Old Testament - Ecclesiastes 1-3 - September 1, 2022

9/1/2022 – Ecclesiastes 1-3

No one knows who wrote Ecclesiastes, but we do know that the writer describes himself as “the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.”  The study manual says this: He presents a series of questions—and conclusions-- in search of the purpose of life.  And he seems to direct his writings to those who do not believe in God, or who are not yet fully committed to Him. He helps us all to see how much purpose and meaning can come into our lives when we seek to live in accordance with God’s will. 

He starts by speaking of the vanities in our lives, which are of no real use to us. The footnotes describe vanities as something empty, fleeting and unsubstantial. He goes on to say that in the basic things of this would, “there is no new thing under the sun”. (1:9)

In chapter 2, he tells us that he had become the most wealthy man—greater than any who had come before him. Anything he saw and wanted, he attained. Then in 2:12: “And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do…even that which hath been already done.” He then began to hate life, for nothing he had gained truly satisfied him. After all of his focusing on what his life really should have been is written in 2:26 “For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail…”

Chapter 3 tells us what he has finally discovered. He explains that good and bad things happen to everyone. He tells us that the works of man do not last, yet the works of God are eternal. He is the one who wrote : To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. See v’s 1-8. I made a cross stitch during the time that my father’s health failed and his death finally came. During that time I stitched the words of these verses, and doing that brought me sweet peace and comfort. I will keep that cross stitch on my walls, until I meet my time of death.

He goes on in v’s 12-13 to tell us that the purpose of our lives is to rejoice and to do good, and that real satisfaction is found in good work well done, and that good labor is a gift from God. But he also assures us that good and bad things will happen to everyone, but not to worry for the things of this world do not last. But in the end of our time in this world, there will be a time for God’s judgement of OUR time on earth, and he will place us … to where we will best continue to grow. The most important thing is that God’s work is forever, and that we are a grand part of that work: that eternal work.


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