Ecclesiastes
The Contrast of Wisdom And Folly
The theme of this passage is getting our priorities sorted out correctly. Once we have objectives we want to accomplish we must identify the priorities for reaching them.There are five basic contrasts relating to priorities in the first fourteen verses of this c …
Practical Wisdom
Solomon, the wisest man the world has ever known confesses how difficult it has been to act and think wisely. He emphasizes that no matter how much we know there are always mysteries we will never understand. He urged his readers not to be over righteous “lest they be confou …
Fear God Because Death Comes Quickly
This chapter seems to be saying, “Don’t be upset because youth fades” (v. 1). Be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth.” As Christians, we must learn to be content even in our aging body. God takes us through the cyc …
It Pays to Work Hard
As Christians it is easy to be persuaded that success is measured in the world’s terms. The more we get the more successful we will be. Henry Ford said, “Success is a matter of adjusting one’s efforts to overcome obstacles and one’s abilities to give the service needed by …
The Grief of Wisdom
Beginning with the twelfth verse of this chapter the writer moves away from the abstract ideas to some concrete examples. He explains how absolutely futile it is when life asks us to straighten something that is crooked or to count something that is not there (v. l5).Solomon high …
The Vanity of Life
Kenneth Gangel in his book Thus Spoke Oskeleth (professor) says that the writer of Ecclesiastes in this first chapter is saying, “Stop the world-I want to get off!” He begins by pointing out the vanity of man’s existence in this world without God. In fact, vanity is on …
From Dust to Dust
Everything that God makes or that happens is the gift of God (vv. 9-13). In a world controlled by God and not by man there is nothing better for us to do than to enjoy the things that are present and leave the future to God. This concept is the key to real happiness in our …
Better to Be Wise Than Foolish
In continuing with key words we find: 4. Determination (vv. 11-12) – The writer says that everything is really predetermined. We expect the fastest and the strongest to win the battle but often this does not happen. Neither do the wise always earn a living, gain food, get r …
God Alone Gives Contentment
Solomon directs us to eye God as our judge (v. 8), Shows the vanity of riches (vv. 9-17), and recommends the cheerful use of what God has given us (vv 18-20). Not only should we never underestimate God but we should be careful not to overestimate man. Any philos …
Wisdom Can Be Nullified by Rulers
Foolishness is the theme of chapter 10. The word “fool” in some form is used no fewer than nine times. The author starts out this passage by saying that just as an insignificant fly has the power of corrupting a quantity of precious perfume but causing it to have an off …