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ECCLESIASTES – LESSON TWO

I. MORE VANITIES OF LIFE (2:1-26)

A. The vanity of human striving after pleasure and wealth (2:1-11)

1. Solomon sought out pleasure with its mirth, laughter, and folly only to question what good such things accomplish (v. 1-3).

2. Solomon acquired wealth by building homes, vineyards, gardens, and parks. He bought servants and had singers with instruments of music, herds, flocks, silver, and gold only to conclude that such things were a striving after wind  (v. 4-11)

(a). He understands in the process that enjoying the fruit of his labors

      is his portion (v. 10).

         B.  The vanity of human wisdom (v. 12-17)  

 1.   Solomon concludes through experience that wisdom excels folly (v. 12-13).

 2.   One must deal with the fact that the event of death and being forgotten

       happens to the wise and foolish (v. 14-16).

                         3.   Solomon hates life… (v. 17).

 (a).because work under the sun is grievous.

 (b).because all is vanity and a striving after wind.

          C. The vanity of human labor (2:18-23).

                          1.  Must leave behind our works to others – they may be wise or foolish

                              (v. 18- 19).

              2.  That which is produced with skill and labor is left behind to those who did

                   not exert such effort (v. 20-21).

         D.  Man should enjoy good from his labor while pleasing God in this life (v. 24-28).

   

QUESTIONS:

1. What was Solomon’s view of laughter and mirth?

2. What two conclusions were made by Solomon concerning his experience with wealth?

3. How much better is wisdom than folly?

4. What event and consequence of this event causes Solomon to pause and ask, “Why was I more wise?”

5. What caused Solomon to despair over all his labor?

6. What does Solomon consider as a “great evil” regarding his labor?

7. What truth does Solomon say goes along with the territory of one’s labor?

8. What is the best we can do with our labor under the Sun?

9. Why is the above action by man considered as coming from “the hand of God”?