Eccl. 2:1-11, Journey through Ecclesiastes Ch. 1-3

Again, before we begin with our more detailed outline, here is a paragraph to remind us of what we are about to read. 

He views everything “under the sun” and again and again comes to the conclusion that all is vanity, empty or purposeless.  In Ch. 1-6 he uses human wisdom to show that life on planet earth is indeed vain.  Then in Ch. 7-12, perhaps out of desperation, he seeks to use human wisdom to show that there is something meaningful to life; but alas, at every point his wisdom turns against him showing that life “under the sun” is indeed perplexing, contradictory, and futile.  His growing conclusion is that life makes no sense, and all we can do is accept our fate from the Creator.

We will present this, of course, in “outline” format, but with occasional comments, either in parenthesis or between numbered/lettered points.

HUMAN WISDOM PROVES THE EMPTINESS OF LIFE, Ch. 1-6

     Introduction: 1:1-11, (what I am about to say is always true because nothing ever changes.)

1.    Vanity is demonstrated in various areas of human attainment, 1:12-2:23

a.     In the search for knowledge, 1:12-18 (Science, Intellectualism)

b.    In the enjoyment of pleasures, 2:1-11 (Hedonism)

c.     In the abundance of wisdom, 2:12-17 (Philosophy)

d.    In the performance of work, 2:18-23 (Work Ethic, Capitalism)

2.    Vanity is necessitated when God is not considered, 2:24-3:22 (Atheism)

a.     Enjoyment of life depends on God, 2:24-26 (Asceticism, Mysticism)

b.    Meaning in life depends on God, 3:1-17 (Transcendentalism)

In Eccles. 1:13 and again in 3:10 Solomon speaks of the “God-given task.”  This task is “to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven” (1:13).  He brings it up again in 3:10 after the well-known and often quoted 3:1-8 where Solomon says there is a time for everything.  This is not a “moral” statement, saying that everything is good.  He is just saying that all these things happen.  There is a season for “every purpose under heaven.”  In the search for wisdom, the point is that none of these things is sufficient to be “the purpose of life.”  If you are engaging in the “God-given task” you must devise a philosophy that makes room for all these life events.  For Solomon, it is at this point that he notes how every human has “eternity in their hearts” (3:11).  At the same time, he notes that humans cannot “find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”  This creation demonstrates purpose and a plan, but apart from God we cannot understand it.

c.     Significance in life depends on God, 3:18-22 (Evolution)

If we seek to understand life apart from God then we will conclude that we are just like the animals.  We will die like the animals.  We will return to dust like the animals.  That is, of course, the very conclusion of evolutionary theory.