ECCLESIASTES OUTLINE
Written by Solomon.
Theme: All things under the sun are vanity. Conclusion: Fear God and keep His commandments.
“Vanity” is found 33 times, “Under the Sun” is found 29 times.
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Chap |
Key Words |
Outline |
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1: |
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INTRODUCTION: |
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1. Writer: The “Preacher,” Solomon, son of David, king of Jerusalem. 1:1 |
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2. Theme: All under the sun is vanity (1:2). |
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NOTHING NEW |
I. VANITY OF ALL THINGS UNDER THE SUN. (1:2--4:26) |
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A. What profit do we see from labors? (1:2-11) |
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Everything just endlessly repeats itself. |
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-Generation follows generation but the earth remains.(1:4) |
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-The sun keeps coming up and going down.(1:5) |
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-The wind circles continually.(1:6) |
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-The rivers run into the sea and then return where they came from.(1:7) |
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-All things are a weariness. (1:8) |
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-There is no new thing under the sun. (1:9,10) |
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-One generation soon forgets the last. (1:11) |
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B. Personal experience of the preacher. (1:12--2:26) |
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1. His search for wisdom and knowledge only increased dissatisfaction. (1:12-18) |
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2: |
VANITY |
2. Nothing under the sun really profits. (2:1-26) |
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a. Laughter and fun (2:1-2) |
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b. Wine to cheer (2:3) |
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c. Great works (2:4-6) |
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d. Possessions (2:7-8) |
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e. Greatness (2:9) |
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f. Having everything he wanted (2:10) |
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3. He examined wisdom, madness and folly (2:12-26) |
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a. Wisdom is better than folly but the death is same end for all. We will all be forgotten (2:12-17) |
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b. Everything we accomplish may be left to a fool to destroy. (2:18-23) |
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c. The man who follows God can enjoy things most, yet this also is vanity. (2:24-26) |
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3: |
A TIME |
C. The world is full of examples of vanity. (3:1- |
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1. Everything has a time but all comes to an end. |
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-Man is given time to learn to fear God. (3:1-15) |
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-God allows both the wicked and the righteous to dwell together so man can see he is as dependent as the beast.(3:16-22) |
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4: |
PROBLEMS |
2. Problems continue. |
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-Oppression. (4:1-3) |
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-Hard work (4:4-6) |
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-Loneliness (4:7-12) |
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-Self-willed rulers. (4:13-16) |
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5: |
VALUES |
II. THE NATURE OF SOUND
VALUES |
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A. Be right with God |
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-Control your actions and words. (5:1-7) |
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-God sees, even when the king does not.(5:8,9) |
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B. Wealth without God cannot fully satisfy (5:10-6:12) |
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-Goods increases those using them.(5:10-12) |
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-Wealth often hurts the owner and ends at the grave anyway. (5:13-17) |
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-Wealth depends upon God. (5:18-20) |
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6: |
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-Unless God gives the ability to enjoy it, wealth is a mockery no matter how long we live. (6:1-6) |
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WISDOM |
III. IMPORTANCE OF WISDOM (6:7--10:20) |
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A. Wisdom teaches contentment (6:7-9) |
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B. Wisdom teaches humility. (6:10-12) |
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7: |
BETTER |
C. Wisdom teaches better values. (7:1-10) |
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-A Good name is better than fine oil.(7:1) |
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-Better the day of death than the day of birth.(7:1) |
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-Mourning is better than feasting.(7:2) |
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-Sorrow is better than laughter. (7:3,4) |
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-Better wise rebuke than the song of fools.(7:5-7) |
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-Better the end than the beginning.(7:8) |
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-Better patience than pride. (7:8,9) |
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-Better live in the present than the past.(7:10) |
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D. Wisdom is a good inheritance. |
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-It is a protection. (7:11-14) |
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-It avoids excess. (7:15-18) |
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-It restrains impulsive response. (7:19-22) |
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E. What have I learned about wisdom? |
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-It is hard to find (7:23,24) |
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-A woman who is a snare is more bitter than death (7:24-26) |
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-There is only one [wise?] man in a thousand. A woman I could not find. (7:27,28) |
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-God made man upright but they have turned aside to many schemes. (7:29) |
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8: |
WISE |
F. How can we know a wise man? (8:1) |
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1. Wisdom makes a man’s face soften and shine (8:2) |
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2. A wise man respects the law (8:3-5) |
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3. A wise man respects time |
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a. He makes decisions for good while he is able. (8:5-8) |
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b. The foolish use it to gain power and do evil to their own injury. (8:9-13) |
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IV. WITHOUT GOD, WISDOM IS VANITY. |
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A. The reward of the righteous and the wicked often seems reversed. (8:14-17) |
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9: |
DEATH |
B. Only God has the answers to why. (8:16--9:1) |
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C. Both righteous and wicked have the same end. (9:2-10) |
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D. Time and chance happen to all. (9:11-12) |
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E. Wisdom is great but often it is despised. (9:13-16) |
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F. Foolishness often outweighs wisdom and honor. (9:17--10:7) |
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10: |
VINDICATION |
V. IN THE END, WISDOM WILL BE VINDICATED. (10:5-20) |
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A. Poor judgment results in bad consequences (10:5-11) |
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B. Your words will reap a result. (10:12-15) |
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C. Irresponsible behavior will not escape (10:16-20) |
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11: |
YOUTH |
VI. USE YOUR YOUTH WISELY |
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A. Do not put off doing good (11:1-8) |
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B. Enjoy being young, but remember that in the end you must give account to God. (11:9,10) |
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OLD AGE |
C. Remember God before old age and death robs you of the opportunity to know and serve Him. (12:1-8) |
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CONCLUSION: |
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A. Solomon’s objective in writing the book. (12:9-10) |
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B. Importance of the words of the wise. |
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They provide valuable security. (12:11) |
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But books are endless and study can be wearisome. (12:12) |
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C. Conclusion: (12:13-14) |
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Fear God and obey Him. This is the highest duty of man. (12:13) |
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God will bring every work into Judgment (12:14) |