Ecclesiastes

The Vanity of a Life Lived for Itself

Ch 1	The Vanity of Labor The Vanity of Knowledge
Ch 2	The Vanity of Pleasure The Vanity of Worldly Wisdom The Vanity of the Vexation of Labor The Good Enjoy Life
Ch 3	God's Timing Man's Earthly Mind from God Enjoy and do Good God's Sovereignty God's future Judgement Man is Mortal
Ch 4	Oppression Envy is the Motivation behind Hard Work Self-destructive Behavior
Ch 5	Vows Corrupt Authority Seeking Material Abundance
Ch 6	Not being able to enjoy life Better to be filled with good than to have long life
Ch 7	Death better than Life Sorrow better than Laughter All things in moderation
Ch 8	Obeying Human Authority Unknown Future, Unknown Meaning
Ch 9	Except for Death, the Future is Unknowable
Ch 10	Fools
Ch 11	Generosity
Ch 12	Conclusion: Fear God

Notes

Enjoy Life

Messages

Understanding Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes is directed towards those of a worldly mindset in order to bring revelation of the vanity of a life lived for itself in order to free them up from taking their secular life too seriously and to free them up to pursue that which is truly life. As such at times Solomon will speak as if from the perspective of the worldly, which may seem confusing and contradictory. But much of what is written is written in the sense of "if this is how you think, then this is what it leads to. Now isn't that vain?" Solomon's main conclusion is that this life is not all there is to live for. Rather there is a judgement to come, after death. Therefore people should live now in the fear of God preparing for such a time, rather than making a big deal about things in their life which ultimately matter very little.

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