Ecclesiastes

When Adam and Eve first sinned, God placed the world under a curse. In Rom. 8 it describes this curse
as God subjecting the world to futility. Ever since the first sin, people think they can find meaning and
purpose in life without God. But the futility that God placed on the world says otherwise. It says that life
“under the sun” without God is totally meaningless. Someone who lives a purely secular life without
God, who takes an honest look at life in this world, will come to the same conclusion – and many have.
And so that is the theme of Ecclesiastes (Eccl) – life in this world is meaningless.

Eccl probes the meaning of life from the point of view of a secularist. Solomon looks for meaning in life
outside of God. He looks at everything “under the sun.” Amongst other things, he looks for meaning in
wisdom, folly, pleasure, wealth, youthfulness, and knowledge. He finds that all of these fall short.

It might be surprising to Christians that this is in the Bible. But what Eccl is doing is showing the true
reality of life in a fallen world. Many who have a progressive worldview think that we as a human race
are improving and progressing toward a life where all is fair and just and right. Eccl pours cold water on
this idea. It shows that all of our pursuits to achieve these things end up in the long run as meaningless.
All of our achievements in life end up as vapor that dissipates until there is nothing left. To show that life
is meaningless, Eccl goes through our lives and all of our pursuits and shoots them down one by one.

Eccl only hints at a resolution to the meaningless fate that awaits us. What it does is prepare us for the
resolution of our problem, which is found in the NT. If one does not understand the predicament one is
in, then one will not understand and look for an answer to one’s problem. So what Eccl is doing then is
almost entirely Law. It is the main purpose of the Law to prepare us for the Gospel. The Law reveals the
bad situation we are in and that no solutions for it can be found here on earth. The answer will have to
come from outside of us and our world. And that is why God broke in to our world and became a flesh
and blood human being. He did it so that he could provide us with the meaning and purpose that we are
looking for and crave. He did it in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. It is only in Christ
that meaning can be found. He is the Logos, the Word or Meaning made flesh. So it is the purpose of
Eccl to prepare us for Christ who alone can provide meaning to our vain lives. (The answer, which is
Christ, will be highlighted in a blue colored font throughout this study.)

About This Study

This Bible study is what I call a meditative Bible Study. The intent is to take a tiny portion of Scripture
each day and meditate on it. Read it and reread it. Think about it. Look at individual words. Think about
its main point. The type of writing that Solomon employs in Eccl is not easy to understand. Many times
you have to chew on it for a long while before you get the gist of it. Since it is difficult to chew on, only
small bites are given at a time. Some days there will only be a single verse. Other days there might be
two or three verses. So don’t be in a hurry to get through it. Take your time and wrestle with the text.
 Eccl Bible Study – Part 1 (Eccl 1:1 – 3:16)

Lesson 1 – Eccl 1:1-2 – Thesis of the Book: All of Life is Vanity

1. Read Eccl 1:1-2

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

2 
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
    vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

2. Whose words are recorded in the book of Eccl?

> 1:1a: “The words of the Preacher.”

Who is this person?

> 1:1b: The Preacher is “the son of David, king in Jerusalem.”

The Hebrew word translated as Preacher in the ESV is translated as Teacher in the NIV.
The word is related to the word assembly. People assemble in church and people
assemble in school for instruction. In this case people are assembled to be instructed in
wisdom by the Preacher/Teacher.

Which person in the scriptures fits the description of the Preacher/Teacher given in
1:1b? (See 1 Kings 1-3)

> Since Solomon was endowed by God with the gift of wisdom (1 King 3) and since he
was literally the son of David (1 Kings 2:1) and since Solomon was the king of Israel (1
Kings 1:28-37), this description fits Solomon. In this study we will assume that Solomon
is the author of Eccl.

3. Look up Eccl 1:2a in various Bible translations. What are some of the ways it is translated.

> ESV – Vanity of vanities

> NIV – Meaningless! Meaningless!

> NASB – Futility of futilities

> ISV – Utterly pointless

 The word vanity could also be translated as vapor or mist. Vapor is here one second and gone
the next without a trace. As the next couple of verses show, he is talking about life.

In verse 2 he is stating his thesis for the whole book. Keep in mind that as he makes this
statement, he is making it based on what he sees with his eyes, hears with his ears, and deduces
using reason (for more on this, see lesson 2). He is looking at the meaning of life without God
based on his experiences and reason. In your own words, what is the thesis Solomon is making?

> All of life is meaningless, futile, and pointless. Based on his experiences there is no purpose in
life.

In the rest of the book Solomon will be go about telling us of all the different ways he tried to
find meaning in life and how each one of them failed.

4. What Solomon is doing is answering the question, what is the meaning of life without God? This
book then speaks to the current generation that we live in as more and more people say they
are atheist or they believe God is not needed because science can explain everything. The book
of Eccl could almost be viewed as the words of an atheist who lives in our times. If he is honest,
he will come to the same conclusions that Solomon comes to – all is vanity.

Think about some of the people you have come across in your life or some of the people you’ve
seen on the news or TV programs who deny that God exists. And as you go through this study,
think about those people and how, if they are honest, they should come to the same conclusion
about the meaning of life that Solomon comes to. The conclusion Solomon comes to is that life
without God is meaningless, futile, and serves no purpose.

The Christian comes to a different conclusion. The Christian knows we live in a fallen world and
left to ourselves life truly is meaningless. That is why God had to break in to our world himself in
order to give us meaning and purpose in life. He did that through Christ. The book of John starts
out by saying “The Word became flesh.” The Greek word translated as “Word” could just as well
be translated as Meaning. It would read then as “The Meaning became flesh.” Just as Jesus is
“the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” so he also is “the Meaning” of life. Without Christ, who is
God in human flesh, there is no meaning to life.

5. As you go about your day, think about it like someone who does not believe in God. Think about
the activities that you do and ask yourself, What meaning will these activities have a year from
now, a decade from now, or a century from now?

Reread Eccl 1:1-2 several times right now and think about Solomon’s thesis throughout the day
in what you see and experience.
Lesson 2 – Eccl 1:3 – The Vanity of Our Toils Under the Sun
1. Read Eccl 1:3. As you do, notice the words “toil” and “under the sun.”

3 
What does man gain by all the toil
    at which he toils under the sun?

2. Having stated his thesis that all is vanity, Solomon now begins the task of showing us that
everything in life is meaningless. He starts out with a section about the cycles of life (1:3-11). In
the first cycle he considers the toils of life.

3. Look up the word “toil” in the dictionary. What is its definition?

> Toil is working extremely hard or incessantly. Toil is exhausting physical labor.

What are some synonyms for toil?

> Hard work, struggle, exertion, grind, drudgery, travail.

Now substitute some of these synonyms for the word toil in 1:3a.

> What does man gain by all his hard work?

> What does man gain by all his struggles?
> What does man gain by all his exertion?
> What does man gain by all his drudgery?

Solomon questions what you get for all you toil, hard work, struggles, exertion, and drudgery?
What is the implied answer?

> The implied answer is nothing or very little.

4. In v. 3 Solomon introduces us to a phrase that is used 27 times in the book. The phrase is “under
the sun.” When he talks about “toils under the sun” or what is “done under the sun” or what he
“saw under the sun,” what does he mean by “under the sun”?

> It is the life we live on this earth. It is our day-to-day existence as we live life here on this earth
under the sun.

As we go through Eccl, there is little mention of God. So Solomon’s approach to evaluating life
on this earth under the sun is to look at it and evaluate it using his senses and his reason. He is
looking at life from the point of view of materialism and humanism. His evaluation will not use
special revelation, so he is not looking for the Christian answer to his question. It will be based
 strictly on what he sees and experiences. So the phrase “under the sun” gives us his method of
theology. His method uses the natural senses and reasoning that each of us are born with and
use in life.

5. What part of the earth is under the sun?

> All of it.

Which people do the rays of the sun reach?

> All people.

The phrase “under the sun” then gives us the scope of Solomon’s inquiry to find meaning and
purpose in life. He will scrutinize the whole earth and all that people do as he looks for meaning
and purpose in life. And his conclusion, as already stated, is that it is all vanity. One by one he
will eliminate all the possibilities that man can think of. Having eliminated all of the possibilities
under the sun leaves only the possibility of a solution that comes from “over the sun” which
does not come by our toils. The book of Eccl eliminates all possibilities except for Christ. Through
an honest examination, Eccl one-by-one removes the earthly things we typically think give us
purpose and meaning. Therefore, Eccl is primarily Law and the primary purpose of the Law is to
prepare us for the Gospel. The Law shows us that man and the things that man does is not the
answer. It causes us to look for the answer outside our world. In the Gospel God provides the
answer in his Son, Jesus Christ.

6. As you go about your day or look back on your day, think about all of your toils, the things that
you work hard at and struggle with and exert a lot of effort toward. Keep in mind that while
there is nothing wrong with them, in the end, they do give you a lasting meaning and purpose
for your life. The toils that you strive at are meaningless.
Lesson 3 – Eccl 1:4 – The Vanity of Generations
1. Read Eccl 1:4.

4 
A generation goes, and a generation comes,
    but the earth remains forever.

2. Context:
 1:1 The author is introduced. The description fits king Solomon.
 1:2 The main thesis of the book is given: All is vanity.
 1:3-11 He observes that there are cycles in life and that they are all meaningless.
 1:3 After looking at the cycle of the toils of life, Solomon concludes that no matter how
hard we work, there is nothing gained by our toils.

3. What does Solomon look at in 1:4?

> In 1:4 he looks at the generations.

It has become popular in my lifetime to label the generations of people. For instance,
 People born between 1946 and 1964 we call Baby Boomers
 People born between 1965 and 1980 we call Generation X
 People born between 1981 and 1996 we call Millennials or Generation Y
 People born between 1996 and 2012 we call Generation Z
 People born after 2012 are being called Generation A
We label them this way because the years when people are born determine the conditions they
face, which affect people’s behaviors and perceptions. So for instance it affects their spending
habits, work ethic, use of technology, etc.

While labeling the generations tends to point out the differences in generations, there are many
things that all generations have in common. No matter what generation, we all need clothes,
food, shelter, and transportation. In each generation, people are born, grow up, have children,
enjoy good times, face sickness and bad fortune, and eventually all people die. No one on this
earth lives forever. Generations come and generations go. It is a cycle that the human race goes
through.

Think about your family. If someone asked you to tell them about your great-great grandfather,
what would you be able to tell them?

> Most people would not be able to tell them anything about him.

Why is that?
 > That is because each generation is quickly forgotten.

4. As generations come and generations go, what remains (1:4b)?

> The earth remains.

The earth just keeps cycling through the generations. The memory of each generation and each
person of that generation is quickly forgotten. In the grand scheme of things, what does that
mean about the life of each person that has lived on this earth? What lasting value does it have?

> It has no lasting value.

