ECCLESIASTES 1

The Teacher declares that everything is meaningless. He begins reviewing his search for meaning, and his first conclusion is that wisdom is futile.

THE MAN (1:1, 12): The author introduces himself as King David's son-presumably Solomon-and notes that he once ruled over Israel.

THE MISSION (1:13, 16)

His quest (1:13): Solomon devotes himself to searching out the purpose of life.

His qualifications (1:16): Because of his great wisdom and power, Solomon feels he possesses the necessary credentials to conduct this search.

THE MADNESS (1:2-11, 14-15, 17-18): A preliminary investigation quickly reveals some bitter truths about life.

No real purpose (1:2-7, 14, 17): Life is futile and meaningless.

No new thing (1:9-10): History merely repeats itself.

No cure (1:15): What is wrong cannot be righted.

No lasting honour (1:11): The dead are quickly forgotten.

ECCLESIASTES 2

Solomon tries to find meaning through various things.

THE KING'S DELUSIONS (2:1-10): Solomon travels down many roads in his search for peace and purpose. This includes:

Pleasure (2:1-2)

Alcohol (2:3)

Great building projects (2:4a)

The planting of vineyards (2:4b)

The creation of beautiful parks with exotic trees (2:5-6)

The accumulation of possessions, including:

Human slaves (2:7a)

Herds and flocks (2:7b)

Silver and gold (2:8a)

Gifted musicians (2:8b)

Beautiful concubines (2:8c)

A universal reputation (2:9)

Total indulgence (2:10)

THE KING'S CONCLUSIONS (2:11-26)

The bitter truth (2:11-23)

What Solomon finds (2:11-16)

Everything is useless and empty (2:11).

Everyone must eventually die (2:12-16).

What Solomon fears (2:17-23): He realizes that in most instances the achievements of good men are left to fools.

The better truth (2:24-26): Be content with what you have, and enjoy your work!

ECCLESIASTES 3

Solomon views life from a human perspective and from God's perspective.

EARTHLY EVENTS FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE (3:1-14, 22)

The categories (3:1-8): There is a proper time for all events.

To be born and to die (3:2a)

To plant and to harvest (3:2b)

To kill and to heal (3:3a)

To tear down and to rebuild (3:3b)

To cry and to laugh (3:4a)

To grieve and to dance (3:4b)

To scatter and to gather (3:5a)

To embrace and to turn away (3:5b)

To search and to lose (3:6a)

To keep and to throw away (3:6b)

To tear and to mend (3:7a)

To be quiet and to speak (3:7b)

To love and to hate (3:8a)

To wage war and to pursue peace (3:8b)

The conclusions (3:9-14, 22)

The ultimate truth (3:9-11, 14): God-and God alone-can separate time from eternity.

The "until-then" truth (3:12-13, 22): Enjoy both your work and the fruits proceeding from it.

EARTHLY EVENTS FROM GOD'S PERSPECTIVE (3:15-21) A. What God has done (3:15): He has supervised all past actions.

What God now does (3:18-21): He tests people so that they can see they are no better than animals.

What God will do (3:16-17): He will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked.

ECCLESIASTES 4

Solomon continues his observations about life.

THE WRETCHED THINGS IN THIS LIFE (4:1-8, 13-16)

The people Solomon finds (4:1, 4-8)

The oppressed poor (4:1)

The selfish rich (4:4, 7-8)

The lazy fool (4:5-6)

The pessimism Solomon feels (4:2-3, 13-16)

Concerning life and death (4:2-3)

It is better to be dead than living (4:2)!

It is best never to have been born (4:3)!

Concerning prisoners and potentates (4:13-16)

It is better to be a poor but wise youth with a prison record than to be a rich but foolish king (4:13-16a)!

However, in the final analysis, it matters little who and what one is (4:16b).

THE WORKABLE THINGS IN THIS LIFE (4:9-12)

Two are better than one (4:9-12a).

If one falls, the other can help (4:10).

If one is cold, the other can provide warmth (4:11).

If one is attacked, the other can defend (4:12a).

Three are better than two (4:12b): A triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

ECCLESIASTES 5

Solomon observes humanity.

HUMAN WORDS (5:1-7)

Be cautious in making a vow (5:1-3).

Be committed in keeping a vow (5:4-7).

HUMAN WICKEDNESS (5:8-12)

Our injustice (5:8-9): This can be seen from the poor person to the king on the throne.

Our greed (5:10-12): The more people receive, the more they desire.

HUMAN WRETCHEDNESS (5:13-17)

Our birth (5:15): We enter this world with nothing.

Our life (5:13-14): We may be financially reduced to nothing in this life.

Our death (5:16): We leave the world with nothing.

HUMAN WISDOM (5:18-20): Once again Solomon advises us to enjoy our work and to be content with our life.

ECCLESIASTES 6

Solomon considers the source of joy.

FORTUNE DOES NOT BRING JOY (6:1-2).

Most wealthy people are unhappy with their possessions in life (6:2a).

All wealthy people leave their possessions to others in death (6:2b).

FAMILY DOES NOT BRING JOY (6:3-5): A stillborn child is better off than the unhappy father of 100 children.

FULLNESS OF YEARS DOES NOT BRING JOY (6:6-12): This is true even if a person could live to observe his or her 2000th birthday!

ECCLESIASTES 7

Solomon considers the better things in life.

