17 ecclesiastes
TRANSCRIPT
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7/30/2019 17 Ecclesiastes
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Ecclesiastes
Purpose
Ecclesiastesdemonstratesthatthereisnothinginlifeitselftomakeitworthlivingortogiveitmeaning.Tofindrealmeaning,wemustlookoutsideoflifeitselftoGod,whoistheultimatesourceofalltruepleasureandenjoyment.
Authorship&GenreThespeakerinthebookisidentifiedsimplyasthePreacher,thesonofDavid,kingin
Jerusalem(1:1).WhiletraditionallyidentifiedasSolomon,thespeakercouldhavebeenanyofthekingsofJudah.ItisnotclearifthebookwaswrittenbythePreacherhimself,or
byalaterindividualwhowassummarizingandcommentingonhiswords.Eitherway,the
bookwasheavilyinfluencedbyawisekingofJudahwhousedpoetrytocommunicatehisfindingsonthemeaningoflife.
KeyVerseEcclesiastes12:13-14:Theconclusion,whenallhasbeenheard,is:fearGodandkeepHis
commandments,becausethisappliestoeveryperson.ForGodwillbringeveryactto
judgment,everythingwhichishidden,whetheritisgoodorevil.(NASB)
Structure1:1-11 1:12 3:15 3:16 7 8 12:8 12:9-14
Introduction:
TheFutilityof
Life
TheProblemofFulfillmentinLife
Solution:Dontlook
forfulfillmentinlife.
TheProblemofFrustrationsinLife
Solution:Donttryto
escapefrustrations.
Guidelinesfora
PurposefulLife
Conclusion
:
FearGodandKeep
HisCommandm
ents
TheologicalThemes HumanExperience:ThePreachersexaminationoflifeisundertakencompletely
fromthehumanperspective.AccordingtoScripture,wisdomcanbegainedfrom
eitherpersonalexperienceorbyheedingthewordsofScripture.Experienceisthehardway,andmuchpaincanbesparedbysimplylearningfromothers.
Futility:ThewordtranslatedasVanityorMeaninglessindicatestheutterfutilityandpurposelessnessofhumanexistenceforitsownsake.Withoutsomething
greateroutthere,thereislittlereasontolive. Work:ItiscrucialthatwetakejoyandsatisfactioninourworkasaGod-giventask.
IfwedonotseeourselvesasultimatelyworkingforGod,thenperhapsweshouldreconsiderouroccupation!
TheChiefGood:AccordingtothePreacher,wecandonogreatergoodinlifethantohonorGod.Ultimately,itisthisthatgivesmeaningandpurpose.