Bible

Today in the Bible room, we open the book of Ecclesiastes, reading a summary of all 12 chapters.

Here are some notes to accompany this Bible reading:

1. The word ‘vanity’ as used in the New King James Version, (NKJV) is translated variously in other versions as: without meaning, meaningless, nonsense, senseless, boring, foolish, foolishness, unfair, unfathomable, not answerable, folly, useless, futile, and perhaps others.
2. This summary uses the word ‘vanity’ as it appears in the NKJV, and the reader can apply whichever of the other words might apply to each occurrence.

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Ecclesiastes

Introduction to Ecclesiastes:

Writer: Unknown. The book itself suggests it is written by someone of older years. It also implies its origin is rooted in someone who has been in a position of authority, or someone under authority, or a position of teacher, or even a student. Perhaps it is written by someone who could have been, at various times, in all those positions. The writer was likely a descendant of David, like Solomon, or someone later looking back, writing from experiences.

Scope: The writer discusses various scenarios in which ‘man’ confronts life situations and tries to make sense out of circumstances, many of which are beyond his control. Ultimately, he concludes the wisest course in this life is to believe in God, live for Him, and trust Him to reconcile everything for our best future.

Chapter 1. Life

The Teacher, a descendant of King David, presents some challenges:

• Everything in life is vanity;
• Man works his whole life, seemingly for nothing;
• He dies and another generation follows;
• But the earth never changes;
• Neither does the sun;
• Even the wind just goes around in circles;
• Rivers are always flowing to the sea, and disappear;
• Seeing and hearing: Neither are ever satisfied;
• There is nothing new under the sun;
• Even one who is a leader cannot grasp the wind;
• More knowledge brings more sorrow.

Chapter 2. Searching

Life can be spent in searching but never being satisfied:

• Searching for pleasure proves to be vanity;
• Fun and games accomplish nothing;
• An entire lifetime can be used up looking for a career;
• There is no satisfaction in searching for fame and fortune;
• Even the best of good works brings no real profit;
• Gaining great knowledge does not make much difference;
• In the end, a wise man dies the same as the fool;
• Someone else comes along and replaces them;
• But the good man will be blessed by God in this life.

Chapter 3. Time

There is a time appointed for everything we do here on Earth:

• Being born and then dying; Planting and harvesting;
• Killing and healing; Breaking down and building up;
• Crying and laughing; Mourning and dancing;
• Scattering stones and gathering stones;
• Embracing and shunning; Winning and losing;
• Keeping and discarding; Tearing and sewing;
• Being silent and speaking; Loving and hating;
• Being at war and being at peace;
• All talents for work are given by God;
• People can create beautiful things;
• The best we can do in life is enjoy the gift of labor;
• God is in control, and all He does is good;
• In time, God will judge the good and bad;
• Man, and animals all breath the same air, and all will die;
• But man should just keep doing good work and be glad.

Chapter 4. Observations

Remembering some things he has observed in his life:

• Those who are oppressed have no one to comfort them;
• He pities everyone who must see so much evil in life;
• Even good work is vanity, envied by its neighbor;
• The laborer who has no family labors alone;
• There is no one to share his success and his wealth;
• Two, working together, can share in their success;
• They can help each other when challenged;
• And three working together is even better;
• The wise and young will replace the old and foolish;
• And the past is forgotten, all is vanity.

Chapter 5. Heritage

Follow God and find joy in the heritage of His calling:

• Unholy sacrifices offered to God will be punished;
• Don’t talk too much, obey God;
• A fool’s voice is known by his many words;
• Keep your vows—better not to vow than to not keep it;
• It is vanity to pursue more riches than you need;
• Too much riches can cause loss of sleep;
• God calls one to the heritage of labor he will enjoy in life;
• God will keep him busy with the joy of his heart.

Chapter 6. Affliction

There is an evil that is common among many people:

• God blesses some people with great riches in this life;
• And then they are, for some reason, unable to enjoy it;
• Some stranger comes along and takes possession of it;
• This is an evil affliction, a vanity of life;
• Most people work so they can eat;
• But often there is no satisfaction with the work;
• It is vanity to desire everything that one may see;
• Man cannot argue with God who is all powerful;
• Life is all about vanity, and no one knows what’s next.

Chapter 7. Learned

The Preacher writes about various things he has learned:

• A good name is extremely valuable;
• The day one dies is more important than one’s birthday;
• Mourning is better than laughter; fools laugh too much;
• How something ends is more important than its beginning;
• Patience is better than pride; fools get angry too quickly;
• Manage an inheritance wisely for a long life;
• Prosperity is a gift from God; be thankful for it;
• Some things in life cannot be understood—vanity;
• The good may die young; the evil may live long;
• Live for God: just do all things in moderation;
• Wisdom is more important than power;
• There is no good man who does not sin;
• Pay little attention to things that you can hear;
• Following God will help you avoid an evil woman;
• Among all he has learned, the Preacher has found:
• God made Man to be good, but Man has failed.

Chapter 8. Obedience

The writer strongly recommends obedience to all authority:

• He says his wisdom allows him to explain things;
• Obedience to local authority is required by God himself;
• There is power in the authority of the king;
• Recognize that power and gain protection from harm;
• Even a wise man cannot tell the future;
• But there is always someone ruling over others;
• It is a great vanity than many rulers are wicked men;
• Ultimately, it will be well with everyone who lives for God;
• To enjoy life man should eat, drink, and be merry.
• Life is given to man as a gift from God to be enjoyed.

Chapter 9. Accepted

The wise man says all the works of the righteous are accepted by God:

• The works of the righteous are in the hands of God;
• Events of life happen to the good and to the sinner;
• The garments of the righteous will always be white;
• And God has already accepted their works;
• The righteous should live joyfully all their days;
• Whatever you find to do, do it with all your might;
• Time and chance happen to everyone: just live with it;
• The wisdom of a poor man may overcome a great power,
• But it may come without public honor or recognition.

Chapter 10. Folly

The wise man has observed folly in many places:

• He has seen fools pretending to be wise;
• Lacking wisdom, the fool will be eventually exposed;
• He has seen folly in the dignity of high places;
• Servants may ride horses, while the princes walk;
• Skilled workers may become injured by their own labor;
• The fool is the one who talks too much;
• The ‘babbler’ will start speaking foolishness;
• The longer he speaks it turns into madness;
• Sometimes a child becomes king over a nation;
• And the princes spend their time in drunkenness;
• Be careful how you talk even when no one can hear.

Chapter 11. Work

Everyone should work and earn while they are young and able:

• Prepare some extra food for unexpected emergencies;
• Do not try to spread seeds during a high wind;
• Do not try to harvest grain when it’s raining;
• You do not know everything, just trust in God;
• Over a long life there will be much vanity;
• We should look for and find God while we are young.

Chapter 12. Remember

We are told to remember the days of our youth:

• When everything seemed to be good and right;
• For there will be many not-so-good years to come;
• Remember to turn to God while you are able;
• The days will come when you are not able;
• There will be a day when there is no desire for right;
• Vanity on top of vanity; everything is vanity;
• But the Preacher still taught the people what is right:
• “Fear God, and keep His commandments,
• For this is the whole duty of man.”

End of the book of Ecclesiastes