What do you conclude then about generations?

> Generations seem important at the time but in the big picture they are meaningless.

5. Think about your own family. How many generations back can you go knowing something about
your ancestors.? Probably not very far. Think about your generation. How long will it be before
your generation will be forgotten? Probably not very long. The earth just keeps cycling through
the generations and as a new generation comes forth, so the previous generation fades away.
The generations are meaningless.

Reread 1:4 and consider the generations in your family.

Lesson 4 – Eccl 1:5-7 – The Vanity of the Cycles of Nature
1. Read Eccl 1:5-7.

5 
The sun rises, and the sun goes down,
    and hastens to the place where it rises.

6 
The wind blows to the south
    and goes around to the north;

around and around goes the wind,

    and on its circuits the wind returns.

7 
All streams run to the sea,
    but the sea is not full;

to the place where the streams flow,

    there they flow again.

2. The context for these verses is that Solomon’s thesis has been given – everything under the sun
is vanity, meaningless. Then he starts to go about showing why this is true. He starts with a
section about cycles. In 1:3 he says that all the toils that we toil at day after day gain us nothing.
Then in 1:4 he tells how the earth cycles through generation after generation of people. As soon
as a new one comes the previous one goes and is forgotten. Now in these verses he looks at the
cycles that nature goes through.

3. In v. 5 what is it that constantly cycles?

> The sun.

How does it cycle?

> It rises in the morning and it goes down in the evening.

For how long does it do this?

> It does it day after day after day. It never stops.

It is the same thing over and over again. Each time it cycles it is another day. The days have been
broken up into weeks, years, decades, centuries, and millennia. What if we did away with these.
What would you end up with?

> You would end up with a continuous string of days.

The days just keep marching on without a goal to be reached. We recognize this by calling it “the
daily grind.” Hidden within the sun rising and setting day after day is the idea that this grinding
 through the days is meaningless.

4. In v. 6 what is it that cycles?

> The wind.

It is always blowing. Does it seem like there is any purpose, reason, or order to its blowing?

> No. It seems to blow at random. It blows here and there haphazardly.

The wind was blowing before you were born. It has blown throughout your life time. And it will
continue to blow around and around after you die. It just keeps cycling around the world day
after day without any meaning, purpose, or order. The blowing of the wind tells us that life is
meaningless.

5. What part of nature cycles in v. 7?

> The streams and seas.

If you had to describe the cycle that water goes through, how would you describe it?

> The water runs into the streams. The streams run into the oceans. The water in the ocean
evaporates to form clouds in the sky. The clouds produce rain which falls to the earth. The water
then runs into streams and starts the cycle all over again.

Certainly some good things come out of this cycle but we have no control over it. Sometimes it
does not rain where we need it and other times we keep getting rain when we don’t need it.
Sometimes streams run dry, sometimes they flow consistently, sometimes they go beyond their
banks causing flooding. The oceans can be calm or they can be whipped up into a mighty
tempest. And through it all, the water just keeps going through its cycles. The randomness to it
all says that the cycles of the streams and seas is meaningless.

6. The endless cycles of nature, be it the sun, wind, or water, are telling us life on this earth is
meaningless. They do what they want, when they want. We have no control over them.

As you go about your day or as you think back on your day, think about your interaction with
nature. Take note of what the sun, wind, and water are doing in different parts of the world.
They do what they do and we are powerless to stop them or to alter them. We are at their
mercy.
Lesson 5 – Eccl 1:8 – The Cycles of Life are Unsatisfying, Unfulfilling, and
Wearisome Vanity
1. Read Eccl 1:8.

8 
All things are full of weariness;
    a man cannot utter it;

the eye is not satisfied with seeing,

    nor the ear filled with hearing.

2. The context for this verse is that we are in a section that is talking about cycles, the cycles of
toils (1:3), generations (1:4), and nature (1:5-7). The verse for our mediation today is a summary
of these cycles.

3. According to 1:8a, what does all of the time and energy spent toiling in life get us?

> Weariness.

What do the lives lived in generation after generation produce?

> Weariness.

What do all of our dealings with nature produce in mankind?

> Weariness.

All of our time and energy dealing with these things is like us being on a treadmill. We are
expending a lot of energy but we are going nowhere. We stay in the same spot the whole time
even as we try and make progress. All it does is produce weariness.

4. Mankind has a void in his life and as he lives within these cycles he tries to fill it. According to
1:8b, does what he sees in life, hears in life, and experiences in life fill this void?

> Nothing that he sees or hears under the sun satisfies his yearning to fill void. Nothing that man
sees satisfies his need to find meaning and purpose in life. Nothing that he hears clues him in to
the purpose of it all.

5. We conclude like Solomon that life lived under the sun within the cycles of life produces
nothing by weariness. And nothing that we see or hear gives us the meaning and purpose of it
all.
6. As you go about your day or night, think about the life you live under the sun. Think about the
cycles of your life. They keep us busy doing things, but they don’t get us too far. We tend to spin
our wheels. Or even if we do seem to make progress, very often something happens to set us
back. The cycle of life eventually catches up to every one of us. Eventually we all will die. There
is no escaping it.

Reread 1:8. Think about the things that cause you weariness in life. Think about how the things
that you’ve seen and heard in life that you thought would provide meaning and purpose ended
up producing emptiness.
Lesson 6 – Eccl 1:9-10 – Our Repetition of What Has Been Done is Vanity
1. Read Eccl 1:9-10.

9 
What has been is what will be,
    and what has been done is what will be done,

    and there is nothing new under the sun.

10 
Is there a thing of which it is said,
    “See, this is new”?

It has been already
    in the ages before us.

2. The context. Prior to this verse we’ve looked at the meaninglessness of the cycles of life. The
cycles of our toils (1:3), generations (1:4), and nature (1:5-7) produce a weariness in man and do
not fill the hole of meaninglessness in his life (1:8). In this lesson we look to the future.

3. Man puts his hope in the future. He views it with optimism. Even if things have gone badly in the
past, there is hope going forward. But what has Solomon observed about what will be in the
future (v. 9)?

> “What has been is what will be.” “What has been done is what will be done.” “There is nothing
new under the sun.”

There are times when someone might say, This or that is new. But upon closer inspection what
do we find (1:10b)?

> “It has been already in the ages before us.”

So while we can’t specifically predict what will happen in the future, we do know that whatever
happens, it won’t be anything new that hasn’t happened before under the sun.

4. If that is the case, what kind of examples can we give that nothing new happens? Think about
how countries treat each other. Have countries in the past had disagreements about boundaries
between them? Will they have such disagreements in the future?

> Yes and yes.

Think about how people treat each other. Have people taken advantage of each other in the
past? What kind of scams can you think of today where people try and take advantage of
someone else?

> Email scams. Scam phone calls. Scams where they get the money up front but then don’t do
 the work.

In every generation in the past there has been injustice. Injustice is a big topic during our lives.
Will there be injustice in the future?

> Yes, absolutely. Injustice will always exist.

Look at the past and you will see similar things happening in the future. We would like to think
we have progressed beyond wars and scams and injustices, but the truth is we haven’t and as
long as we live in this fallen world we won’t.

5. Reread 1:9-10. Think about the things you have seen and experienced during your lifetime.
Nothing you’ve seen and experienced is unique to you. It has all happened before to other
people in the past and in the present and will happen to others in the future. “What has been is
what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the
sun.” “It has been already in the ages before us.” In the futility that God has subjected it to, the
world just keeps cycling, going round and round, repeating the same things over and over
again. It is all vanity and meaningless.

6. How do we break out of these meaningless cycles? The sad fact is we can’t. We are stuck in
them. But the Good News is that God broke in to our cycles to bring about a new heaven and
new earth. He did it by sending his only Son to become flesh and to break the cycle of sin and
death that we live in. He will bring us out of these cycles to a life lived in his presence that is
filled with joy and love. Praise be to God.
Lesson 7 – Eccl 1:11 – The Vanity of the Life We Live
1. Read Eccl 1:11.

11 
There is no remembrance of former things,
    nor will there be any remembrance

of later things yet to be
    among those who come after.

2. The context. In this lesson we are wrapping up the section about the meaninglessness of cycles
(1:3-11).

3. A key word in this verse is “remembrance.” To remember something is to bring it to mind, to

think about it. If we remember something, it is like that person or thing is actually there with us.
When we lose someone close, we say, I’ll always remember this or that about that person. So
that means there are certain aspects that we remember about him or her but we don’t, and
can’t, remember the whole person. What we remember is only a tiny fragment of who that
person was.

No matter how important a person is, the day will come when that person is forgotten. For most
people the time when they are completely forgotten is soon after their death. After a generation
or two we will be forgotten. It will be as if we had never existed.

4. According to 1:11a, what is not remembered?

> “There is no remembrance of former things.” Things from the past are forgotten.

According to 1:11b, what else will not be remembered?

> “Nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be.” Just like the things in the past
are not remembered, so the things that will happen in the future, that haven’t happened yet,
will not be remembered either.

So from a humanistic point of view, what is the point of living? You come into this world. You
live a meaningless life. And then you die and are forgotten. From this point of view our whole
life seems meaningless.

5. Someone can, so to speak, be kept alive in our memories. But our memories are so limited, we
only remember a tiny fraction of a person. But there is someone who has a memory that can
remember an entire person and that person is God. What did the thief on the cross ask Jesus to
do in Lk 23:42?
 > “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

What was Jesus’ response (Lk 23:43)?

> Jesus’ response was, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

When Jesus/God remembers you, he remembers all of you and you are alive! Who does God say
he is the God of in Mt. 22:32 and what is their status?

> God said, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is
not God of the dead, but of the living.”

When they died, these men were not forgotten by God. And because God remembered them,
they are alive and God is their God. We never want God to forget about us because when he
remembers us, we live and when he forgets us, we die.

6. Think about your forefathers and foremothers. How much do you remember about them? What
percentage of them is “alive in your heart”? If you are truthful, the answer is very little. And the
fact is, these are the people you are the closest to. What about people who are merely
acquainted with? And then there are the billions of people who you know nothing about? For
most of them, they could have never existed at all and it wouldn’t have made a difference in
your life.

As a Christian, it is good to know that your existence is not dependent on the memory of a
person, but on the memory of Christ. All those who have faith in Jesus will always be
remembered and therefore have eternal life with Christ. Reread 1:11 and keep it in mind today.
Lesson 8 – Eccl 1:12-13a – The Vanity of Searching for Meaning in “All that
is Done Under Heaven”
1. Read Eccl 1:12-13a.

12 
I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my
heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. ... 

2. The context. With these verses we start a new section, 1:12-18. In this section Solomon tells us
about how, in his pursuit of meaning in life, he goes about searching for meaning.

3. In 1:1, what three ways did the author describe himself?

> the Preacher/Teacher

> the son of David

> king in Jerusalem

Which two of these does he repeat in v. 12?

