Ecclesiastes – the preacher

Review: Ps 19.7-10, Books of the bible up to Ecclesiastes

To find Jesus in Ecclesiastes read 1.1 – thus the meaning of the book, “preacher”

So the wisest man in the world also calls himself, “preacher.” (1.12)

Let's find out what “the preacher” has to say.

If you think it wise, would you be inclined to listen closer to “your preacher?”

1. What is called the “gift of God?” (3.13) one's labor
2. Should one be more ready to hear or speak? (5.1) hear
3. What is sweet to one who works hard? (6.12) sleep
4. What gifts are evil and disease prone? (6.1, 2) riches, wealth & honor
5. What is better than precious ointment? (7.1) a good name
6. What is better for the heart, sorrow or laughter? (7.3) sorrow Why? It makes one appreciate the good times
7. What “resteth in the bosom of fools? (7.9) anger So, is it foolish to get/be angry? Yes
8. Besides death, what happens to all? (9.11) time and chance. So a good or bad thing could happen to one or another equally. No one is promised good or evil but circumstances, good or bad, happen to “all.”
9. What is better than weapons of war? (9.18) wisdom
10. What or who is likened to a serpent? (10.11) one that babbles all the time – talking without purpose or value
11. Is it good to study all the time? (12.12) No
12. What conclusion did the preacher come to about life? (12.13) to fear God and keep His commandments
13. Will the secret things you've done be judged? (12.14) yes
14. What is your responsibility for living life? (2.2) Listen to wisdom and apply it to your heart

Sticky situation:

(Eccl 5:1-5) for solution

Last month Devin got the scare of his life. In the middle of the night, his mom had been rushed to the hospital, seriously ill. Devin had spent several anxious hours at his neighbor's house waiting for his dad to come home. When his father returned, he told the family that Mom wasn't in any danger, but the doctors didn't know what was wrong with her. They kept Devin's mother in the hospital for several weeks until they were able to determine what was causing her illness.

Those weeks were difficult for Devin and his dad. Every night before Devin went off to a troubled sleep, he prayed and promised that if God would help make his mom better, he would read his Bible every day.

Now his mom is back home. She is still weak but definitely on the mend. The doctors had determined that the illness had been caused by a virus she picked up on the family vacation. She needs to take it easy, but Devin' is glad to have her back home. While his mom is tucking him into bed tonight, she whispers, “Thank you for all your prayers, Devin. They helped get me through this.

Devin smiles in the dark to himself. Yes, he thinks, God is good to bring my mom back to me. But then he remembers his promise to God about readying the Bible, daily. He has to admit that he hasn't had time lately because he has been helping out more around the house. What should he do about the vow he made to God?

1. Forget about it – surely God isn't going to hold him to a silly promise like that
2. Open his Bible and start reading wherever it falls open
3. Decide that his promise didn't mean anything because he had his fingers crossed when he made it?
4. Ask his parent or Sunday school teacher to help him come up with a good plan to read through the Bible because he truly wants to know God better
5. Get a child's picture Bible to read – he didn't specify what king of Bible, did he?

• When you make promises to God, do you take them seriously?
• How do you think God views promises like that? Does He really expect you to hold up your end of the bargain?

Solomon offers some serious words on making foolish promises or vows (which is a stronger word for promise). It is foolish to make a voew you cannot keep or to play games with God by only partially fulfilling what you promised to do. It's better not to make a vow to God and than break it. It's even better to make a vow and keep it!

Who is Jesus in the book of Ecclesiastes?