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). All things unknown and mysterious will be cleared up in TIME and by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection. We will know all things even as we have been known (1 Corinthians 13:12). God has set the idea of forever within us, His creation, to long and grope and seek out this relationship with Him for eternity (Acts 17:22-31, Romans 8:18-27). Faith is what it takes to appropriate this assurance (Hebrews 11:1, 6). While we struggle and muddle through this current existence lacking all knowledge, like Solomon sees 3,000 years ago, there is a future hope and we will be redeemed in our true and intended form if we trust in the LORD Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 29:11-13, Titus 2:11-14).

-But alas, Solomon is living with a worldly perspective at this point thinking that there is nothing better for man than to rejoice and simply do good in one’s lifetime. Again, as we’ve seen in previous chapters, he is not seeing the eternal picture in this worldview. He does however note that everything God gives is a gift, including the eating, drinking, and labor. He knows that everything God does will last forever with nothing to do to it or take away from it, for “God has so worked that men should fear Him.” The timelessness of the Almighty is exonerated (Ecclesiastes 3:12-15).

-Going further, Solomon has seen that within this world in the place justice and righteousness there is prevailing wickedness. While he notes that God will test and judge both the righteous and wicked man in His perfect way as to every matter and deed, he correlates man and beast as having the same fate in physical death. This too, he concluded was vanity in this temporal world. Man and beast come from the dust and return to it when they die. The breath (ruwach- wind, breath, spirit) of man ascends upward as eternal beings, but the breath of the animals descend downward to the earth, and who knows this mystery? For Solomon, he had seen that nothing was better than that men and women should be happy in their activities, for this is their lot and they will not be able to see what will occur after them (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22).

-*Application* There is a time for everything, and God knows in His wisdom just how to work out the details. His coordination blows our finite minds, and this is something that even the wise Solomon was unable to comprehend. As we often say, “Life is a mystery.” Thankfully, Christ has cleared much up since the time of this ancient king. Jesus’ full revelation in the fullness of time made sense where we needed answers (Galatians 4:3-7, Ephesians 3:16-21).





Verses to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 3:11, 14

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Chapter 2

Ecclesiastes 2



-Solomon continues with his personal experience, which far surpassed in its accomplishments just about everyone else in human history as to having resources and applying knowledge to situations. Solomon had the brains, the faith, the sex appeal, and the riches that any mortal would crave. Yet, he was finding himself lacking. He selfishly seeks out pleasure as this chapter gets under way. His pursuit was to enjoy himself, but it too was futility and accomplished nothing from his perspective. Laughter couldn’t help either. To him it became “madness.” He even explored with his mind how to stimulate his body with “wine” while his mind was otherwise stable and wise. He discovered how to take hold of “folly” to the point of trying to understand what good there was for the sons of men to do on earth for the few years of their short lives. For himself, he: enlarged his works, built houses, planted vineyards, made gardens, made parks, planted fruit trees, made ponds of water to irrigate a forest of growing trees, bought both genders of slaves and had homeborn slaves, and possessed flocks and herds larger than all those who preceded him in Jerusalem. In addition, he collected vast amounts of silver and gold, and the treasures of kings and provinces (military prowess). He provided for himself male and female singers for entertainment and the pleasures of men—many concubines. He was great and increased more than all before him in Jerusalem. Not only that, his wisdom stood by him. All that his eyes desired, he did not refuse. Hedonism become an idol in his life. He did not withhold his heart from any pleasure of man whatsoever. His heart was pleased, to an extent, because of all his hard work, and he rewarded himself handsomely for his labor. But, in the end, Solomon observed that all this wanton luxury and ceaseless activity, which he had done, was considered “vanity (futility)” and “striving after the wind.” To him, at this time, there was no profit under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11). Things, built on the kingdom of man rather than the Kingdom of God, were ultimately fruitless.

-So, Solomon turned his attention to consider wisdom, madness, and folly in respect to what would happen to his estate once he had departed earth. To him, everything that had been done would simply repeat itself. He saw that wisdom did exceed folly, as he had so often stated in earlier manuscripts of the Proverbs, just like light exceeds darkness. Darkness cannot stop light. Light penetrates the darkness and eradicates it. Meditate on this correlation with wisdom conquering folly. Good stuff. Fools continue to walk in darkness, while the wise examine themselves constantly. Yet, the Preacher saw that they both suffered the same fate in this natural world, death. With this simplistic view of the temporal order only, it seemed that wisdom led to the same results as foolery. The wise man would be forgotten in time, just like the foolish man. This led to exasperation on the part of Solomon as he reasoned this from a carnal perspective, and he ended up hating life with the toiling work that was grievous, futile, and striving after the wind (Ecclesiastes 2:12-17).

-He laments further the futility of his labor, since he doesn’t know whether his posterity will be left to a wise man or a fool. They, not he, would control the fruit of his labor, and he believed this to be vanity. What was at stake was his legacy, and he was uncertain, perhaps because he had become derelict in his fatherly responsibilities, that the baton he passed on would be carried well. Therefore, he “completely despaired” of all the intense work of his hands in building, again, his own kingdom. He saw the temporary nature of mankind as a great evil under the sun. This was a consequence of sin and the depravity of mankind, which leads to frustration. The task of labor is painful and grievous, and the stress of it leaves one with no rest, even in the night. It is vanity and a result of the curse (Genesis 3:17-19). This led to a hedonistic (shall we say epicurean?) response from a worn-out king, “There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that is labor is good.” However, he did note that he saw, this satisfaction and turmoil all wrapped into one tight package, was from the Hand of God and that none could have enjoyment without Him. To the people that are good in His sight, He has given “wisdom and knowledge and joy,” but to the sinner He has given the task of “gathering and collecting” in order to give to the good people. In Solomon’s natural state of mind, this too was “vanity and striving after the wind (Ecclesiastes 2:18-26).”