> the Preacher/Teacher and king in Jerusalem.

The author adds one detail about his kingship in v. 12. Who is he king over?

> Israel.

This is another reason to believe that the author was Solomon.

4. What was it that Solomon sought to do (1:13a)?

> Solomon sought to “search out … all that is done under heaven.”

“Under heaven” is another way of saying “under the sun.” Solomon is saying that he has
carefully observed every part of life that is lived on this earth and he has tried to find some
part of it that gives meaning and purpose to life.

When he observed “all that is done under heaven,” what did he use and apply to his
observations (1:13a)?

> Wisdom.
 There are two kinds of wisdom, earthly wisdom and godly wisdom. Godly wisdom is Christ, but
that is not the wisdom used in Eccl. The wisdom spoken of in Eccl is secular wisdom. It is a
wisdom that anyone can use. This type of wisdom looks at the world, events, and circumstances
honestly and looks for the best and smartest way to live. By living wisely, one looks to get the
most out of life. Wisdom gathers the facts, uses sound judgment, comes to a deep
understanding, and then applies it to the current situation.

5. So Solomon set out on a quest to find purpose and meaning in life. In his quest nothing was off
limits. He looked at “all that is done under heaven.” And as he considered each aspect of life, he
did so with wisdom.

As you read through Eccl, you are invited to go on Solomon’s quest for meaning and purpose in
life. Listen to him carefully. What you will find is that in Eccl Solomon speaks almost entirely
Law. There is little Good News in Eccl. But this is on purpose. We all have many idols in our lives
that we use to replace God. By going through “everything under the sun,” Solomon will knock
down our idols one by one until there are none left. This will leave us with nowhere else to turn
except to Christ. That is the primary purpose of the Law.

As you go on this journey with Solomon, like him, use wisdom. Look at the world honestly. Get
as many facts as you can. Apply good solid reasoning. And try and get a good understanding. If
you do, you will come up with the same conclusions that Solomon does.

6. Reread Eccl 1:12-13a. As you go through your everyday life, observe what is going on around
you. See if you can find any lasting purpose and meaning in it.
Lesson 9 – Eccl 1:13b-14 – Everything Done Under the Sun is Vanity

1. Read Eccl 1:13b-14.

13
… It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to
be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and
behold, all is vanity  and a striving after wind.
[g]

2. The context. In the previous lesson, we started a new section, 1:12-18. In this section Solomon
tells us about how, in his pursuit of meaning in life, he goes about searching for meaning. We
saw that he observed everything “done under heaven,” and as he did, he used wisdom. In this
lesson Solomon talks about his overall conclusions of what he found.

3. What is his first overall conclusion about life as he observed everything done under heaven
(1:13b)?

> “It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy
with. “

Let’s parse through this sentence (1:13b). Let’s break it into three parts. The first phrase
is “It is an unhappy business.” Why do you think he describes life in this way?

> Gen. 3 (esp. vv. 16-19): God placed creation under a curse. Because of this life on
earth is hard and painful.

> Rom. 8:18-20: God has subjected the world to futility. The whole world is in “bondage
to corruption.”

Since we live in a fallen and corrupt world that is subjected to futility, it can only be “an unhappy
business.”

The second phrase in the verse is “that God has given to the children of man.” As we just saw in
Gen. 3 and Rom. 8, this unhappy business is given to us by God. When God is referred to as
“God,” as opposed to LORD, it is referencing his sovereignty, his supreme power and authority.
Since God has given man this unhappy business, we will not be able to change it.

The third phrase in this sentence is “to be busy with.” Maybe you have a child or a grandchild or
have seen someone else’s child where they are bored and complain that there is nothing to do,
so you give them some busy work to do. What is the purpose of doing so? And is anything of
value really accomplished?
 > It keeps them busy and occupied so they stop complaining. But nothing of value is really
accomplished.

So what is the picture of life that this verse presents?

> When humans rebelled, God placed them under a curse that makes life hard and difficult. In
doing so it keeps us busy and occupied so that life goes by more quickly. But all it amounts to is
busy work. There is really nothing accomplished or gained. It helps keep our mind off our
troubles.

4. Because of this, what conclusion does Solomon come to (1:14)?

> Solomon has seen it all and in the end he says, “ all is vanity and a striving after wind.”

In an earlier lesson we’ve already talked about vanity (vapor, meaninglessness). Here he
introduces us to a new term “striving after wind.” If you were to try and catch the wind
in your hands, how successful would you be? Why?

> You would not be successful because you cannot see wind. You don’t where it comes
from or where it is going. It is not a solid thing which you can grasp.

So that is how Solomon sees life. It is meaningless. It is like trying to catch the wind. It is
impossible to grasp. It is as impossible to find meaning in life as it is to catch the wind.
Wisdom helps us see this.

5. Does this give you a different perspective on life? Sure, there are moments of happiness and joy,
but overall life is an unhappy business that God has given us. By sinning, we have created a giant
hole in our lives. And everything we look to fill it, outside of God, falls woefully short. Searching
for meaning and purpose in life is as elusive as the wind. It is like a dog chasing its tail. The dog is
very busy but he accomplishes nothing.

As you go through life and you find yourself busy “striving after the wind,” stop. Do the really
wise thing. Turn to Christ. You will only find meaning and purpose in him.
Lesson 10 – Eccl 1:15 – The Vanity of Lives that are Crooked and Lacking

1. Read Eccl 1:15.

15 
What is crooked cannot be made straight,
     and what is lacking cannot be counted.

2. The context. We are in a section (1:12-18) where Solomon tells us about how, in his pursuit of
meaning in life, he goes about searching for meaning. He goes about it by looking at every
aspect of life, and as he does, he uses wisdom. And what he finds out is that life on this earth is
an unhappy business.

3. In v. 15a, what word does Solomon use to describe life on this earth?

> Crooked.

How did life get this way (Gen. 3)?

> Life got to be crooked when man sinned and God cursed his creation.

According to v. 15a, what can man do about it?

> Nothing. We cannot straighten our crookedness.

Applying earthly wisdom helps us see our predicament but it cannot help us get out of it. Look at
all the wisdom applied in self-help and self-improvement books. The help they provide is
minimal at best.

Consider an alcoholic who is trying to “straighten” his life out. He throws away all his alcohol
and checks himself into a rehab program. But the fact is that he doesn’t stop desiring alcohol. It
is the same for any addiction. And to make matters worse, the craving for alcohol or drugs will
continue the rest of his life. The true reality is that we are all “crooked and cannot be made
straight.”

Outside of Christ there is no answer to our crookedness. The only way we can be straightened
out is that our old sinful, crooked self be put to death and a new, straight person arise anew. In
other words, the ultimate and only answer is for us to be crucified, buried with Christ, and raised
with him. And that is exactly what happens in Baptism. We are baptized into Christ, which
means we die with Christ and are raised with Christ.

4. Now read v. 15b. As human beings we are so focused on what we do have that we don’t realize
that what we lack is so large that it cannot be counted. We like to laud all the great discoveries
and improvements that man has made. But in the grand scheme of things, they amount to
nothing.

Take for instance the computers we each have. We all started out with desktop computers.
 Then we all got laptops. Then we all got cell phones, which are basically mobile computers. Now
we wear computers on our wrists. Who knows what will come next? The fact is that all this has
been available from the beginning of time but we are just now seeing its potential and there is
so much more that we don’t know. What we lack in knowledge is almost limitless; it can’t be
counted.

As another example, take diseases. We finally have the technology to conquer a disease when
another one pops up. In fact, there are hundreds and thousands of diseases that exist that we
don’t even know about. We are so limited in our knowledge and understanding that no amount
of wisdom can straighten us out or make up for what we are lacking.

5. This verse presents the truth of our existence. We are crooked and lacking. Man in his arrogance
thinks he can solve all of his problems. But the truth is he can’t. As you face problems in your
life, do the best you can to solve them or at least mitigate them, but realize that life on this
earth will never be a utopia. God’s Law gives us a true and clear picture of life. We live in a fallen
world. Our lives are crooked and what we lack is so great that it cannot counted. That is the
truth that leads us to look outside ourselves for the answer. Only God can straighten us out.

As you go about your days, look for all the crookedness in your life and in the lives of people
around you. It won’t take long to see. Just turn on the news any night and you will quickly see it.
Doing so makes us long for the new heaven and new earth that Jesus promised, where we will
be straight and lack nothing. We say, Amen, come quickly Lord Jesus.
Lesson 11 – Eccl 1:16-18 The Vanity of Knowing Wisdom and Madness

1. Read Eccl 1:16-18.

16 
I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were
over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of
wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to
know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after
wind.

18 
For in much wisdom is much vexation,
     and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

2. The context. These verses finish up a section (1:12-18). In this section Solomon says that in
looking for meaning and purpose in life he looked at all areas of life. And in doing so he used his
wisdom. What he found was that life is an unhappy business that God gives us to keep us busy.
It all amounts to vanity because we are so crooked that we cannot be straightened and what we
lack is so great that it cannot be counted. Now in these verses he talks about his use of wisdom
in this endeavor.

3. Solomon was known for his great wisdom. In 1 Kings 3:12 God told Solomon, “… Behold, 
I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like
you shall arise after you.” And because God kept his promise and gave him the gift of wisdom,
Solomon’s wisdom surpassed “all who were over Jerusalem before him” and he “had great
experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

4. In his pursuit to find meaning and purpose in life and being that he was so wise, Solomon turned
to wisdom to see if meaning and purpose could be found in wisdom. In seeking to know
wisdom, one will also encounter the opposite of wisdom too, which is what (v. 17a)?

> Madness and folly.

In order to know wisdom, one also has to know madness and folly. You have to know both so
that when you encounter a situation or a decision, you are be able to decipher whether it is wise
or foolish to go one way or the other.

Solomon learned both and in the final analysis what did Solomon conclude about knowing both
(1:17b)?

> “I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind.”

Solomon will have much more to say about wisdom later on in the book, but here he states that
in the long run, knowing wisdom and knowing madness does not get you any closer to finding
 meaning and purpose in life.

5. What does Solomon say wisdom and knowledge bring with them (1:18)?

> He says they bring with them vexation and sorrow.

Now how is it that having a deep and wise understanding of life and how to live can bring with it
such negative things? Remember that to be wise one must take an honest look at life to see
things as they really are. An honest look at the world we live in tells us that we live in what kind
of world (see Gen. 3)?

> We live in a fallen world that is under a curse.

When you look up the definition of the word vexation, what does it say?

> You find it is: “the state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried”.

And when you look up the definition of the word sorrow, what does it say?

> Sorrow is “deep distress, sadness, or regret.”

Wisdom sees things the way they really are and then makes a determination on what is the best
way to go. And what wisdom sees in the world that we live in is not good. The world we live in is
filled with all kinds of troubles. And every one of us encounters various troubles of some kind.
And these troubles do vex us and frustrate us and cause us great distress. And so it is ironic that
in learning wisdom, we also learn madness and folly, and the wiser you are, the more vexation
and sorrow you will experience.

