ECCLESIASTES MEANS THE PREACHER Cards 69-75 ECCLESIASTES MEANS THE PREACHER The word “Ecclesiastes” is the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word Koheleth, or “the preacher.” This title is taken from the name by which the speaker repeatedly refers to himself. Ecclesiastes records what happened to a rich and famous king, one who ruled Israel long ago and had everything. King Solomon had tasted just about everything life has to offer. Wealth? No one could exceed him in luxurious lifestyle (2:4-9). Wisdom? His was world-renowned (1:13-18). Fame? He was king, the most famous man of his time (1:12). Systematically, he sampled all of life’s powers and pleasures, yet all ultimately disappointed him. All proved meaningless. What is the point of life? He asked. You work hard, and someone else gets all the credit. You struggle to be good, and evil people take advantage of you. You accumulate money, and it just goes to spoiled heirs. You seek pleasure, and it turns sour on you. And everyone—rich or poor, good or evil—meets the same end. We all die. There is only one word to describe this life: meaningless!

ECCLESIASTES MEANS A. The king B. The speaker C. The preacher The title of preacher is taken from the name by which the speaker repeatedly refers to himself? True or False Does Ecclesiastes records what happened to a rich and famous king? Was King Solomon one who ruled Israel and had everything? King Solomon had wealth, wisdom, and fame yet did all this ultimately disappoint him? Did all of this prove meaningless to him? What is the same end we all shall meet? Solomon said there is only one word to describe his life, is was m________________?

WROTE ECCLESIASTES SOLOMON “The preacher” had traditionally been identified with Solomon. Nowhere however, is Solomon’s name mentioned in Ecclesiastes. In 1:1, reference is made to “the son of David, king in Jerusalem”. Solomon is accepted as the speaker, that is, “the preacher”, this is no guarantee that he is the writer also. Although there is nothing about the book to prohibit the idea that one man is responsible for the entire work. Thomas Wolfe said of it, “Ecclesiastes is the greatest single piece of writing I have ever known, and the wisdom expressed in it the most lasting and profound.” Because of the book’s unique nature, it is important to keep certain principles in mind while reading it. Consider Ecclesiastes as a whole. The Preacher was exploring various philosophies of life. During his search he tried different approaches, including hedonism, the unrestrained pursuit of pleasure. The book honestly records the author’s search without endorsing it. The book includes more than despair. It also blends in proverbs about how life should be lived, look for these nuggets of wisdom. By asking questions, the author of Ecclesiastes helped prepare for the answers God ultimately provided. The Preacher concluded, “Everything is meaningless!” under the sun, but when Jesus Christ came he promised life “to the full” (John 10:10)

WROTE ECCLESIASTES A. King Saul B. King Solomon C. King David “The preacher” had traditionally been identified with S________________? Is King Solomon’s name mentioned in Ecclesiastes? Even though it is accepted that Solomon is the speaker, is that a guarantee that he is the writer also? Is Ecclesiastes considered the greatest single piece of writing by some? Is the wisdom expressed in it considered the most lasting and profound? When reading Ecclesiastes should we keep certain principles in mind? One of those is to read it as a whole? True or False The book honestly records the author’s search of philosophies of life without endorsing them? True or False Does the book include more than despair? Does the book blend in proverbs about how life should be lived? The Preacher concluded “Everything is m______________!” under the sun, but when J__________ C___________ came he promised life “to the f_________” (John 10:10)

ECCLESIASTES SHOWS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN Ecclesiastes strikes a responsive chord in our age. Its words show up in folk songs and at presidential inaugurations. No century had been such progress, and yet such despair. What is the purpose of lie anyway? Is there any ultimate meaning? “Is that all there is?” asked one songwriter after listing life’s pleasures. A key phrase in this book, “under the sun,” describes the world lived on one level, apart from God and without any belief in the afterlife,. If you live on that level, you may well conclude that life is meaningless. Ecclesiastes gives some words of hope, including the final summary: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man: (12:13). That’s the positive message, the “lesson” of Ecclesiastes. But such positive words are almost overwhelmed by the author’s powerful negative example. You could summarize his whole life in Jesus’ one statement, “What good will it be for man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