THE "BETTERS" (7:1-12, 19)

A good reputation is better than fine perfume (7:1a).

The day of death is better than the day of birth (7:1b).

Funerals are better than festivals (7:2).

Sorrow is better than laughter (7:3-4).

Criticism from a wise man is better than praise from a fool (7:5-6).

Finishing is better than starting (7:8a).

Patience is better than pride (7:8b).

Wisdom is better than wealth (7:11-12).

Wisdom is better than power (7:19).

THE BITTER (7:26): The snares of a prostitute are more bitter than death!

THE BOTTOM LINE (7:13-18, 20-25, 27-29): Solomon concludes the following: A. What is crooked cannot be made straight (7:13).

Enjoy today, for tomorrow is uncertain (7:14).

Don't be too good or too wise (7:15-18).

There is no one who has not sinned (7:20).

Don't eavesdrop (7:21-22).

Wisdom without God is impossible (7:23-25, 27-29).

ECCLESIASTES 8

Solomon makes further observations about life.

CONCERNING UNDERSTANDING (8:1, 16-17)

Wisdom brightens a person's appearance (8:1).

Wisdom comes only from God (8:16-17).

CONCERNING UNQUESTIONED OBEDIENCE (8:2-5):

Obey the king, for his word is supreme.

CONCERNING UNCERTAINTY (8:6-8): No one can escape death.

CONCERNING UNFAIRNESS (8:9-14)

Solomon's frustration (8:9-11, 14)

Why do the wicked often receive that which the righteous deserve (8:9-11)?

Why do the righteous often receive that which the wicked deserve (8:14)?

Solomon's realization (8:12-13):

God will eventually punish the wicked!

CONCERNING THE ULTIMATE (8:15): Be content, and enjoy life!

ECCLESIASTES 9

Solomon reflects on the things that control human destiny.

THE INFINITE ONE (9:1): The affairs of all people are in the hands of God.

THE INSANITY (9:2-6, 11-12)

Death ends every person's life (9:2-6).

The living know they will die (9:5a).

The dead know nothing at all (9:5b).

Chance controls every person's life (9:11).

The swift do not always win the race (9:11a).

The strong do not always win the battle (9:11b).

The smart do not always acquire the wealth (9:11c).

Calamity stalks every person's path (9:12).

THE INSTRUCTIONS (9:7-10)

Enjoy life with your wife (9:9).

Whatever you do, do well (9:10).

THE ILLUSTRATION (9:13-18)

The contents (9:13-15)

The saving (9:13-15a):

By his wisdom a poor but wise man once saved his town from a powerful king whose armies had surrounded it.

The sorrow (9:1 5b):

His noble achievements were soon forgotten because he was poor. B. The conclusion (9:16-18): Wisdom is still better than strength!

ECCLESIASTES 10

Solomon reflects on different kinds of people.

THE INDIVIDUALS DESCRIBED BY SOLOMON (10:1-7, 12-18, 20)

The wise (10:2a, 12a)

Their hearts direct them to do right (10:2a).

Their mouths give forth gracious words (10:12a).

The foolish (10:2b-3, 6-7, 12b-15)

Their hearts direct them to do evil (10:2b).

The way they walk betrays them as fools (10:3).

They are often (tragically) given great authority (10:6-7).

They are consumed by their own words (10:12b-1 4).

They are exhausted by even the simplest tasks (10:15).

Those in authority (10:4-5, 16-17, 20)

Stay calm, and don't quit if your boss is angry with you (10:4).

Woe to the land whose king is a child (10:16).

Happy is the land whose king is a nobleman (10:17).

Don't make light of a king, even in your thoughts (10:20).

The lazy man (10:18):

He lets the roof leak and the rafters rot.

THE INJURIES WARNED ABOUT BY SOLOMON (10:8-11):

He cautions concerning:

Digging a well, lest you fall into it (10:8a)

Demolishing an old wall, lest a snake bite you (10:8b)

Working a quarry, lest the stones crush you (10:9a)

Chopping wood, lest the axe strike you (10:9b-10)

THE INSIGHTS OBSERVED BY SOLOMON (10:19)

A party gives laughter (10:19a).

Wine gives happiness (10:19b).

Money gives everything (10:19c).

ECCLESIASTES 11

Solomon considers various rules for life.

GENERAL RULES FOR ALL PEOPLE (11:1-6)

Be generous (11:1-2).

Don't delay in matters of sowing and reaping (11:3-4).

Don't try to understand the work of God (11:5).

Keep on sowing your seed (11:6).

SPECIAL RULES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (11:7-10)

Rejoice (11:7-9a):

Enjoy your youth. Live life to the hilt.

Remember (11:9b-10):

Keep in mind that someday you must account to God for everything you do.

ECCLESIASTES 12

Solomon gives some concluding thoughts.

THE COMMAND (12:1-8)

What his readers are to do (12:1-2):

They are to homer their Creator early in life.

Why they are to do it (12:3-8):

God desires the strength of his people when they are young, before old age reduces the body to a pitiful shell of its former days.

THE COLLECTION (12:9-12)

The information (12:9):

The Teacher collected and classified many proverbs.

The instruction (12:10):

The gifted Teacher then taught the proverbs to his people.

THE CONCLUSION (12:13-14)

What his readers are to do (12:13):

"Fear God and obey his commandments."

Why his readers are to do it (12:14):

"God will judge us for everything we do."