6. In looking at your life, think about some of the wise things you have done and think about some
of the most foolish things you have done. Sometimes you do something foolish and end up
learning how to be wise. This is because once you’ve done something that is dumb and you’ve
had to face the consequences, you never want to go through that again. And you vow that you
won’t. That is called, learning things the hard way. The way of wisdom seeks to avoid the hard
way with all of its negative consequences.

But even living a wise life and avoiding the negative consequences of folly, doesn’t give great
meaning and purpose in life. It helps us live life in this fallen world better and with less pain and
frustration but it does not give us meaning. After all is said and done, knowing wisdom and
knowing folly amounts to chasing after the wind.

As you go about your day, keep your eyes open for the wise and foolish things you do and
others do. Living wisely is better than living foolishly. To a degree, it reduces the amount of pain
and suffering you must endure but it won’t eliminate them. Wisdom brings with it vexation and
sorrow. You cannot escape it.
Lesson 12 – Eccl 2:1-2 The Vanity of Pleasure

1. Read Eccl 2:1-2.

2 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy
yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.  2 I said of laughter, “It is mad,”
and of pleasure, “What use is it?”

2. The context. Previously Solomon told us he was going to explore all the areas of life to try and
find meaning and purpose in life. His search for meaning was done using wisdom. And he looked
to see if meaning and purpose could be found in wisdom. He concluded that trying to find
meaning and purpose in wisdom was like striving to catch the wind. Now he turns to a new
pursuit for meaning.

3. What is the next area of life where Solomon will look for meaning and purpose (2:1a)?

> He will look for meaning in pleasure, in enjoying himself.

Note that Solomon is not talking about crass hedonism. He is not talking about overindulging
one’s self to the point of regretting it later – like drinking so much alcohol that you get sick and
throw up or eating so much that you feel like you are going to bust.

A couple of examples of legitimate pleasures that people find joy in are:

 Listening to some beautiful music
 Seeing an amazing sunset or a beautiful rainbow
 Drinking a glass of fine wine
 Watching a great sporting event
 Listening to your children laugh

Do these things provide any joy and satisfaction?

> Yes, absolutely.

4. Solomon quickly tells us where he stands on the pursuit of pleasure. Does pleasure bring
meaning and purpose to life (2:1b)?

> No, he says, “this also was vanity.”

Why would Solomon say this? We just looked a couple of examples of legitimate pleasures in life
and we said that they did give us joy and satisfaction. But for how long does this joy and
satisfaction last? Does it last a lifetime?

> The joy and satisfaction are only for a short period of time. It lasts for a little while but not for
a lifetime.

You eat a slice of a great apple pie. It satisfies you for a couple of hours but then tomorrow you
 are hungry again. You go on an amazing vacation but a year later or ten years later, how much of
it do you remember? Not very much. Pleasure only fills our appetite for a short while. We are
always wanting more.

5. Laughter would be one form of pleasure. What does Solomon conclude about laughter (2:21)?

> Solomon says, “It is mad.”

There is nothing wrong with laughter. Laughter cheers the soul. But like anything else in this life
laughter does not last. There are truly funny things that occur but there is also the laughter of
insane asylums and prisons. There is even the nervous laughter at funerals. To look for profound
meaning and purpose in laughter is indeed madness.

Likewise, what is Solomon’s evaluation of pleasure (2:2b)?

> Solomon says, “What use is it?”

Pleasure, like laughter, only lasts a short time. It is good while it lasts, but that is not very long.
Pleasure is an end unto itself. It does not go anywhere or do anything.

Many Americans build their lives around pleasure. Besides the legitimate forms of pleasure that
we discussed above, what are some extreme forms of pleasure that Americans indulge in?

> Some examples would be: taking drugs, overeating, obsession with sports and video games.

Americans have a passion for pleasure. Pleasure lasts for a moment but it is nothing to build
your life around. If Solomon’s assessment of legitimate pleasures is “what use is it,” what do you
think he would say about these crass forms of pleasure in terms of giving meaning to life?

> He would say they are a total waste of time and actually destructive and of course
meaningless.

6. Consider your life. How much do you live for pleasures? Do you build your life around
pleasures? Pleasures are not bad, it is just that they cannot fill the hole of meaninglessness in
your life. But God does give you pleasures in life to enjoy. So enjoy them! Just don’t assign to
them too much importance.

God describes the new heavens and new earth as a party, as a never-ending feast. He describes
it as a vineyard. Vineyards produce wine. Wine produces joy. At the End, Jerusalem descends
and it is beautiful. It has streets paved with gold. Compared to what God has in store, life on this
earth is no feast. Life in heaven will be an eternal wedding party, consisting of eternal pleasure
and joy.

Solomon cuts down the false pleasure that we think is so great to prepare us to hear Jesus’
message of pure, lasting pleasure and joy. Jesus was accused of gluttony because he partied
with sinners. Jesus wanted to spread the joy of the Good News. Therefore you will find at the
very heart of the Christian church wine. The wine is his blood which gladdens our hearts with
the forgiveness of sins. Pleasure is redeemed by Christ. But first Eccl must show us that we are
surrounded by sorrow and under the current circumstances cannot have lasting joy.
Lesson 13 – Eccl 2:3 The Vanity of Pleasure

1. Read Eccl 2:3.

 3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still
guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what
was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days
of their life. 
…
(10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart 
from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was 
my reward for all my toil. )

2. The context. Solomon is looking to find meaning and purpose in life. He did not find it in
wisdom. He is now looking to see if pleasure will give life meaning and purpose.

3. What type of pleasure does Solomon look at next (2:3a)?

> Next Solomon looks at cheering the body with wine.

It doesn’t take wisdom to know that imbibing in alcohol can “cheer the body.” Alcohol helps us
to let go and relax. It un-inhibits us. You don’t have to be a genius to know this. But how might
wisdom be of value when dealing with alcohol?

> Wisdom helps us limit our use of alcohol. Over indulging in alcohol almost always ends badly.

It doesn’t take great wisdom to enjoy the pleasures of life. Even folly can lay hold on them and
enjoy them. But wisdom helps us use wine in the right way, in a way that is not detrimental to
our well-being.

4. As we said when looking at 1:13, “under heaven” is a phrase equivalent to “under the sun.” It
refers to life on this earth. According to 2:3, how long is our life under heaven?

> It says our life is only a few days. It is short.

What is Solomon searching for (2:3c)?

> He is searching for “what was good for the children of man to do” while living the few days of
his life on this earth under heaven.

This is another way of saying he is searching for the good in life. Man is only alive for a short
period of time. He is looking for what man can do in his short life that is good, that is beneficial,
that is meaningful.
5. It may seem strange to look for meaning and purpose in life in the consumption of wine which is
also embraced by folly. But in his search for meaning and purpose, Solomon will leave no stone
unturned. Sometimes the thing we are searching for is ultimately found in the most unexpected
places.

Looking ahead to 2:10a, what kinds of pleasures did Solomon indulge in?

> He said, “I kept my heart from no pleasure.” He indulged in all the pleasures that there are
under heaven.

What did he find in all his toils (2:10b)?

> He found pleasure in all his toils.

Pleasure was his reward for all his hard work. So, pleasure is a good thing. It is a gift from God.
And yet pleasure too is vanity (2:1). It is of no use (2:2b). Pleasure momentarily makes us happy
but pleasure does not give meaning and purpose.

6. Think about the pleasures you enjoy in your life. It could be playing with your kids or grandkids.
It could be a glass of wine. It could be a job done well. It could be watching your favorite
comedian. Whatever it is, it is enjoyable. But how long does that pleasure last? Usually not very
long. We must soon return to “reality.” And the reality is that we live in a sin-stained world. Sin
ruins every part of life. Sin takes away pleasure. Earthly pleasures will not fill the emptiness of
our lives. Only Jesus can do that. We sing this in the hymn Jesus, Priceless Treasure. The first
verse of the hymn is this:

Jesus, priceless treasure,

source of purest pleasure,
friend most sure and true:
long my heart was burning,
fainting much and yearning,
thirsting, Lord, for you.
Yours I am, O spotless Lamb,
so will I let nothing hide you,
seek no joy beside you!

Knowing Jesus gives us purest pleasure and is pure joy. There are no pleasures on this earth that
fully satisfy us. Only the pleasure and joy supplied by Jesus give lasting pleasure.
Lesson 14 – Eccl 2:4-8 Exploring Greatness

1. Read Eccl 2:4-8.

4 
I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I
made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit
trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing
trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in
my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any
who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver
and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men
and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. 

2. The context. In 2:1-3 Solomon describes looking for meaning and purpose in pleasures. Next
Solomon looks at another area of life to find meaning and purpose and this area is closely
related to pleasure.

3. What is the next area Solomon explores (2:4a)?

> Next Solomon explores greatness, doing things that are big and impressive.

Solomon gives some examples of the great things he did. What are they?

> 2:4b: Built houses.

> 2:4c: planted vineyards.

>2:5: made gardens and parks, which included all kinds of fruit trees.

> 2:6: made pools to irrigate trees.

> 2:7a: had male and female slaves.

> 2:7b: great numbers of herds and flocks, more than anyone before him.

> 2:8a: gathered silver, gold, and treasures.

> 2:8b: got his own singers.

> 2:8c: had many concubines.

These are things that the average person would not have. Only the rich and powerful could
afford and do these great things.
4. Fast forward to today. Think of the rich and powerful people today. See if you can name
someone who is rich and powerful in each of the following categories.

> Technology: Bill Gates (Microsoft), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Larry Page (Google).

> Sports: LeBron James (Basketball), Tiger Woods (Golf), David Beckham (Soccer)

> Actors: Tom Cruise, George Clooney, Sylvester Stallone

> Politicians: Donald Trump, Michael Bloomberg, Ross Perot

These people do a lot of great things. They run companies that make software used by millions
of people. Their performance in sports entertains people around the world. Their movies and TV
shows can be seen in many countries. They have foundations that do research to cure diseases.
They form charities to provide the needs of the poor. Generally speaking, these great things are
all wonderful things.

5. Think about your own life. Maybe you’ve done something that is considered great. Great things
don’t necessarily have to be on a grand scale. It could be great in the local area. Or maybe you
know someone in your family that does great things. Think about some great things that are
happening in your county or city. What makes them great? Or why do you consider them great?

6. In the next lesson we will continue to explore greatness.

Lesson 15 – Eccl 2:9-11 The Vanity of Greatness

1. Read Eccl 2:9-11.

9 
So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also
my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not
keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found
pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.  11 Then I
considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing
it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was
nothing to be gained under the sun.

