How Did We Get Here So Fast? T. Kem Oberholtzer, Ph.D. Grace School of Theology August 24, 2008

Ecclesiastes T. Kem Oberholtzer Ph.D. Date: c. 935 B.C. Theme: Life is futile apart from God (12:13) Purpose: To present a philosophical demonstration of the inadequacy of life apart from God Subject: Meaning in Life 1 2 Sermons: Futility in All Areas of Life 3 11 Summary: Life Found in God 12 1 Human Effort 2 Various Actions 3 Time 4 Work 5 Money 6 Fame 7 Prosperity 8 man’s Limits 9 Time of Death 10 Foolish Words 11 Enjoy Life: Death Coming 12 Picture of Old Age

T. Kem Oberholtzer Ph.D. ECCLESIASTES “8 CYCLES” ENJOY LIFE VANITY=Vapor “soap bubbles” DEATH Work/Eat/ Drink Life Activities Eat/ Drink Work Pleasure/ Enjoyment Wife Youth VANITY [“Soap Bubbles”] 1:2, 14; 2:1, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 VANITY [“Soap Bubbles”] 6:2, 4, 9, 11, 12; 7:6, 15; 8:10; 14 [2x] DEATH 2:16-21 DEATH 8:10, 13 ENJOY LIFE 2:24-26 ENJOY LIFE 8:15 FEAR ELOHIM 7:18; 8:12 VANITY [“Soap Bubbles”] 2:26 DEATH 3:2 VANITY [“Soap Bubbles”] 9:9 DEATH 9:2-6 ENJOY LIFE 3:12-13 FEAR ELOHIM 3:14 ENJOY LIFE 9:7-10 VANITY [“Soap Bubbles”] 3:19 VANITY [“Soap Bubbles”] 11:8, 10 DEATH 11:8 ENJOY LIFE 11:9A DEATH 3:19-21 ENJOY LIFE 3:22 ENJOY LIFE 12:1A VANITY [“Soap Bubbles”] 4:4, 7, 8, 16; 5:7, 10 FEAR ELOHIM 5:7 FEAR ELOHIM 12:13-14 VANITY [“Soap Bubbles”] 12:8 DEATH 12:5-7 DEATH 5:15-16 ENJOY LIFE 5:18-20

Two Interpretive Keys to Ecclesiastes T. Kem Oberholtzer Ph.D. “ENJOY LIFE” 8 X’S IN THE BOOK (Reason: You will die) 2:24 Labor 3:12 Eat / Drink 3:22 Activities 5:18-20; 8:15 Labor/Eat/Drink 9:7-10 Wife 11:9-10 Youth 12:1a Youth “FEAR GOD” 5 x’s in the book (Reason: Judgment Coming) 3:14 5:7 7:18 8:12 12:13-14

Ecclesiastes 11:7 - 12:7, NKJV 7 Truly the light is sweet, And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun; 8 But if a man lives many years And rejoices in them all, Yet let him remember the days of darkness, For they will be many. All that is coming is vanity. 9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. 10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity. 12:1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them": 2 While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain;

5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. 3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; 4 When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low; 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 ¶ For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

T. Kem Oberholtzer Ph.D. Satisfaction in life is found in God not self or even living itself. [Ecclesiastes] ENJOY LIFE; FEAR GOD “The majority of people have no idea where they are going in life, they are simply trying to survive or enjoy the ride.”