ECCLESIASTES SHOWS A. You can live anyway you want and go to heaven B. Be mean to others if they are mean to you C. The whole duty of man Do the words of Ecclesiastes strike a responsive chord today by showing up in folk songs and speeches? A key phrase in this book “under the sun” describe a world lived apart from God? True or False Does “under the sun” show a belief in the afterlife? If you live on the level apart from God can you conclude that life is meaningless? Fill in the blanks of the final summary: “Fear G_____ and keep his c__________________, for this is the w________ d_________of m_________? Is that the positive message, the “lesson” of Ecclesiastes? You could summarize Solomon's whole life in Jesus’ one statement, “What g_________will it be for m________ if he g__________the whole w__________, yet forfeits his s___________? (Matthew 16:26)

QUOTE ECCLESIASTES 12:13 “FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN.” The conclusion which “the preacher” reaches is that is such an empty and unsatisfying world where disappointment, trouble and death cannot be avoided, a quite enjoyment of God’s gifts is the only real wisdom. The man who is truly wise will “fear God and keep his commandments” (12:13-14, Making the best of thins as he finds them and trusting in the providence of God. This secret of a contented life is found in the consecration of the vigor of youth to the service of God. Ecclesiastes profoundly illustrates the idea that a life apart from God is a life without meaning. “…FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN”

QUOTE ECCLESIASTES 12:13 “FEAR G_______ AND K__________HIS C________________: FOR THIS THE W____________ D__________ OF M___________” 1. Is one of the conclusions “the preacher” reaches is that it is an empty and unsatisfying world? Is another one that we will have disappointments? Is another one that death cannot be avoided? Is a quite enjoyment of God’s gifts the only real wisdom? Is the person truly wise who fears God and keep his commandments? Is the persons wise who makes the best of things as he finds them? Is the person wise who trust in the providence of God? Is it true that a life apart from God is a life without meaning? Is the secret of a contented life found in a youth who strives to live in the service of God? Can you name some ways you can be of service to God?

WROTE SONG OF SOLOMON Solomon was the son of David and Bathsheba, and the third of the three great kings of the united kingdom of Israel, reigning from about 961-922 BC. Solomon is said to have had 700 wives and 300 concubines. They were gathered from all nations and represented all shades of religious faith, Many of them were utterly pagan, and to please them Solomon permitted the erection of shrines and temples of their gods in which they could worship. Thus there crept into Israel the worst phases of idolatry and part of the cause for the future break-up of the nation. Solomon’s character is difficult to estimate properly, for the reason that it is so complex as it is given in the Bible that there is no means of arriving at the true nature of the man. He was a wise administrator of his own affairs; but he seems to have lacked the wisdom to leave a compact and united kingdom behind him. He was a great builder, but a vast amount of it was built for his own glory or pleasure. He built up a huge magnificence to God in the Temple, and yet worshipped heathen gods of all sorts for pleasure of his wives and concubines. He glorified the throne at the cost of his nation and left to his heir only an empty shell of richness and splendor that collapsed when the pressure of trouble came. He is credited with words of deepest wisdom, yet he seemed unable to abide by them.

WROTE SONG OF SOLOMON A. King Saul B. King David C. King Solomon Who was Solomon’s parents? He was the first of the three great kings of the united kingdom of Israel? True or False How many wives did he have? How many concubines? Did they all worship God as he did? What did Solomon do to please them? What did this cause? Solomon was a wise administrator of his own affairs; but lacked the wisdom to leave a compact and united kingdom behind him? True or False Was he a great builder? Did he build for his own glory and pleasure? What was the magnificent building to God he built? Yet did he worship heathen gods of all sorts for pleasure of his wives and concubines? He is credited with words of deepest wisdom, yet he seemed unable to abide by them? True or False