Ecclesiastes 1
#1 Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
UNDER THE SUN
(Outline #1 of 11 in
Ecclesiastes series.)
Note: These outlines
might be most appropriate for a Sunday School Class or
Bible Study. When I presented this
series I made handout sheets for the class.
INTRODUCTION - 1
Corinthians 2:14-3:4
There are three kinds of
people.
1. The natural man -
2. The Spiritual man -
3. The Carnal man -
3:1-4 - Saved, but living in the flesh. Also has difficulty grasping Spiritual
truth.
The Book of Ecclesiastes
is a view of life that would be taken by the natural and carnal men. The key
word in this book is "vanity".
The key phrase is "under the sun". Solomon is giving a secular
view of life apart from serious consideration of God and apart from Christ as
Savior. Solomon shows us the attitudes that develop when God is left out of
life.
THE AUTHOR - Vs. 1
The word
"preacher" has also been translated "teacher". It is a title given to an official speaker
who calls an assembly. Other than David, there is one king who stands out as a
preacher and teacher. That is Solomon. Here is he is called "son of
David", and although that phrase could refer to a more distant relative,
here it appears to refer to Solomon.
Ecclesiastes
Some facts about
Solomon:
1. He is the Son of
David. God called him Jedidiah, meaning "Beloved
of Jehovah". 2 Samuel 12:25
2. Early in his life he
had a great heart for God.
3. He had prayed for,
and received great wisdom. He wrote the Book of Proverbs and the Song of
Solomon. 2 Chronicles 1:7-12
4. He built the temple
in
5. He disobeyed God by
multiplying horses and wives. Deuteronomy 17:14-17, 1 Kings
6. Solomon's wives led him
away from the Lord. 1 Kings 11:9-13
7. God disciplined
Solomon. 1 Kings 11:9-13
Nowhere does it say that
Solomon repented of his sin. However, it is possible that this book is showing
us some of the lessons, which Solomon learned as he forsook God, and perhaps
returned to Him.
THE THEME - "ALL IS
VANITY" - Vss. 2-4
Other words for vanity
would be "emptiness" and "futility".
Life without God has no
content! Something that is vanity has no real value.
THE OPENING COMPLAINT -
Vss. 4-11
1. Nothing changes under
the sun. Vss. 4-7
2. Nothing satisfies
under the sun. Vs. 8
3. Nothing is new under
the sun. Vss. 9-10
4. Nothing is remembered
under the sun. Vs. 11