2. The context. In 2:4-11 Solomon continues to look for meaning and purpose in doing great things.

3. In terms of greatness, how great did Solomon say he had become (2:9)?

> Solomon said he “became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem.”

Look at 1 Kings 4:20-34. What were some things that showed Solomon’s greatness?

> 1 Kings 4:20-21, 24-25: At the beginning of his rule, the people were prosperous and
happy. He ruled over all kingdoms from the Euphrates to the border of Egypt. And those
kingdoms paid tribute to and served Solomon all of his life. And the people lived in
peace and safety.

> 1 Kings 4:22-23, 27-28: The provisions needed by Solomon to feed his family and those
in his government were large enough to feed around 1500 people.

> 1 Kings 4:26: Solomon had 40,000 stalls of horses and 12,000 horsemen.

> 1 Kings 4:29-31: God gave Solomon more wisdom than the people of the east and of
Egypt. His fame spread to all the surrounding nations.

> 1 Kings. 4:32: He spoke 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs.

> 1 Kings: 4:33: He displayed his great knowledge of trees, beasts, birds, reptiles, and
fish.

> 1 Kings 4:34: People and kings from the nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

So it is as Solomon said in 2:9. He became great and his greatness surpassed those who
 preceded him in Jerusalem.

4. What desires and pleasures did Solomon keep from himself (2:10a)?

> Solomon kept no desires or pleasures from himself. He engaged in any activity that he desired
or that gave him pleasure.

What did he find pleasure in (2:10b)?

> Solomon found pleasure in all his toils for greatness.

Working hard and accomplishing what you set out to do can bring about great satisfaction and
pleasure. Solomon set out to do great things and his reward for his toils was pleasure.

5. Solomon had toiled hard, accomplished great things, was known far and wide for his great
wisdom and knowledge, and took great pleasure in all his greatness and accomplishments.
When Solomon surveyed all of the great things he accomplished, that had resulted from all the
energy he had expended in his toils, what did he conclude (2:11)? Was it worth it?

> It was “was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the
sun.”

Now, toiling hard to achieve great things and the pleasure derived from achieving them is not a
bad thing. It is actually a good thing, but in the big picture, Solomon concludes that all of the
great things he accomplished amounted to vapor. It is here today but it will not last. Doing great
things might bring satisfaction for a short period but as far as it giving meaning and purpose in
life, it is vanity like all other earthly endeavors.

6. Think about your life. Have you done any great things? Or do you know someone who has done
great things? These things could be things that have great effects in almost any area of life. They
could be done with the purpose of helping other people, physically, mentally, or emotionally.
You can rightfully be proud of them and find satisfaction in them. Just know that as far as giving
meaning and purpose in life, it will be short lived. Real meaning and purpose that carries
through to eternity can only come from Jesus.
Lesson 16 – Eccl 2:12-14 Earthly Wisdom is Better Than Folly, But Still Not
the Answer

1. Read Eccl 2:12-14.

12 
So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do
who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. 13 Then I saw that
there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in
darkness. 14 The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness.
And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. 

2. The context. We just finished a section on the vanity of living your life to achieve great things
and the pleasure derived from toiling to accomplish your goals. Now we start a section where
Solomon looks for meaning and purpose in a contrast of living life in two different ways (2:12-
17).

3. Read through 2:12-14. What are the two ways of living that Solomon contrasts?

> Living life wisely versus living life foolishly.

Wisdom, madness, and folly were mentioned in 2:1-3 in lessons 12 and 13. As a review, you may
wish to take a look back at them.

Previously Solomon has looked at some of the toils he has pursued in his quest for meaning and
purpose in life. He has pursued meaning in wisdom, in pleasure, and in greatness. And he has
concluded that to seek meaning and purpose in being wise, enjoying pleasure, or doing great
things is vanity. In this section Solomon takes another look at wisdom and folly.

4. Previously we looked at the great wisdom of Solomon. When he asked for wisdom to govern
Israel, God granted him wisdom (1 Kings 3:12). The wisdom God gave Solomon was beyond
measure (1 Kings 4:29). He was wiser than all other men (1 Kings 4:31). He was so wise that
people came from all over the world to hear his wisdom (1 Kings 4:34). And despite all of his
great wisdom, he sees that wisdom brings with it vexation and sorrow (Eccl 1:16-18).

If the king after Solomon pursues wisdom, what will the result of it be (2:12b)?

> He can toil for wisdom just like Solomon and that king will come to the same conclusions as
Solomon. He will not discover anything new under the sun.

5. Wisdom may not be the key that gives meaning and purpose in life, but that does not mean it is
useless. What is wisdom better than (2:13a)?

> Wisdom is better than folly.

What is wisdom like and what is folly like (2:13b)?

 > Wisdom is like light and folly is like darkness.

What is the advantage of one over the other?

> Light reveals what exists around us. Knowing what is around us helps us to know what to do in
navigating life.

So someone who lives life foolishly is like someone who walks around in the dark. He is not
aware of his surroundings and has no idea of what is coming next. This makes it very hard to
navigate life. It is much better to live wisely, aware of your surroundings and seeing what lies
ahead.

And yet despite the value of wisdom, what did Solomon observe about the wise and the fool
(2:14b)?

> “The same event happens to all of them.”

Whether you are wise or a fool, you are not in control. Whether you live wisely or foolishly you
cannot stop the events of life from affecting you. One person is affected as much as any other
person. And in the end, both the wise and the fool live a meaningless life and die. The same fate
awaits both. The only difference is that the wise walk in the light and can see what is coming
while the foolish stumble in the dark, completely clueless as to what lies ahead.

So wisdom is not the purpose and meaning of life but at least it is better than foolishness. But
whether you live wisely or foolishly, the same end awaits you. Wisdom is a better way but it is
not the answer to the question: What is the meaning of life?

6. Consider your own life and the lives of your family and friends. Do you and they live wisely or
foolishly? Try and think of some specific times and events in your life that were wise and some
that were foolish. In comparing the times when you lived wisely to the times when you lived
foolishly, was wisdom like a light to you and was your foolishness like walking in the dark?

Most of us our lives are a mixture of wisdom and folly. Sometimes we live wisely and other
times we do foolish things. Living wisely is better than living foolishly, so we strive to live
according to the order God has created. Yet we need to recognize we live in a fallen world and
therefore whether we are wise or foolish we all will face the same outcome. We will all die. That
means for a lasting impact we have to look beyond the wisdom this world offers and look for a
higher wisdom. Christ is the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:9) and “all the treasures of wisdom and
knowledge are hidden in him” (Col. 2:3).

Reread today’s verses and as you go about your day specifically think about the things you do.
Are they wise or are they foolish?
Lesson 17 – Eccl 2:15-17 – The Vanity of Living Wisely or Foolishly

1. Read Eccl 2:15-17.

15 
Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why
then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. 16 For
of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the
days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the
fool! 17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me,
for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

2. The context. We are in the middle of a small section that contrasts living wisely versus living
foolishly.

3. What fact does Solomon point out in 2:15a?

> “What happens to the fool will happen to me also”, with Solomon being the wise one.

What question does that lead Solomon to ask (2:15b)?

> “Why then have I been so very wise?”

Another way of asking that question is, What have I gained from being so wise? The implied
answer is: nothing! If I live a very wise life and someone else lives a completely foolish life and,
in the end, the same thing happens to both of us, what is the point of living wisely? What
conclusion do we and Solomon come to (2:15c)?

> “This is all vanity.”

4. The wise live wisely. The foolish live foolishly. How do future generations remember them both
(2:16a)?

> They don’t. “There is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have
been long forgotten” both wise and foolish.

It doesn’t matter whether you live wisely or foolishly, in the days to come you will be forgotten.
In terms of lasting memory, living wisely doesn’t buy you anything.

In looking at the end of life, does the wise person have an advantage over the fool (2:16b)?

> No, “the wise dies just like the fool!” The same fate awaits both.

5. Seeing that the person that lives wisely does so in vanity, will not be remembered, and will die
just like the fool, what kind of attitude did Solomon have toward life (2:17a)?
 > He hated life.

What reason does he give for it (2:17b, c)?

> “because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after
wind.”

It doesn’t seem fair. It is all a waste of time. It is like trying to catch the wind. He hated life
because he learned the truth. A purely secular life without God is vanity. It is meaningless.

6. This is what Solomon and the Holy Spirit want us to see, that purely secular life without God,
whether wise or foolish, is meaningless. Eccl eliminates all worldly possibilities for finding
meaning. That means we have to look for meaning in life outside this world. So if you find
yourself like Solomon hating life, that is good!

That may seem very strange to you, that the God who gave you life wants you to hate it. But
what that is is God’s law driving you away from the world and to Christ. Jesus said, “… whoever
hates his life will gain it.” What Jesus is saying is that the life we have in this fallen world is not
really life. It is not the life God intended for us to have. Mankind has ruined life with its rebellion
against God. That is what made life on this earth so messy and so meaningless. What Jesus does
is offer us life as God first intended it. The eternal life that Jesus offers will be a true life of
wisdom, pleasure, and greatness. And that life comes to us through the cross of Christ.

7. Think about the past and think about the current events in your life where you have lived wisely.
You did things in the best way possible. Did they always turn out good? Did they always turn out
the way you planned them? The honest answer is, no. That is because living wisely in a fallen,
sin filled world rarely goes as it should. So when you act wisely but things go wrong, take a step
back and realize that that is just the way it is. On this side of heaven that is the way it will be.
Look to Jesus to get you through it. The Bible ends with Jesus saying, “Surely I am coming soon.”
And the response of all Christians is: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” We look forward to Jesus’
return and the meaningful life that he will bring.
Lesson 18 – Eccl 2:18-19 – The Vanity of Toil

1. Read Eccl 2:18-19.

18 
I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the
man who will come after me, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool?
Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun.
This also is vanity. 

2. The context. In Eccl so far, we have studied Solomon’s toils to find meaning and purpose in life.
In 2:18-23 Solomon explores toil itself as a source of meaning and purpose.

3. The word toil was first used in Eccl in 1:3. We said toil was extremely hard work. Solomon has
toiled. He has worked hard and put in all the time and effort necessary to find meaning and
purpose in life.

In 1:16-18, what did Solomon toil after and was his toil worth it?

> He toiled after wisdom. He said his toil was “a striving after the wind” and that wisdom
brought with it vexation and sorrow.

In 2:1, what did Solomon toil after and was his toil worth it?

> He toiled after pleasure but found that it too was vanity.

In 2:9-11, what did Solomon toil after and was his toil worth it?

> He toiled after greatness. He found that it too was vanity and a striving after the wind.

How did Solomon come to feel about all his toils (2:18a)?

> Solomon said, “I hated all my toil.”

4. Solomon gained great wisdom. He was known for his wisdom. People came from far and wide to
hear his great wisdom. Solomon had all the pleasures of life that a person could have. Solomon
did great things. In 2:4-8 he lists some of the great things he did. If a person gains wisdom,
wisdom is something that can be passed on to others. Pleasure is a more momentary thing that
cannot really be passed on. On the other hand, the great things that he accumulates or does can
be passed on.

