Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
arod4God@neo.rr.com FACEBOOK: Roderick Grabski
CLASS TWO: The Vanity of Human Effort & Experience
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS and PRAYER CONCERNS
II. Read / Listen to Ecclesiastes 1:1-18
a. What are your initial impressions or questions? Notable translation differences?
III. Everything is Futile! (1:1-2)
a. The Preacher or Teacher: tlhq ko-heh'-leth. Ecclesiastes (ekklhsia) is a Greek translation of the Hebrew word for Preacher. This is a rare Hebrew word and is used 7 times in Ecclesiastes and nowhere else in the Bible.
b. The Hebrew word lbh hevel can be translated, vapor or breath. To say hevel of hevels is like saying Holy of Holies, or Song of Songs. It is the most extreme. So the preacher is saying human existence is as meaningless as it can possibly be.
c. Ecclesiastes must be read in light of the rest of the story. (12:1, 13-14)
IV. The Vanity of Human Effort (1:3-11)
a. Under the sun is used 30 times in this book. It means here on Earth.
b. Verse 3 recalls Genesis 3:17-19.
c. (vv. 4-7) What 3 examples from nature does the preacher give for futility in constant motion? (See picture on back)
d. (vs. 8) All things are wearisome could be translated, All words are wearisome. It refers to our inability to find meaning or satisfaction in creation.
e. (vs. 8) What 3 examples from human experience does the preacher use that mirrors nature?
f. (vv. 9-10) What do you think the preacher means by, there is nothing new under the sun?
g. (vs. 11) What does the preacher mean by there is no remembrance?
V. The Limitations of Wisdom (1:12-18)
a. (vv. 12-14) The preacher is identified. Only Solomon was a son of David who ruled a united Israel from Jerusalem.
i. Other facts about Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5-14; 4:29-34; 11:1-12.
b. (vs. 15) This verse is a proverb. It refers to a problem that cannot be solved and working with insufficient information.
c. (vv. 16-18) The more things change, the more they stay the same. The more we learn, the more we realize there is to learn.
VI. Application
a. All is vanity if we try to pursue life apart from God. (Mark 8:34-36)
b. Jesus Christ makes all thing new. In Him we have a new covenant with God. (Hebrews 9:15)
c. God’s word as a whole provides wisdom and guidance to lead us in a saving faith in Jesus Christ. (2nd Timothy 3:14-17)
VII. Final Comments, Questions. Close in Prayer
Next Week: The Vanity of Pleasure & Wealth
- Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 to prepare.
