Category Archives: – Thru the Bible Series

We began this series on January 11, 2017 and continues to this day.

It chronicles our ongoing trek through the Bible beginning in Genesis, though our trek has not followed a 100% traditional order.

We have attempted to keep books whose contents are related in time, as much together as possible with some noteworth exceptions.

The specific chapters covered are NOT usually part of the title of each post making specific scriptures a little tricky to find by a simple “search”.

To compensate for that we have a page dedicated to this series which lists each of the scriptures we’ve covered so far as a link. It is our hope that this will help aid you in your studies….God Bless!

Few Words Ecclesiastes Solomon

Let my words be Few

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In these chapters much is made of intentions and words.

In chapter 4 Solomon uses sets of three to illustrate aspects of human life which he sees as futile, evil, oppressive or fleeting.

Then in chapter 5 he picks up a familiar refrain in his writings regarding words, wisdom and foolishness, focusing upon vows especially.

He closes the chapter with three things which he views as misfortunes. The third is at the beginning of chapter 6 and largely carries the theme of that entire chapter.

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Ecclesiastes Solomon Windows Beauty

Windows of Hidden Beauty

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In this chapter Solomon sets as a consideration before his listeners, a window through which to observe the events.

These do not so much reflect Solomon’s thoughts as he was living his life, but rather when he was reflecting back on those events towards the end of his life.

Solomon’s thesis is that God operates in such a way as to bring everything to its appropriate closure so that cause and effect, sowing and reaping, choices and consequences, mercy and judgement all culminate in depiction of perfect balance within the sphere of Divine order and that IN THAT WAY “He makes all things Beautiful in its time”.

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Solomon Ecclesiastes 2

Wise insights… Narcissistic conclusions

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Chapter 2 of Ecclesiastes begins to uncover Solomon’s state of mind and being.

His own account in the chapter is that his wisdom remained with him even throughout his lascivious pursuits. Borrowing this assumption as true, we learn much. Solomon made clear and keen insights into life, but his conclusions were largely run through his lens of selfish ambition and desires which led to his being literally repulsed by what he perceived as injustice since he alone would not be the sole benefactor of his work and life endeavors.

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Solomon Ecclesiastes vain fleeting

Solomon’s initial thoughts… Vain of just Fleeting?

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As we open the book of Ecclesiastes, we once again tack down Solomon as the author whether he was the one who compiled it into a “book” or whether it this was done at a later date.

We then spent some time with the word ‘Vanity’ which has a fundamentally different meaning in the Hebrew, but which is most often translated as ‘vanity’. We explored the other relevant nuances of the word which will help us as we continue through the book since in only 12 chapters it is mentioned 38x’s.

Finally we talked about Solomon’s outlook on life as being both fleeting and in the end meaningless. But this was largely both due to the way in which he largely wasted his life on godless pursuits and the fact that this was written in his older age looking back over those choices with regret.

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Introduction Ecclesiastes

Introduction to Ecclesiastes

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This introduction is intended to provide an overview of the book, including the:
• Title
• Time Period
• Author
• Key words and phrases
• Purpose
• Solomon’s goals and method
• Key steps in the progression of the book
• Conclusion

One primary key to the book is understanding that in clear distinction to the rest of humanity, Solomon was “gifted” wisdom and as such it could not be lost or forfeited. The results in Ecclesiastes being a very valuable book indeed. For though Solomon lived a good portion of his life in futile pursuits which affected his take away of the things he learned, his wisdom still enabled him to see clearly what was happening as a result of his choices.

“So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.” – Ecc. 2:9

This places Solomon in perhaps, one of the most unique positions of anyone in all of human history, save Jesus Himself! It also gives a transcendence to the value of his insights which otherwise would have been distorted through the deceptiveness of sin.

We noticed that there were two directions this book was taking. Solomon’s purpose in writing and God’s purpose in having Solomon write it – which were two very different reasons indeed, but which merge at the end of the book into one very concise and simple statement!

We are approaching this book of Ecclesiastes from the perspective that it is an entire inspired book which is dedicated to expanding on the lesson of the manna, which is that,
“Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word which PROCEEDS out of the mouth of God.” – Deut. 8:3

Possessing a knowledge of these things BEFORE diving into this book will prepare the reader to be properly oriented to the direction and purpose of the book so as to take away from our studies as much as possible. The most important thing being a better understanding of God in Christ and our relation to Him in trust as is the force and focus of all scripture!

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