Solomon said he hated the toils to accumulate wisdom and things (2:18a). What is the reason he
hates them (2:18b)?

> Solomon hates his toils because the things he toiled so hard for will be left to someone else.
He worked hard to get them but he will not be able to fully enjoy them. Someone else will be
the beneficiary of all his hard work.
 What is the problem with leaving the things you’ve worked hard for to someone else (2:19a)?

> You don’t know if the person you leave them to will be wise or foolish in their use of them.
They may use them wisely or they may squander everything in a short period.

The fact is that someone else, who may be wise or may be a fool, is the one who “will be the
master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun” (2:19b). So what conclusion
did Solomon come to concerning toil (2:19c)?

> “This also is vanity.” It too is meaningless.

5. This seems to apply to the American idea of saving up for retirement and passing on as
inheritance that part that was not spent. We scrimp and scrape to save up money for retirement
and to pass on to our children. Many people deprive themselves in order to do so. But what
Solomon says is so true. You work so hard and deny yourself the benefits of your labor only to
leave it for someone else. That person will be the beneficiary of your hard work. And that
person may not use the money and possessions you’ve passed down wisely. They may blow it all
quickly. You used wisdom to gather and they may use foolishness to spend it all. It is indeed
vanity!

Instead of leaving what you’ve worked for to individuals, you might think it would be better to
leave it all to the church. You might think that at least it will be used to further God’s kingdom
by helping spread the Gospel. But remember, there are no guarantees how the money or
property you pass on will be spent. If individuals can spend it foolishly, so can churches. The fact
is that they will be the master over what you toiled for and they may spend it in ways that you
would not approve. So no matter who you leave it to, it ends up being meaningless.

6. Think about your life. The longer you live, hopefully the more wisdom you will gain. In our
culture we are encouraged to save money for retirement. There are all kinds of vehicles to do
so. There are savings accounts and CDs at banks. There are annuities at insurance companies.
There are stocks and bonds we can invest in. There are 401Ks and pensions that are specifically
for retirement. You may have been very disciplined in saving your money with the goal of living
a comfortable retirement. But there are things that happen in life that cut our time short on this
earth. You might get sick and die or die from a car accident. Or you might to live old age. In any
case, you leave whatever you’ve worked for to someone else. Will the person you leave it to be
a good steward of it or will they spend it like a drunken sailor? You don’t know and you will not
have any control over it. In terms of giving meaning and purpose to your to life, toiling hard to
accumulate wealth is not the answer. Working hard and smart to accumulate money for
retirement and to pass on to your family is not wrong. It may actually be smart. But don’t toil so
hard with the idea that it will give you meaning and purpose because it won’t.

Reread today’s verses and keep in them in mind as you plan your long-term finances.
Lesson 18 – Eccl 2:20-23 – Our Toils Lead Us to Despair – And that is
Good!

1. Read Eccl 2:18-19.

20 
So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors
under the sun, 21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and
knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not
toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 What has a man from all the toil and
striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23 For all his days are full of
sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This
also is vanity.

2. The context. In Eccl so far, we have studied Solomon’s toils to find meaning and purpose in life.
In 2:18-23 Solomon explores toil itself as a source of meaning and purpose.

3. Solomon has found that everything he has toiled for in life is worthless. Those things may
provide short term satisfaction but in the long term they are like a mist that dissipates and
vanishes. This has led Solomon to hate life (2:18). What else does this lead Solomon to do
(2:20a)?

> This leads Solomon to despair over the toil of his labors under the sun.

For us despair is bad. We consider it a mental disorder. American Christianity says that we have
to always be happy. We have to live “our best life now.” But Eccl is different. In Eccl despair is a
genuine virtue. Why is that? That is because despair is the deepest level of having your eyes
opened. Martin Luther was famous for saying that a theologian of the cross calls a thing what it
is. In other words, a theologian of the cross tells the truth. On the other hand, a theologian of
glory takes the meaninglessness of life and pretends to find meaning in it. Solomon says, No.
Everything I observe about life using my eyes and reason is meaninglessness.

So what Eccl does is tell you the truth and the truth pushes you into a dead end. And being
boxed in with no earthly means to escape leads to despair. And the fact is that this is
wonderful in the upside-down world of Eccl! In Eccl despair is the ultimate dignity and a
realization of the ultimate truth. And that is the point of Eccl. It asks the question of what gives
meaning in life and shows you that all the answers that human beings come up, excluding God,
say that life is meaningless. Eccl doesn’t give you the answer, but it eliminates everything
outside of God.

4. In the story of Jacob and Esau, Esau gives up his inheritance for a bowl of stew. Our toils in life
and the results from our toils are like that bowl of stew. They satisfy only for a short period of
time but after a short period we are hungry for more. The point of Eccl is to open our eyes to
this fact. It wants us to despair of all that the world offers with its claims to give meaning to life.
It wants us to exclaim, “There must be more to life than this!” As a human race, we’ve given up
our inheritance of life with God for a bowl of stew and there is nothing we can do to get it back.
 The only way to become inheritors again is to be reborn. And that is what Jesus came to do, to
give us rebirth, to make us inheritors again. That switches us from the position of Esau to the
position of Jacob. He did not deserve the inheritance and neither do we. This is the amazing
grace of God. So what Eccl is all about is getting you to despair of the bowl of stew that world is
trying to give to you, trying to convince you that that’s all there is. Eccl doesn’t say throw away
the bowl. God says, eat it and enjoy it, but I have something much better for you.

5. Solomon hated all his toil and despaired of all his toil for similar reasons. What was that reason
(2:21)?

> Because he was the one who worked so hard and yet someone who did not toil at all is the
one who gets to enjoy what Solomon toiled for.

Because of this, what does Solomon conclude about all his toiling (2:21b)?

> He concludes that it is all “vanity and a great evil.”

Then in 2:22 Solomon asks the question, “What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart
with which he toils beneath the sun?” What is the answer he gives in 2:23a?

> “all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation.

Because of mankind’s rebellion against God, the world we live in is a dark place, filled with all
kinds of troubles and sorrows. And because of that, our work becomes annoying and frustrating
to us.

6. What does a life filled with sorrows and vexation lead to (2:23b)?

> It leads to sleepless nights. Nighttime is the time when we are to rest, both physically and
emotionally. But because of “all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation,” it causes
us to worry at night, robbing us of the rest we so desperately need.

The nature of this world is that there is no rest – waking or sleeping. Or the rest you think you
want is like Jacob’s stew. It’s good for a little bit but it has no lasting effects. God has an eternal
rest for us. How important is rest? God built it into creation – for six days God worked and for
one day he rested. He called the seventh day the Sabbath. It is a day in which we are to rest and
is a reminder of the eternal rest that awaits those who believe in Jesus.

7. Think about your life and the things you’ve toiled for. I am sure that each and every one of us
can think of something that we have worked really hard at, putting in great amounts of time and
money and effort, only to have it all fall apart, dashing our dreams and goals. How frustrating is
that!? How much sleep did you lose over it? And as it turned out, it was all a complete waste of
time! That is what leads us to conclude that the toils of life are vanity.

Or maybe your labors did accomplish what you wanted. You were able to gain great wisdom and
knowledge or a lot of money, or through your blood, sweat, and tears you built a business that
you are proud of. What if you were to lose your life tomorrow? What would happen to all that
wisdom or money or stuff. You worked hard for it but you wouldn’t get to enjoy them. Someone
else would.

Like Solomon, an honest look at the toils of life leads us to despair. But that is a good thing. It
causes us to look elsewhere for meaning and purpose in life. All of your toils and all of your
labors do not fill the hole of meaninglessness. You must look to Christ to fill that hole.
Lesson 19 – Eccl 2:24-25 – The Vanity of Enjoyment

1. Read Eccl 2:24-25.

24 
There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and
find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for
apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 

2. The context. We just finished a section where Solomon declares that our toils and labors, while
temporarily giving us purpose in life, are in the long run, like everything else in this world, vanity,
meaningless. Now in this lesson Solomon says something that seems to contradict this.

3. First, read 2:24a. Then take a look back at a couple of verses from earlier in Eccl. What does
Solomon say about pleasure in 2:1?

> He says it is vanity, meaningless.

What does Solomon say about toil in 2:18-23?

> He says all our toils are vanity, meaningless.

But now in 2:24a, what does Solomon say about pleasure and toil?

> He says enjoy them. There is nothing better for a person than to enjoy the pleasures and toils
of life.

At first that seems to be the opposite of what he said earlier. Let’s explore this.

4. The key is to understand the phrase “there is nothing better.” According to Gen. 3, what kind of
world do we live in?

> We live in a fallen world, a world that is cursed.

Since we live in such a world, that which is good in our lives will only be temporary. Our lives are
filled with sorrows, pains, and injustices. So, when it says “there is nothing better,” he is saying,
enjoy it while you can because it’s not going to last very long. This little bit of enjoyment you
have is the best you can expect in this world that God has subjected to futility (Rom. 8:20).

Who does Solomon give credit to for the food and drink and enjoyment we have in life (2:24b)?

> He says it comes “from the hand of God.”

What answer is assumed in Solomon’s question, “apart from him who can eat or who can have
enjoyment?” (2:25)?

> The assumption is that if God did not give us these good gifts there wouldn’t be any. Without
 God there would be no food or drink or enjoyment.

The fact that God gives us these good things is pure grace on his part. The truth is, as we confess
in our liturgy on Sunday morning, that “we deserve nothing but punishment.”

5. The mention of God at the end of 2:24 is the first time that God is mentioned in Eccl. This makes
sense because Solomon has explored all kinds of avenues in searching for meaning in life but has
not found it. His search for meaning and purpose in life has led him to discover that nothing in
this world will provide them. So now he looks outside this world to God. (More on this in the
next lesson.)

As Solomon says, God does indeed provide us with eating, drinking, and enjoyment. And we
should enjoy them as a gift but don’t make an idol out of them. Don’t live for them because they
too are vanity. Recognize them as a gift from God, accept them as a gift, and enjoy them while
you have them because that is the best you are going to get in this life.

How is life in heaven is pictured in Is. 25:6-8?

> It is pictured as a sumptuous feast in which death is swallowed up and there will be no more
sorrow or reproach for God’s people.

How is life in heaven pictured in Rev. 19:6-9?

> It is pictured as a marriage feast and celebration.

This is in contrast to the eating and drinking and enjoyment of this world. The pleasures of this
world are to be enjoyed as a gift from God, but they are not a lasting gift. To find lasting pleasure
and feasting, we have look beyond this world. It is only in heaven where we will have an eternal
feast, where there is good food and good company that is enjoyed by all. This is what Jesus has
to offer. Jesus will usher in an eternal age of feasting and to that all Christians say, “Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).