-*Application* We are to serve the LORD in our generation and do our best to raise up another generation that will carry the mantle of spreading the Kingdom of God in a powerful way. Biblical examples of doing well in that regard are Moses, David, and Paul (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, Acts 13:36, 1 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4). Joshua, Solomon, and others neglected some of these responsibilities in properly training up their posterity and passing the baton on to the next generation. It is an important truth to consider today. Otherwise, left to our own devices because of the nature of this world, all will be vanity and striving after the wind. Build the enduring Kingdom of God, not the temporal kingdom of man.





Verses to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 2:13, 24-25

Bible Study Notes in Ecclesiastes- Introduction and Chapter 1

Ecclesiastes 1



-Introduction: Late in King Solomon’s reign over Israel, around 3,000 years ago, a wise man looked back at a life filled with so much material opulence, yet there were some profound things missing. The son of David and ancestor to the Messiah writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God to spare future generations from living a life of futility and despair when lived apart from the fear of the Almighty LORD. Nihilism is the only recourse when one does not abide in the truths of the Heavenly Father. In other words, everything becomes empty and meaningless separated from the one-true living God. People cannot find true and lasting joy in anything this corrupted-sinful world has to offer. This is wisdom literature on the meaning of life with antidotes designed to bring one to the end of themselves and trust in the Savior. Therefore, the key verses in this book are the last two, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).” The structure of this work can be outlined as follows: 1. Solomon’s personal experience (Ecclesiastes 1:1-2:26), 2. Solomon’s general observations (Ecclesiastes 3:1-5:20), 3. Solomon’s practical counsel (Ecclesiastes 6:1-8:17), and 4. Solomon’s final conclusion (Ecclesiastes 9:1-12:14). Themes include, but are not limited to: 1. Human seeking and searching, 2. The emptiness of life without God in pursuit of pleasure, intellect, power, and wealth, 3. Work with the wrong motives, 4. The certainty of death and the brevity of life on earth, and 5. Human wisdom verses God’s wisdom. As we read this book from the “Preacher” in a negative and pessimistic tone, let us resolve to abandon the “vanity” of so many things in this life and seek Christ Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Though Solomon had rightly asked for God’s wisdom in his early years (2 Chronicles 1:7-12) and had become the wisest man in the world (1 Kings 4:29-34), we can relate to the frailty, imperfection, and downward spiral of mankind as we study these important and lasting truths. With humility and repentance, let us examine our own lives, like I believe Solomon did, and grow in our spiritual walk. We need to seek our happiness and fulfillment in God alone, putting every other temporal thing in its proper place. Let’s remember our Creator.

(Ideas extracted from “New American Standard Bible: Life Application Study Bible.” Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI, 1995, pgs. 1108-1109)

-Chapter 1: The words of the “Preacher” (qoheleth- the collector, public speaker, speaker in the assembly, from which the Septuagint translates ekklesiastes [from which we get ekklesia, or church- the called out for assembly] as the name of this book, translated into English as ecclesiastes), the “son of David,” and “king in Jerusalem” identifies the author as Solomon even though some scholars of higher criticism have asserted that another, or others, wrote this book in a much later period due to the linguistic differences in this book compared to the period of the king some 1,000 years before Christ. I believe findings in Qumran, the overall themes of the book, and textual verification are among the many proofs that Solomon did actually write this inspired Scripture (see “A Popular Survey of the Old Testament” by Norman L. Geisler, Baker Book House: Grand Rapids, MI, 1977, pgs. 213-214 and “The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty, Old Testament” by editors John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Victor Books: Wheaton, IL, 1985, pgs. 975-976). The often-given mantra of the book, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” begins the contemplation of what is important in life by the Preacher. He jumps right in to a serious question regarding what advantage there is for a man to do all his work under the sun (Deuteronomy 24:19, Proverbs 14:23, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23). He observes what can be viewed as the meaningless repetitions of life from generation to generation as the sun rises and sets each day, the wind blows in its different directions, and the waters flow back and forth, making all things seem wearisome, unsatisfying, and hard to understand for mankind. From this pessimistic perspective, “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun.” Things exist as they have for ages with no remembrance of earlier things or later things. Future generations don’t even seem to have any hope from this nihilistic vantage point (Ecclesiastes 1:1-10).

-Solomon goes on to tell how he, as the Preacher and king over Israel in Jerusalem, has set his mind to “seek and explore by wisdom” all the things that have been done under heaven by mankind. He concludes that it is a “grievous task” that God has given to the sons of men with much affliction involved. He sees all the works that have been done under the sun by man as “vanity and striving” after the wind. He proclaims cynically, “What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted.” He had said to himself, “I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me (a textual proof of Solomon’s authorship here, any imposter to the writing of this text would be an intentional deceiver),” and his mind had observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. Yet, as he set his mind to understand wisdom and to know madness and folly, he realized that this also was a “striving after the wind.” Why? “Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain (Ecclesiastes 1:11-16).”

-*Application* Life lived without Jesus Christ at the center of it will lead us to improper perspectives and major disappointments. This section of Scripture reminds us of the utter depravity of man in this corrupted-sinful world that is hopeless apart from the redemption of the Savior. Without Christ, even the hardest working plans, most keen observations, and most intellectual pursuits come up empty with affliction, grief, and increasing pain. Thankfully, there is another way (1 Corinthians 15:57-58, 1 John 5:4-5).





Verse to Memorize: Ecclesiastes 1:13