ECCLESIASTES ("Book of the Teacher Qoheleth

")

LIFE=?

KING SOLOMON

ECCLESIASTES A text out of context becomes a pretext

STATEMENTS
Generations come and generations go, but the world says just the same. A man is no better off than an animal, because life has no meaning for either. It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to always want something else. A working man may or may not have enough to eat, but at least he can get a good nights sleep. A rich man has so much that he stays awake worrying! Dons be too good or too wise. Why kill yourself? But dont be too wicked or too foolish either. Why die before you have to? I found one man in a thousand that I could respect, but not one woman! Fast runners do not always win the race, and the brave do not always win the battle. Put your investments in several places in many places, even- because you never know what kind of bad luck youre going to have in this world!

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PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS
FATALISM: whatever will be, will be. EXISTENTIALISM: live for the present moment who knows what the future will bring? CHAUVINISM: men are better than woman. HEDONISM: living for pleasure. CYNICISM: even good things arent what they seem. PESSIMISM: things are bound to get worse.

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THE BOOKS AUTHOR

King Solomon end of his life-disappointed-disillusioned-hopeless Solomons three books Age of the author-Songs of Songs (Young)Proverbs (middle-aged)-Ecclesiastes (old) Chapter 12 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, I find no pleasure in them.

As an old man, he has reflected deeply upon his life. He is fond of the phrase, I saw . .The insights in this book are the result of his observation

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THE BOOKS STYLE

Life is not worth living Vs Life is worth living

What is life about? Is life worth living? How can we make the most of life?.........

Message Optimistic Vs Pessimistic Mood Uplifting Vs Depressing Books merit Deep Vs Shallow

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NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
Opening statement- Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!.

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His life was filled but not fulfilled-Observed so much but had perceived so little- failure to make sense of life-TUNNEL VISION

ACTIVITIES OF SOLOMON

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TWO LIMITATIONS
under the sun-28 occasions while we are still alive

SPACE

TIME

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POSITIVE STATEMENTS

CHAPTERS- 3,11&12

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GODS TIME

Message of chapter-3

God is sovereign, Sets the seasons: Date of birthday, Day of death. Time for planting, Time for reaping: Time for killing, Time to heal

Time for wrecking, Time for building; Time for sorrow, Time for joy. Time for mourning, Time for dancing; Time for kissing, Time to stop!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future -Jeremiah 29:1

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GODS TIME

Message of chapter-3

Time for finding, Time for losing; Time for saving, Time for waste. Time for tearing, Time for mending; Time for silence, Time to talk.

As you sow so shall you reap -Galatians 6:6-7

Time for loving, Time for hating; Time for fighting, Time for peace. Have your fun, then, But remember God is sovereign; HE decrees.

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Message of chapter 11

ADVICE FOR YOUNG AND OLD

7 Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.8 However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.

9 You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

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Message of chapter 12

ADVICE FOR YOUNG AND OLD

1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the

days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, I find no pleasure in them -

2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; 3 when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; 4 when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; 5 when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember himbefore the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, 7 and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher. Everything is meaningless!

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Message of chapter 12

THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER

9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nailsgiven by one shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. 13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

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FINAL NOTE-HELPFUL POINTS

REMEMBER YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER THE CREATOR IN THEIR YOUTHFUL DAYS (experience of Solomon-Songs of Songs-no mention of God) FEAR FEAR GOD (Proverbs-beginning of wisdomGod will ask accountability of our life-Jesus (Luke 12Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell OBEY OBEY YOUR CREATOR (experience of Solomon-chapter-12: the whole duty of manpurpose of life)

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And this life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent John 17-3

HOW TO REMEMBER-FEAR-OBEY?

PRAISE BE TO GOD!!!