Ecclesiastes

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this module is to have a basic understanding of the Wisdom books, learn how to read and apply the Wisdom books, and learn to see and identify Christ in the Wisdom books.
The objective for this lesson is to introduce the book of Ecclesiastes, learn how to read it, and how to see Christ within it

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Consider for a moment the beloved activity of building a sandcastle
When we are very young, our sandcastles are very simple and plain, but as we get older, we come up with more elaborate techniques to innovate and create astonishing feats of architecture
Despite how much effort we expend on this craft, it doesn't take long for a strong tide, a playful dog, or even an inattentive friend to destroy our sandcastle
One person may look at the construction of a sandcastle and call the whole activity meaningless because eventually it will be destroyed, displaced, and forgotten
We may attempt to ascribe meaning to the sandcastle in various ways so that it is somehow significant, such as taking a picture, sharing it with loved ones, or even growing from the experience
In the book of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher, Solomon, takes a look at life and wonders whether all the labor and work we're expending is useless or useful towards an end
Finding that life without God is meaningless, like building a sandcastle knowing it will be swept away, he arrives to the conclusion that God fills our lives with meaning and purpose

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity." 9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright---words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil (Ec. 12:8-14)
Memory Verse
I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him (Ec. 3:14).

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 20 Minutes

Introduction

Authorship

Solomon is accepted as the author, calling himself the "Preacher"

- > Solomon wrote this book after a period in his life when he turned from the Lord and sought worldly pursuits

- > He repented and wrote this book, reflecting on how life without God was vanity, and that obedience to God gave life its beauty and purpose

The title of this book is taken from the Greek word of preacher, which is "Ecclesiastes," which is derived from the Greek word for church, "Ekklesia"
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- > This is important because the Preacher gathers the church through wisdom
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Literary Characteristics

Reflection

- > Ecclesiastes is made up of the reflections of Solomon

- > The Preacher thinks about what he's searched and seen, and presents to us his conclusion on the matter

- > His thoughts are both thoughtful and personal, and he learns from his observations

Proverbs

- > Like the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes also contains proverbs throughout

- > Some of these proverbs are in the form of straightforward statements of truth, while others are commands on how to behave

- > The Preacher gives advice to the reader based on his experiences and reflections by inspiration of the Holy Spirit

- > The Preacher also challenges worldly proverbs and presents Godly Wisdom

Rhetorical Questions

- > Through Ecclesiastes, the Preacher will ask questions knowing the answer

- > We can imagine the Preacher speaking to us personally, trying to teach us from his wisdom and experience through the Holy Spirit

Descriptive Language

- > The Preacher uses colorful illustration such as age, doors, trees, cords, and clever analogies to reinforce his teaching and make his point

How to Read Ecclesiastes
- Vanity of Vanity
  - Vanity means that something is attractive from the outside, but has no value
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- > Vanity comes from the Hebrew "hebel" which means "breath" or "vapor"
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  - The Preacher teaches us that life without God is meaningless, but life with God is full of joy and purpose
  - If we live in sin or forget the presence of God, we live in vanity, but if we live in remembrance and fear of His presence, we allow Him to fill our lives with eternal meaning and reward according to the dispensation of His lovingkindness
- Ecclesiastes challenges our values
  - Ecclesiastes challenges how we value and evaluate ourselves and our works
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- > The world may tell us to evaluate ourselves based on factors like popularity, acceptance, networth (how much money we have)

- > The Preacher reminds us that the value of life is Godliness and holiness

- > Therefore we "build houses" (cf. Ec. 2:4) through good works on the foundation of Jesus Christ
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  - Consider that God did not call creation good because of its beauty, but because of its purpose to reveal Him and glorify Him
  - The Preacher also reminds us of the good things in life, like friendship (Ec. 4:9-12), and reminds us that there is a time for everything (Ec. 3:1-8)
- Ecclesiastes causes our heart to Seek Christ
  - The words of Ecclesiastes may seem harsh at first because Solomon is trying to convince us that many things we preoccupy ourselves with are vain
  - The Preacher calls the people to God, yet they are too preoccupied with laughter, work, and earthly pursuits to consider eternity
  - Within this "somber" book is a message of optimism: the meaning and purpose to everything in life is found in Christ, and if we live in Christ, then our life is filled with joy and eternal blessings that never go away
  - As our heart is attached to the world, this book makes us sad, but as we are attached to the love of God, we find great joy and purpose in a godly life with Him
- Ecclesiastes Provides Deep Spiritual Lessons
  - The Preacher calls our attention to the vanity of life (Ec. 1:2-11)
  - He explains that wisdom is greater than foolishness (Ec. 2:12-25)
  - There is a time for everything (Ec. 3:1-8), God provides gifts (Ec. 3:9-15), and He judges all (Ec. 3:16-22)
  - He explains the treasure of friendship, that two are better than one, and that a "threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Ec. 4:9-12)
  - He explains that the lives of the righteous and the wise are in the hands of God (Ec. 9:1) and calls for us to remove anger from our hearts and evil from our flesh (Ec. 11:10)
  - He calls to mind our Creator (Ec. 12:1), that our bodies will return to the earth and our spirits will return to God (Ec. 12:7), and that it is good that we keep His commandments (Ec. 12:13)
Christ in Ecclesiastes
- Christ is the Preacher
  - As Solomon is called peaceful, and as the queen of the south came from the ends of the earth to hear his wisdom (cf. Mt. 12:42), so too is Christ the prince of peace, and so too do we seek the wisdom of Christ
  - He is the true Ecclesiastes (preacher) who took the form of a servant to assemble the church (Ekklesia)
- We find Wisdom in Christ
  - The Preacher tells us that he sought wisdom (cf. Ec. 1:13), and the Church Fathers understand that Wisdom was revealed in the incarnate Christ
  - The Preacher in Ecclesiastes called for us to raise our eyes from the earthly pursuits, while the Lord Jesus Christ raised our eyes to heaven and eternal life
  - Christ taught us that sin weighs us down so that we cannot see beyond the worldly cares and lusts, while His grace lifts us up to consider the eternal and the perfect

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

Solomon calls many everyday activities vain. How can we fill our everyday activities with meaning?
How may we lift up our minds and hearts above the worldly and seek the heavenly?

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Everyday activities are vain when they are done for their own purpose or for a worldly reward, whereas everyday activities may become meaningful when we make them godly activities
- One monk was known to turn dishwashing into a time for prayer
- St. Antony made baskets out of palm leaves as an activity to teach himself godly discipline
As Proverb taught us that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God, Ecclesiastes teaches us that as we remember our Creator in the days of our youth (cf. Ec. 12:1) and keep His commandments, we will find abundance of grace and blessing in our lives
- As mentioned above, this may come in the form of making time for prayer between homework assignments or keeping proverbial teachings in social situations

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

SERVANT RESOURCES

Fr. Tadros Malaty on Ecclesiastes

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Try reading the book of Ecclesiastes with your child. If you read a chapter a day, you can finish the whole book in less than two weeks
Talk to your child about what they're reading in the Bible and ask them whether there are areas where they are struggling
- Challenge them to think hard about the teaching, to continue reading, and to ask Abouna or the servant about the reading
When a situation comes up at home or at school, try to ask your child whether they can apply any lessons from the wisdom books
- It's okay if they don't have an answer, but constantly being reminded to attempt to apply wisdom will teach them to always remember the Wisdom books in difficult and everyday situations