Ecclesiastes Part 1 (Chapter 1-6)

Notes by Marilyn Hickey: Searching for the meaning in life. Chapters 1-7 are about seeking vanities.

Solomon had Sophia wisdom insight, skill (human or divine), intelligence (biblehub.com)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/sunesis.html: a running together, a flowing together with; Knowledge; understanding (i.e the mind so far forth as it understands; cleverness 1, insight 1, understanding 5 (addition?)

Phronesis wisdom – ‘practical wisdom’ that has been derived from learning and evidence of practical things. It leads to breakthrough thinking and creativity and enables the individual to discern and make good judgements about what is the right thing to do in a situation. (not biblical)

https://oxford-review.com/oxford-review-encyclopaedia-terms/phronesis-definition-meaning/

The Futility of All Endeavor - EDUCATION

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. SOLOMON

2 “[a]Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “[b]Vanity of vanities! All is [c]vanity.” THIS IS A FAMOUS PASSAGE. IN OTHER WORDS, IS LIFE WORTH IT?

3 What advantage does man have in all his work Which he does under the sun? BECAUSE OF ADAM AND EVE’S SIN WE HAVE TO WORK. BUT IT GIVES US MEANING AND PURPOSE. BUSINESS AS MISSION IS A CURRENT PHRASE.

4 A generation goes and a generation comes, But the earth [d]remains forever. REVELATION SHOWS IT WILL BE CHANGED.

5 Also, the sun rises and the sun sets; And [e]hastening to its place it rises there again.

6 [f]Blowing toward the south, Then turning toward the north, The wind continues [g]swirling along; And on its circular courses the wind returns.

7 All the rivers [h]flow into the sea, Yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers [i]flow, There they [j]flow again.

8 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. WE ARE NEVER HAPPY. WE WANT MORE.

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. WE SOMETIMES THINK THINGS ARE NEW. THEY AREN’T TO GOD. NOTHING SURPRISES HIM.

10 Is there anything of which one might say, “See this, it is new”? Already it has existed for ages Which were before us.

11 There is no remembrance of [k]earlier things; And also of the [l]later things which will occur, There will be for them no remembrance Among those who will come [m]later still. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO STUDY HISTORY TO LEARN FROM THE PAST

The Futility of Wisdom

12 I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13 And I set my [n]mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is [o]a grievous task which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. LEADERSHIP HAS ITS PERK BUT IT’S ALSO CHALLENGING.

14 I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is [p]vanity and striving after wind.

15 What is crooked cannot be straightened and what is lacking cannot be counted. CROOKS CAN CHANGE BECAUSE OF JESUS.

16 I [q]said to myself, “Behold, I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem

before me; and my [r]mind has observed [s]a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.” SOLOMON ASKED FOR WISDOM. 1 KINGS 3 (CUT BABY IN HALF) BUT HE DIDN’T HAVE WISDOM WITH 700 WIVES / 300 CONCUBINES

17 And I set my [t]mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind. 18 Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain. THE MORE WE KNOW THE MORE WE MAY REALIZE WE DON’T KNOW OR SHOULD’VE DONE. I’VE REGRETTED SOME THINGS I’VE DONE. IT MAY NOT BE UNTIL HEAVEN I REALIZE WHY GOD ALLOWED SOME THINGS TO HAPPEN, IF AT ALL.

Footnotes

a. Ecclesiastes 1:2 Or Futility of futilities

b. Ecclesiastes 1:2 Or Futility of futilities

c. Ecclesiastes 1:2 Or futile

d. Ecclesiastes 1:4 Lit stands

e. Ecclesiastes 1:5 Lit panting

f. Ecclesiastes 1:6 Lit Going

g. Ecclesiastes 1:6 Lit turning

h. Ecclesiastes 1:7 Lit go

i. Ecclesiastes 1:7 Lit go

j. Ecclesiastes 1:7 Lit go

k. Ecclesiastes 1:11 Lit first or former

l. Ecclesiastes 1:11 Lit latter or after

m. Ecclesiastes 1:11 Lit latter or after

n. Ecclesiastes 1:13 Lit heart

o. Ecclesiastes 1:13 Lit an evil

p. Ecclesiastes 1:14 Or futility

q. Ecclesiastes 1:16 Lit spoke with my heart, saying

r. Ecclesiastes 1:16 Lit heart

s. Ecclesiastes 1:16 Lit an abundance

t. Ecclesiastes 1:17 Lit heart

The Futility of Pleasure and Possessions-Entertainment, Great Works, Heritage, Riches and Glory

2:1 I said [a]to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So [b]enjoy yourself.” And behold, it too was futility. PLEASURE IS FUN FOR A SEASON.