6. The Argument of the Book E. Conclusion need for a vertical perspective E

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1 Congregational handout; outline sermon text on following pages Notes & References The Curse of an Empty Life Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 A. Some thoughts on the book of Ecclesiastes 1. Why not read it? A June 4 & 11, 2017 B. The Frustration of Life Eccl. 1:2-3 C. Monotony without Meaning Eccl. 1: People Come and Go (4) C 2. Natures Cycles Give No Meaning (5-7) 2. Who wrote it? 3. Vanity B D. Unsatisfying Repetition Eccl. 1: Life is Wearisome (8) 4. Under the Sun 2. Life is Boring (9-10) D 5. God 3. Life s Impermanence (11) 6. The Argument of the Book E. Conclusion need for a vertical perspective E A 2 Timothy 3:16-17 B Romans 8:20 C 1 Kings 4:33 D Acts 17:21 E Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Peter 1:3

2 {1}. Ecclesiastes 1: The Curse of an Empty Life A. Some Thoughts on Ecclesiastes 1. Why Do Christians Not Read It? a. the question asked last Sunday: how many read it in thelast year? b. some had read parts of it; most, no response c. reasons that some do not read it (A) it s not a story, so difficult to follow (B) it s repetitious and full of (seemingly) disconnected sayings (C) led astray by Scofield Bible notes: (1) This is the book of man under the sun, reasoning about life; it is the best man can do, with the knowledge that there is a holy God, and that He will bring everything into judgement.... Inspiration sets down accurately what passes, but the conclusions and reasonings are, after all, man s. but the conclusion (12:13) is legal, the best that man apart from redemption can do... (2) leading to the conclusion that this is an unspiritual book, not of much application to a Christian (3) Scofield s definition of inspiration is contrary to the Bible s own statement on the matter and of its evaluation of Ecclesiastes: 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) d. so those verses should be an encouragement to all Christians to read this as well as all the rest of the Scriptures: OT & NT 2. Who Wrote It? a. at first this seems self-evident, from chapter 1: (A) 1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. (B) 12 I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. b. but some critics suppose that the main theme was stated by Solomon, but then a later writer composed the book (A) because the book uses Aramaean (Syrian) words that didn t enter the Hebrew language until after the return from exile (1) but Aramaic was an ancient and widespread language: Jacob is called an Aramaen by Moses Sunday, June 4, 2017 Page 3 of 11

3 (Deuteronomy 26:5) (2) Aramaean and Hebrew are very close sister languages (3) Solomon s fame brought many foreigners to visit him, so his use of some Aramaic forms is not surprising, especially in view of an observation to be made later (B) because the book complains of injustice and poor government (1) how could this wise king complain about things that were directly under his control? (2) but this illustrates a point: even with the best of intentions, man cannot provide complete justice & perfect government c. there seems to me, therefore, no need to look further than the first verse to find that the author is Solomon, the son of David. (A) (B) a man to whom was given the wisdom to write this by God and upon this matter, the theologian E. A. Litton says:... an interesting and instructive picture of that monarch s return to a better mind, when at the close of his life, he took a retrospect of his past career. The general design of the author is to set forth the nothingness of earthly pursuits and enjoyments, and to recommend the acquisition of heavenly wisdom. 3. Vanity a. this much-repeated word in this book does NOT mean (A) being proud about a quality possessed or personal appearance (B) that piece of furniture with a mirror on it, in front of which you have all the accessories to make yourself beautiful or handsome b. but has as it root idea that of breath (K&D) or vapour (A) what is described by this term is that which is (1) meaningless (2) evanescent, passing quickly away (3) futile and of little use (4) frustrating (5) the absurdity {2}. of being unable by reason to resolve the conflict between expectations and reality (6) vanity in this book speaks of emptiness in one s life (B) the term vanities in Scripture is used to refer to false gods since they are empty of any power or meaning Sunday, June 4, 2017 Page 4 of 11

