UNROLL
A thin thread of smoke rises from a small dying fire of twigs on a worn limestone ledge and fades into the low first light, under a calm, empty sky.

The Book of

Ecclesiastes Intro

A wise old king tells the truth about life, and hands it back to you as a gift.

Before chapter 1≈ 2 min12 chapters

Images are artistic interpretations.

In 30 seconds

A king tried everything.

Pleasure, work, wisdom, wealth.

None of it would stay in his hands.

Seven times, joy breaks through.

Then the last word: fear God.

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

What ‘futile’ means

The Hebrew word means vapor, breath.

It doesn’t mean nothing matters.

It means you can’t hold on to it.

Who wrote it

The Teacher

A son of David, king in Jerusalem

  • He calls himself the Teacher, the son of David.Ecclesiastes 1:1
  • He was king over Israel in Jerusalem.Ecclesiastes 1:12
  • The book never gives his name. It has long been read as Solomon.Long tradition
  • A narrator introduces him and closes the book.Ecclesiastes 12:9

How it’s built

The shape of the book

Everything isfutile1: the case statedThe search2–6: pleasure, work,wealthWhat wisdom cando7–8: and what it can’tLive while youlive9–11: take the giftRemember yourCreator12: before the daycomesThe end of thematter12:13: fear God

Whiteboard

The search runs out, and it ends with God.

Three things to carry

Hold on to these

Why it’s in the Bible

Proverbs: how God’s world usually runs.

Job: when it doesn’t.

Ecclesiastes: why you can’t run it.

Watch for

your labor in the Lord is not in vain

1 Corinthians 15:58

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Question

Quick question

One thing to settle before you begin.

What does ‘futile’ mean in this book?

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