6. What that means then is that what Solomon says in 2:24-25 does not contradict what he said
earlier. It is true that all of the enjoyment we get from our earthly pleasures and toils are in the
end vanity. But that does not mean we can’t enjoy them when God gifts them to us. These
verses then, along with previous verses about pleasures and toils, show us the truth and what to
expect in terms of enjoying life: our enjoyment of life is limited

Think about what you enjoy in your life. Do you enjoy being with family? Do you enjoy watching
your favorite sports teams? Do you enjoy the reward of working hard and accomplishing your
goal? Do you enjoy watching the sun rise or set? Do you enjoy a good belly laugh? There is
nothing wrong with enjoying any of these things. They are all a gift from God. We just have to
realize none of these things last very long. And none of these things that we enjoy will give us
the meaning and purpose that we crave so badly. Instead, let us crave the eternal joy of heaven.
The eternal joys of heaven will be yours if you simply cling to Jesus by faith. Grab a hold of him
and don’t let go of him and his promise for you is eternal joy with him in heaven.
As you go about your day, take note of the things you find enjoyment in. And then note that
these temporary pleasures point forward to the eternal joy that awaits you in heaven.
Lesson 20 – Eccl 2:26 – The Vanity of a Fickle God

1. Read Eccl 2:26.

26 
For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and
joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and
collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a
striving after wind.

2. The context. In the pursuit of meaning and purpose in life, Solomon has toiled at and pursued
wisdom, pleasure, and greatness. He has looked at the cycles of life and the earth. And he has
found that all of them were vanity. Then in the last lesson Solomon spoke of God for the first
time. He said that any kind of enjoyment that we have in life comes from God. He has more to
say about God in this verse, but it may not be what you think he would say.

3. As Christians we know that the only way to find meaning and purpose in life is to look outside of
this fallen world and to look to God. So we might think that Solomon is going to give us the
answer to our question, how do we find meaning and purpose in life? And that the answer is
God. But he doesn’t! You have to remember one thing about Solomon’s pursuit of meaning and
purpose. When Solomon looks at life in this world, he does so strictly by using his eyes,
experiences, and reason. He looks at it from a secular point of view. He does not use special
revelation. You have to keep this in mind as you read 2:26.

4. Solomon first mentioned God in 2:24-25. He continues to do so in 2:26. Reread v. 26. If we take
this verse at face value, what does it mean?

> In this view the God-pleasers get everything and the sinners give everything over to the God-
pleasers.

Is this what you’ve experienced? Do those who do good receive great blessings from God and
those who do evil receive nothing?

> No. Some people do nothing or cheat and get rich, while others work their fingers to the bone
and have nothing their whole life.

If the rich have a bunch of things (money, houses, cars, etc.), where did they get them from
(2:26a)?

> God has given them all these things and the joy of having them.

Why did he give them these things (2:26a)>

> It pleased him to do so.

But in some cases the rich obtained these riches by exploiting people. Does this please God? No.
 Other people work hard just to survive day to day. How does all of this appear to someone
without special revelation (without the Scriptures)?

> It all appears arbitrary. It appears as if God is fickle and random. Sometime it appears like he
rewards evil and punishes good.

Which of us are sinners?

> All of us are sinners.

Therefore all of us could be “given the business of gathering and collecting, only to” have God
give it to someone else. In what we see and experience it appears as if God does whatever he
pleases without any rhyme or reason.

So just when we think that Solomon is looking in the right place for meaning and purpose in life
(looking to God), he finds out that that too is vanity. Why is that? That’s because without special
revelation we can’t know anything about Jesus. Our eyes and reason, even when looking to God
for meaning and purpose, find nothing. What God planned to do and then did in Christ are not
visible to the eyes and go against human reason. It doesn’t make sense to human reason that
God would fix the problem of sin by becoming human himself and then suffering and dying. And
so, Solomon’s view of God giving meaning and purpose using secular eyes comes to the same
conclusion. This too is vanity and a striving after the wind.

5. Because of the arbitrariness of this, we cry out to God for justice like the psalmist. It just doesn’t
seem fair. This is illustrated by the parable Jesus told of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Lazarus was a
poor beggar who was afflicted with sores. The rich man had everything that a human could
want. He lacked nothing. But when they both died, the tables were turned. Lazarus lived in the
comfort of heaven while the rich man lived in the torments of hell. So based on this, what is
God’s answer to our cries for justice and for his seeming fickleness?

> His answer is, wait. A great reversal will come. The poor and beggars will be exalted and the
rich and mighty will be cast down.

What we see and experience is not what it seems. There is more to the story. As Christians who
know the rest of the story, we know about the Great Reversal. We know about and trust in
Jesus. Seen with our eyes, the way of the world is vain and meaningless, a striving after the
wind. Recognize that but keep in mind there is more than meets the eye. God is not as fickle and
random as we first thought. What we see and experience now is temporary. Jesus is God’s
wisdom, knowledge, and joy. Those who believe and trust in him ultimately are the ones who
please God and who God gives eternal wisdom, knowledge, and joy.

6. Consider your own life and the lives of those in the area where you live and the country where
you live. Look at who is gathering and collecting only for God to give it to whomever he pleases.
A lot of times it doesn’t make sense to us. It doesn’t seem fair. Did your parents tell you as you
grew up: Life is not fair? You now see why they said it. It really isn’t fair. A person could admit
that there is a god and that the good things of life come from god, yet how and why he gives to
some and not others just doesn’t make sense. To the eyes God seems fickle. That is what
Solomon sees and that is what we see. But thankfully we have special revelation. We have God’s
word that tells us the rest of the story. We know that Jesus came to raise up the poor and lowly
and to cut down the high and mighty.

As you go about your day, purposely take note of those times in life where it seems that God is
taking from those who have worked hard and have little and giving to those who do nothing or
even exploit others. When you see this happening, keep in mind that there is more going on
than meets the eye. There is a Great Reversal coming. Those who are lowly and down trodden
now will be raised up later. And those who rich and haughty will be brought low. God often
works in ways that are the opposite of what we might think.
Lesson 21 – Eccl 3:1-8 – The Vanity of Not Being in Control

1. Read Eccl 3:1-8.

3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven:

2 
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

2. The context. One outline of Eccl might be: 1:1-11 is the vanity of cycles; 1:12-2:26 is the vanity of
our toils; and 3:1-15 is back again to the vanity of life’s cycles. Then the rest of Eccl after that is a
random meandering of all that is vanity in life. So the section we begin now in chpt. 3 goes back
to the cycles of life.

3. Some people think that these verses describe the things that man decides to do in his life, that
he determines the times when they will happen. But that is not the case. That becomes evident
in v. 2. Did you decide when you were born? Will you decide when you die?

> No, being born and dying are things that happen to you. You have no control over them.

Do you control the weather and the seasons so that you can plant and harvest on your time
schedule?

> No, the seasons and times for planting and harvesting are set by God. Man has to perform
these tasks in the season and at the time that God provides. If he doesn’t then it will not go well
for him.

Therefore God has appointed the times and seasons in life. We are subject to them. We are not
in control.
4. We will not go into detail on each of these verses. Read through them and try to identity as
many things as you can that it talks about and how they are controlled and set by God. I will
randomly pick some things from these verses to illustrate the main purpose of the poem.

One of the things that we are having to deal with right now are random, mass shootings. None
of us would choose for them to happen. We would choose to stop these events, but we are not
in control.

Weeping and mourning go with sickness and funerals, while laughing and dancing go with births
of babies. Hospitals are like airports, they have arrivals and departures, births and deaths. We
do not control these things. The times are set by God.

Casting away stones and gathering stones describe the processes of breaking down and building
up. The OT prophets prophesied when the temple would be destroyed and rebuilt. The times of
breaking down and building up are appointed by God.

These couple of examples illustrate the truth brought out by this poem. We are not in control,
God is. God sets the seasons and times of life when things occur. Things happen to us at times
that we would never choose.

5. Think of the things that have happened in your life and your family’s life. How many of these
were planned and how many just happened? We can control some things in life but sometimes
things just happen. That is because we are not in control, God is.

How many of these things happen at times when you don’t want them to happen? If you were
in control, you would cause these things to happen at other times in your life or prevent them
from happening at all. But the fact is you are not in control, God is.

How many of these things happen that you never want to happen? There are plenty of things
that happen to us that we that if we could avoid them, we would. But again, you are not in
control, God is.

So when things happen to you that you don’t want or when things happen at a time that you
don’t want, you must remember that it is God who is causing or allowing these things at these
times to happen. You are not God. You are not in control. Your attempts to control every aspect
of your life will end in failure. It is vanity to try and do so.
Lesson 22 – Eccl 3:9-11 – The Vanity of Time and Not Knowing What God
is Doing

1. Read Eccl 3:9-11.

9 
What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God
has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything
beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that
he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

2. The context. We are in a section in chpt. 3 that has returned to the vanity of cycles. In the poem
in 3:1-8, we see that as we cycle through the times and seasons of life we are not in control. We
are subject to the times and seasons as determined by God. The consideration of time continues
in this lesson.

3. What question does Solomon ask in 3:9?

> “What gain has the worker from his toil?

Already in 1:3 he asks the same question. The implied answer is what?

> The implied answer is nothing. All of our toils amount to nothing.

Then almost all of chpt. 2 was about our toils. We toil for wisdom. We toil for pleasure. We toil
for greatness. He concludes that all of our toils are vanity. Because of this he said, “I hated all my
toil under the sun” … “I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my
labors under the sun” … “This also is vanity and a great evil.”

4. What Solomon says in 3:10 applies to the poem (3:1-8) and to the toils mentioned in 3:9. The
language used in 3:10 is similar to 1:13b. The times that we are subjected to throughout our life
are the times when we laugh and cry, work and rest, love and hate. Why does God give us these
times and things to do (1:13b, 3:10b)?

> God gives us these times and these things to do during our time on earth to keep us busy.

This is the business that God has given us to do. How is this business described in 1:13b?

> As an unhappy business.

Think about the picture he is painting here. What do our lives consist of? We come into a sin
infested world. We live a life in which all of our toils are vanity. We live a life where the times
and seasons are set by God. We have little control of the things that happen to us. We live a life
where God has given us things to do to keep us busy. Just think about if you didn’t keep busy.
You would have a lot time to think about all the bad things that happen in life. It would be so
depressing. And yet the business of a life of meaningless toils that keep us busy is an unhappy
 business. That is life because of the curse placed on man for his rebellion against God. It is this
way because God has subjected this world to futility. That is the reality we live in.

5. In spite of the vanity and unhappiness of life, our lives are not continuously and always bad. God
gives us many blessings and there is much beauty in life (3:11a). The world in which we live is an
amazing place with jaw-dropping beauty. In fact, there is a certain beauty in each moment of
time. Even death can be beautiful. How so? We glorify certain battles in our history. And we
raise up those who unselfishly gave their lives for our country or for others. And so our lives are
not complete misery but a mixture of times of beauty and unhappiness.