4 (C) (D) and Solomon was well aware of this fact as he came to the end of his life vanity of vanities is a Semitic figure of speech, to express the very highest degree of vanity: utter meaninglessness; utter emptiness in Romans 8:20, Paul echoes this verse giving the explanation of why what Solomon says is true and the case: For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 4. Under the Sun a. is a key phrase in this book, repeated many (27) times b. its obvious meaning is the same as under heaven c. but the way it is used must be understood if one is to understand the meaning and argument of this book (A) it has specific reference to mankind in his relation to the physical world man as an inhabitant of earth (B) as such it has reference to man in his fallen, sinful nature (C) it is the result of the events in the garden of Eden (1) Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices. (Ecclesiastes 7:29) (2) in Eden man chose to become self-centred and self-guided rather than remaining God-centred and God-guided {3}. (3) so man became earthbound and frustrated; unable to discover the key to meaning, satisfaction, existence d. this term, under the sun, then, describes the natural man, the man whose perspective or world-view of life is humanistic, giving no, or only nominal, recognition of God e. but this book has also much to say about God 5. God a. Franz Delitzsch notes that the name of God occurs in Ecclesiastes no fewer than thirty-seven times, and that in such a way that the naming of Him is at the same time the confession of Him as the True God, the Exalted above the world, the Governor and Ruler over all. b. it is very clear in the book (A) that this God is the Creator of all things (B) but also that He is the Providence and Sustainer of all things Sunday, June 4, 2017 Page 5 of 11

5 (C) that He takes a active part in the life of all His creation c. nor does Solomon ever use the name of Yahweh, the covenant name of God to His people, Israel, in this book in a marked contrast to the book of Proverbs for this book has a wider audience than Israel, being addressed to all those who are under the sun this explains in part that the language is of a broader nature than pure Hebrew d. the author thus presents a different perspective or world-view of life being theistic, being God-centred and Godcontrolled 6. The Argument of the Book a. the argument is very simple (A) on the one hand there is presented the vanity of the humanistic world-view or perspective (B) on the other hand is presented, within the limits of the OT revelation, the answer to that vanity of the theistic world-view b. the switch between these two points of view are abrupt, with little or no warning (A) this explains apparent contradictions (1) within the book as Solomon changes the point of view (2) between this book and other Scriptures, when Solomon is describing the humanistic world-view (B) Solomon lays out man s ideas upon a certain aspect of life (C) until he comes to the point where it is evident that those ideas are bankrupt: that the ideas have arrived in some fashion to show that life based upon them is vanity, emptiness & frustration (D) then, bringing in the divine world-view he shows that in some fashion when God is included in life, it is no longer empty (E) the believer can be content in the same situation that is totally frustrating to the unbeliever c. this book has, therefore, a two-fold thrust (A) to make the unbeliever aware that the frustration, emptiness of life is because he has left out God (B) to make us believers aware as some of us have forgotten what our life was like before we were saved that we be aware of the barriers that sin and Satan have erected against coming to faith (C) in this sense, this book can be an evangelistic tool to enable us to speak understandably to those who need salvation (D) Solomon begins by observing the results of having a world-view or perspective that leaves God out. Sunday, June 4, 2017 Page 6 of 11

6 B. The Frustration of Life : Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun? a. recall all those meanings of vanity: breath, vapour, emptiness, futility, frustration, &c have you not heard this attitude expressed by your fellow-workers, neighbours, school-children? (A) why am I here?... doing this? (B) what is the purpose of it all? (C) where am I going? 2. H. G. Wells, the science fiction writer, was once known as the world s greatest optimist. But he ended his life in despair. From the depths of his gloom he wrote: The writer is convinced that there is no way out or round or through the impasse. It is the end. My mind may be near the end of its tether. There is no way out or round or through. Our universe is not merely bankrupt; there remains no dividend at all; it is not simply liquidated; it is going clean out of existence. {4}. a. that is the result of the humanistic world-view b. the same idea has been echoed by many agnostics 3. Advantage or profit literally, that which is left over a. you know how the household budget works: you lay out your income, set aside so much for expenses this, that, the other and at the end there is nothing left over b. the same thing can happen in a business c. for the man labouring under the sun as a citizen only of this fallen, sinful world when he comes to the end, there is nothing left over d. in the words of Job: He said, Naked I came from my mother s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:21) but note that Job could accept this because he held a divine or theistic world-view! C. Monotony without Meaning : People Come and Go (4) Sunday, June 4, 2017 Page 7 of 11

