ECCLESIASTES (THE PREACHER)

Reference books used: Expositor’s Bible Commentary Frank E. Gaebelein (General Editor): Ecclesiastes: J. Stafford Wright Is This All There Is To Life? Ray C. Stedman Everyman’s Bible Commentary Ecclesiastes: Total Life Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. Thus Spoke Qoheleth Kenneth O. Gangel Ryrie Study Bible Charles C. Ryrie MacArthur Study Bible John MacArthur

Who Wrote the Book? 1:1 He is the son of David 1:16 He has unequalled wisdom 2:7 Unequalled wealth 2:3 Extensive opportunities for pleasure 2:4-6 Extensive building activities All of this points to Solomon, since no other King after him measures up to this criteria

1 Chronicles 29:23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father; and he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the officials, the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David pledged allegiance to King Solomon. 25 The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him royal majesty which had not been on any king before him in Israel. Solomon was the second son of David and Bathsheba He was blessed above all other Kings He began his reign in his early 20s King of Israel from BC (40) His name appears in scripture 300 times

Solomon inherited a large and powerful kingdom from his father. He expanded the influence of the kingdom through many strategic treaties and agreements. He controlled the major trade routes through Damascus fortifying the cities that protected them. He used Tyre as his seaport because of an agreement with its king Hiram.

Some Facts About Solomon: He averaged 25 tons of gold annually (2Chron. 9:13) He practically remade Jerusalem with new streets, walls and public service buildings. He built an exotic palace for himself over 13 years. He built the first Temple in Jerusalem taking 7 years to complete. He executed his half brother for treason. (1Kings 2:13-46) He was an accomplished botanist, cataloging plant life and was a zoologist studying the characteristics of animals and insects. (1Kings 4:29-34) He spoke 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 psalms. (1Kings 4:32) He wrote Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes and much of the book of Proverbs.

Solomon asked God for an “understanding heart” in order to rule God’s people correctly: 1 Kings 3:8 “Your servant is in the midst of Your people which You have chosen, a great people who are too many to be numbered or counted. 9 “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

God granted his request with a bonus: 1 Kings 3:10 It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you. 13 “I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.

ALSO: 1 Kings 4:29 Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. You can see the heart of Solomon prior to his fall in the temple dedication prayer of 1Kings 8: There, his humility and sensitivity to God’s love are clearly shown.

THE THREE W’S OF SOLOMON He is called The King who loved: Wisdom Wealth Women It was the last ‘W’ that caused his fall!!!

Actually, his fall was self-caused In his zeal to secure treaties and favors from the surrounding kingdoms Solomon accepted the daughters of many of the kings as his wife (in addition to keeping the wives and concubines of David). He allowed their pagan worship which caused him to stray from the true God. Solomon at his peak had 700 wives and 300 concubines Seriously!! Because he sought to please the wives and because he listened to them in his old age, Solomon turned from the Lord.

This is the heart of the issue: Deut. 17:17 “He shall not multiply wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; nor shall he greatly increase silver and gold for himself.

This is the record of what happened: 1Kings 11:1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the sons of Israel, “You shall not associate with them, nor shall they associate with you, for they will surely turn your heart away after their gods.” Solomon held fast to these in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines, and his wives turned his heart away. 4 For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been. Continued on the next slide…