6. What time references do you see in the first half of v. 11?

> It talks about “in its time” and “eternity.”

To understand these verses better, one must see the time conflict between “in its time” and
“eternity,” between the finite and the infinite. As we’ve said above, each moment in life is a
mixture unhappiness and beauty. Opposed to this is the eternity in man’s heart. We could
spend eternity speculating and delving into what God has done. But even if we did spend all of
eternity doing this, what can man not do?

> “He cannot find out what God has done from beginning to end.”

We know that God is at work, but what is he doing? No matter how hard we probe, without
special revelation, we could never figure out what God is doing.

Since there is a time to die, all people will die and this is vanity. The meaninglessness of life
leaves an eternity-sized hole in our heart. What is God doing? We know that suffering, pain, and
death are not right and we wish it were different. But because of our sin, we are subjected to
futility in the times and seasons of our lives. This leaves us yearning for more. We wish there
wasn’t a time for death.

But special revelation (the Scriptures) tells us death is not the end. In Rom. 5 and 1 Cor. 15 the
Lord tells us that he will call all people out of death. Through one man all men die and through
one man all men are raised. Those who believe in Jesus will be raised to eternal life and those
who do not to eternal judgment. He will undo the work of death. In the Bible God tells us about
all that he has done, is doing, and will do in Christ. The eternity that we yearn for is found in
Christ.

7. When you think about your life, what are some things God has given you to keep you busy?
What is the “business” he has given you to do? To answer these questions, think about your
vocations. Are you a son/daughter? Are you a parent? Are you an employee or employer? Are
you a student or retiree? Whatever you do in life is related to one of your many vocations. In
your vocations you work and toil to serve others and to get through life. Without your toils and
vocations, how slow and boring would life be? You are blessed to have beautiful times with your
family and friends. And yet there is an emptiness in your heart. Something that gives life
meaning is missing. Many times you know that God is at work doing something in your life but
you don’t know what. You may never know. But one thing you do know is that God sent his Son
to save you and all people. Jesus is what fills your eternal-sized hole in your heart. By faith cling
to him and you will have an eternity filled with beautiful times.
Lesson 23 – Eccl 3:12-13 – The Joys and Pleasures in Life are a Gift from
God

1. Read Eccl 3:12-13.

12 
I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and
to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink
and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.

2. The context. In chpt. 3 so far we have seen in the poem that human beings are subject to the
times and seasons as set by God. Humans are not in control of their lives. Then we saw that God
gives us toils to keep us busy. And although these toils are vanity, through them God still
provides blessings and beauty. But deep down we know this is not how things are supposed to
be. When we look at life and what God is doing in our lives, we can’t figure it out. There is a
gigantic hole in our lives and we try and fill it with our toils. But the very purpose of the book of
Eccl is to show us that none of the things that we pursue can fill that hole. They are all vanity.

3. So if all our toils are vanity and we can’t figure out what God has done or will do by observing
the world around us, how are we to live our lives? What does Solomon say is the best thing we
can do as we live our lives (3:12)?

> “There is nothing better” “than to be joyful” and “do good as long as they live.”

We live in a world filled with frustration, pain, and sorrow. God has subjected it to futility. So the
best we can do in this fallen world is live as joyfully as possible and do good in life. Of course
living this way is not the end-all-be-all. It won’t give lasting meaning and purpose to your life.
But that is the best that we have. There are some rewards for striving after wisdom, pleasure,
and greatness. These are the things we have available to us and from them there is nothing
better. So we take what we can get.

In the times God has given us on this earth, there is something beautiful that comes from them
(3:11). You can enjoy your toils. You can get some joy out of them. But also remember what
Solomon said in 2:18. What did he say about his toils in 2:18a?

> He said, “I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun.”

Such a contrast! – find joy in your toils and hate your toils. What is he saying? It is a paradox. It is
good to find joy in your toils but don’t think it is the answer and meaning to life. If you try and
make it that, you are going to hate it. You will see that it is futile and incapable of filling the
eternity-sized hole in your heart. This is so because it will always be subject to the times, to the
futility God has written into creation. It is incapable of filling the eternity in man’s heart.

4. For weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and special birthdays, what is one of the primary ways
people celebrate them (3:13a)?
 > We get together and enjoy lots of eating and drinking.

Aren’t those the best times? The times when family and friends gather together and celebrate
by eating and drinking together. These times are a gift from God (3:13b).

Besides eating and drinking, what else in 3:13 is a gift from God?

> Finding pleasure in your toils.

What are a couple of ways that you can think of that people do that?

> Some people find pleasure in the journey. They appreciate that the hard work is taking them
step by step toward their goal.

> Some people find pleasure in achieving the goal. They may not like the toil itself but they
consider it worth it to achieve the goal.

5. So not only is it not wrong to be joyful and to do good, and not bad to celebrate milestones in
life with eating and drinking, and not wrong to find pleasure in your toils, it is good to do all
these things. That is what God wants. He wants you to have some enjoyment in life. He has
given them to you as a gift.

As the poem in chpt. 3 said, there is a time for these things. But unfortunately, it is only for a
short time. It is not all the time. Once we get to eternity, it will be all the time. But until then we
will have to enjoy the times of enjoyment that are given to us by God.

For now we have an eternity-sized hole in our hearts. We crave to fill it but there is only One
who can fill it. That is Christ. Christ says, I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Ultimately it is Christ who becomes our time, our season, our everything. And because he is
both God and man, in his Godhead he always touches eternity. And according to his manhood,
his human nature, he is always touching time. In him are time and eternity ordered. In him we
receive time and eternity. Christ is the one who ultimately fulfills all this, changes all this, makes
it all new, and fulfills the eternity-shaped hole God places in our hearts. Nothing else can.
Ultimately that is the purpose of Eccl within the Scriptures. The whole reason we are studying
Eccl is to learn the truth that nothing else can fill the hole but Christ.

6. Think about your life. List some of the best times of your life when you were joyful and doing
good things, celebrating with family and friends, or finding pleasure in your toils.

>

>

>

>

These are some great times with some great memories. There is nothing better in life than
enjoying these times and doing these things. The toils in your life can be very burdensome, but
you can also find pleasure in them. The joys and pleasures of life are a gift from God, so enjoy
them.
Lesson 24 – Eccl 3:14-15 – God Drives Us Away from Finding Meaning in
Any Earthly Activity

1. Read Eccl 3:14-15.

14 
I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be
added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear
before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already
has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.

2. The context. We are in chpt. 3 where we have returned to the cycles. The times and seasons are
set by God. People are subject to them. In the midst of those times and seasons comes the toils
of our life that many times we hate. Yet out of these same toils that we hate can come pleasure.
And out of our vain lives can come joy. In the midst of our burdensome lives God gives us these
good gifts to enjoy. And now in this lesson we learn some more about what God does. Today’s
lesson will end the first part of the book of Eccl.

3. In the poem in the first part of chpt. 3 time was referenced over and over again. And now in
these verses time is referenced again. Look at these verses and note the references to time.

> 3:14: “forever” – in contrast to specific times is the never-ending time of forever.

> 3:15a: “That which is [now]”. It references the present.

> 3:15b, d: “already has been” is a reference to the past.

> 3:15c: “that which is to be” is a reference to the future.

It looks at the past, present, future, and forever. And it looks at these times in terms of what
God does. If God does something, how long does it endure (3:14a)?

> It lasts forever.

There is no one who is strong enough to undo what God does. Can people change what God has
done (3:14a)?

> No, they cannot add to it or take away from it. God is in complete control.

4. Once people recognize that God is in control and that he does what he pleases and they cannot
change it, what should be their posture toward God (3:14b)?

> People should fear God.

When we speak of fearing God, generally speaking, what two meanings could that have?
 > Fear could mean being afraid of God. God is in control. He does what he pleases. So don’t do
anything that will tick him off for which you will incur his wrath.

> Fear could mean have great reverence for God. He is almighty God who rules the world. Give
him the respect and honor he deserves.

5. Eccl 3:15a is very similar to 1:9. What phrase in 1:9c summarizes the fact that “That which is,
already has been” and “that which is to be, already has been”?

> “there is nothing new under the sun.”

And as we said in looking at 1:9, that means there is no hope that things will change for the
better. If you look at the past and present, that is what the future will look like. What does this
drive us to do? It drives us away from seeking meaning and purpose in anything in this world
and that is a good thing! Through the endless cycles of life, the meaningless toils of life, and
through our lack of control of what happens in life, God drives us away from seeking meaning
and purpose in any earthly activity.

6. This section ends on a positive note: “God seeks what has been driven away.” What he has
driven away, he seeks. This hints at the NT but it does not fill us in on the details. What God has
driven away, he doesn’t give up on. Instead, he seeks them out. But here it does not tell us how
he seeks us out. In the light of Christ, we know that God drives away with the Law and he seeks
through the Gospel. His purpose in driving away and seeking is to save us. This is paradoxical. It
is similar to Deut. 32:39 where God says, “‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god
beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of
my hand.” When he seeks us and find us, the Good News is that no one can deliver us out of his
hand.

In a similar paradoxical way God hides himself in order to reveal himself. He hides himself in the
flesh and blood of Jesus and those who do not look for God in the person of Jesus will not find
him. He hides his almighty act of new creation under simple tap water and a clumsy pastor who
wears a white dress (Baptism). By hiding himself under bread and wine, he reveals himself to
you in the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine (the Lord’s Supper). In Baptism
and the Lord’s Supper he seeks after us in order to save us. He reveals himself to us only in
hidden ways. When we look for God in other ways, we do not find him. Instead we create a god
in our own image.

7. In looking at your life, has there ever been something you didn’t like that you set out to change?
You recognized the problem, created a plan to solve the problem, and then set that plan into
motion. But then for some reason the plan fell apart and you ended up right back where you
started. Perhaps God was using this thing that you desperately seek to change to draw you
closer to him. He is doing it so that you fear him. If that is the case you will not be able to add to
the situation or take away from it. God is using this thing to show you that he is in control and
you are not. Perhaps he was using these circumstances to drive home the point that you are
looking in the wrong place to solve this problem. You need to go to the One who is in charge,
who has control. The things of this world come and go and come back again. It is only the
Almighty who can break the cycle and have an eternal effect.
------------

This ends the first part of our study of Eccl. It is difficult to outline the rest of the book, as it seems to
randomly wander from one topic to another. It is believed that it was organized this way on purpose in
order to mimic life. Life seemingly is just a series of unrelated events strung together one after another.
The one thing they have in common is that they are all part of your life. And it is the same with the rest
of Eccl. It imitates life. Look for the next part of the Eccl Bible Study in the future.