7 a. A generation goes and a generation comes, But the earth remains forever. b. in relative terms, the earth is forever stable centuries come and go and the mountains may wear down a little, rivers may build islands at the place they flow into the sea, continents may shift a few inches c. but there is a constant flow of people coming and going d. about 4 generations every century e. and with each generation entering this stable world there is no added meaning of life to those who are without Jesus Christ 2. Nature s Cycles Give No meaning (5-7) a. Solomon as part of his God-given wisdom had great knowledge of nature: He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even to the hyssop that grows on the wall; he spoke also of animals and birds and creeping things and fish. (1 Kings 4:33) b. now he brings in some of these natural illustrations c. the cycle of the sun: Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; And hastening to its place it rises there again. (Ecclesiastes 1:5) (A) there is a note of weariness even in this description (B) the word hastening is literally panting, as though even the sun when it has finished its days work must then run to be ready to start the next day all over again d. the cycle of the air: Blowing toward the south, Then turning toward the north, The wind continues swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns. (Ecclesiastes 1:6) (A) if the sun goes from east to west, the wind takes care of the other points of the compass (B) over and over it repeats itself (C) when finished in one direction it blows in another; meaningless e. the cycle of water: All the rivers flow into the sea, Yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, There they flow again. (Ecclesiastes 1:7) (A) in the Hebrew most of the words in this verse end with the m sound imitative of the lulling, monotonous sound of water (B) all that flowing water has no net result (C) for the sea is never full, but the water returns to do it all again f. so science can trace all these things Sunday, June 4, 2017 Page 8 of 11

8 (A) the time of the sun rising, setting, altitude (B) the flow of air in those charts that guess tomorrow s weather (C) the water in its journey around the globe, rise & fall of lakes (D) but it cannot answer the question of the meaning of life (1) why am I here? (2) where am I going? D. Unsatisfying Repetition : Life Is Wearisome (8) a. All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing. b. whether one considers history of a large scale or individually, when God is left out, then (A) the endless rounds of life and nature (B) all that our eyes can take in swallowing the sights around the widespread use of pornography devouring more and more (C) all that our ears hear concerts, comedians, compositions (D) all these experiences are in vain 2. Life Is Boring (9-10) a. 9 That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which one might say, See this, it is new? Already it has existed for ages Which were before us. b. each generation considers itself to be the greatest ask your child! c. it isn t that there are not new inventions (A) but that these are mere variants of things in the past (B) and often nature found it first (e.g., flying) d. the Athenian passion for novelty: (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.) (Acts 17:21) (A) so there was no satisfaction to be found there (B) in a godless world-view that is the case Sunday, June 4, 2017 Page 9 of 11

9 3. Life s Impermanence (11) a. There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come later still. (Ecclesiastes 1:11) b. a thousand years from now who will ever know? actually, for most of our actions and accomplishments, five years from now (A) illustration: the programs I wrote for mainframe computers back in the 1970's; a change of systems, (B) of owners, all forgotten illustration: our house, all we do to maintain it, make it pleasant and a haven; when we are gone, it will be bulldozed away c. as for us, so for those before us, so for those coming after us d. so, with a man-centred world-view, what is the meaning of it all? e. nothingness E. Conclusion 1. we need a vertical perspective {5}., a God centred world-view, perspective a. Meaning in life comes from revelation, not research (A) God has to show us the way God has shown the way! 28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy, and My load is light. (Matthew 11:28-30) (B) that describes not just belief, but a vital union with a living Lord. b. For those who feel like giving up, God gives a living hope Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3) Sunday, June 4, 2017 Page 10 of 11

10 by Garth Hutchinson, Faith Fellowship Baptist Church of Aurora (Ontario): may be distributed or quoted freely, only let this be done to the glory of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ (Titus ii.13). Except as noted otherwise, quotations are from the New American Standard version, used by permission. Various other English versions of the Holy Bible may be used in this sermon. Explanatory additions to the Bible text are shown in braces. Version identifiers are: AV Authorized (King James) Version of 1769 NAS New American Standard version 1960, 1995 The Lockman Foundation (usually the 1995 edition) NIV New International Version 1984 by the International Bible Society NKJV New King James Version 1979 Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers NRSV New Revised Standard Version 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ Some of the commentaries and resources used in the preparation of this message are identified as follow: BM Biblical Museum, Editor James Comper Gray, ca 1870 Calvin Calvin s Commentaries EBC The Expositor s Bible Commentary, 1986 Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 49530, MI: Ecclesiastes: J. Stafford Wright Gill Exposition of the Old Testament, Exposition of the New Testament, by John Gill, D.D. JFB -- Jamieson, Fawset & Brown K&D -- Keil & Delitzsch, Volume 6: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon Kerux The sermon & illustration data base compiled by Rev. David Holwick at the web-site, 2. Michael V Fox quoted in EBC, in loc. 3. EBC, in loc. 4. Adapted from Kerux illustration # Adapted from Meaningless, Meaningless, a sermon by Revd David Holwick, Kerux sermons #840 Sunday, June 4, 2017 Page 11 of 11