DAWN

     Explanation: In Ecclesiastes 1 an unnamed Narrator and the Teacher (Koheleth), presumably Solomon, introduce us to the vanity (emptiness) of life after the fall. As can be seen from my analytical outline below, the Narrator and the Teacher make opening and closing remarks; and the Teacher writes the bulk of the book. The book is not based on worldly wisdom. It is based on godly wisdom. The problem is presented -- the ruin of everything (due to sin). And the solution is given -- overcome vanity by serving God. The book presents hedonism and despair as false reactions to emptiness. The solution is to fear God. Those who do so will escape the vanity of this life. Today's painting illustrates several of the elements of vanity.

1. Narrator's Introduction - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:1   -  1:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
2. Teacher's Introduction  - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:12 -  2:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
3. Teacher's Word's         - Coping With Vanity                       (   2:12 - 11:9   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
4. Teacher's Conclusion    - Overcome Vanity by Serving God ( 11:10 - 12:7   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
5. Narrator's Conclusion   - Overcome Vanity by Serving God ( 12:8   - 12:14 ) - 946 B.C. Israel

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Ecclesiastes 2. Ecclesiastes 11:10 - 12:14. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Book of Ecclesiastes Dramatized. Ecclesiastes 1 - #1. Ecclesiastes 1 - #2. ]

     The first eleven verses are the words of an unnamed Narrator. He begins by introducing the Preacher (or Teacher), the son of David, king in Jerusalem. King Solomon best fits this description. He then gives a summary of the teaching of the Teacher. His key teaching is that everything is vanity: "Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity." (1-2). Continuing his summary, the narrator makes four points: Labor is without profit (3); Everyone dies, but the earth remains (4); Everything is filled with repetitive, endless, unsatisfying labor (5-10). Everything and everyone is forgotten (11). At this point, Solomon (the "Preacher") begins his first person narrative. He was king over Israel in Jerusalem (12). Solomon gave his heart to a thorough search for wisdom, particularly in reference to the travail that is involved in labor (13). Solomon saw everything that was done under the sun; and it was all vanity and vexation of spirit (14). Some things are impossible: crooked things cannot be made straight; and what is lacking cannot be numbered (15). Solomon communed with his own heart. He noted that he had come into great honor and had acquired more wisdom, experience, and knowledge than all who had been in Jerusalem before him. He gave his heart to know wisdom, madness, and folly; but he realized that all of this was also vexation of spirit. In much wisdom is much grief. He who increases knowledge increases sorrow (16-18). Solomon's introduction is continued in the next chapter.

¹ The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
² Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
³ What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
⁴ One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
⁵ The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
⁶ The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north;
it whirleth about continually [revolving and revolving], and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
⁷ All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full;
unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
⁸ All things are full of labour; man cannot [not able to] utter it:
the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
⁹ The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be;
and that which is done is that which shall be done:
and there is no [thing] new thing under the sun.
¹⁰ Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new?
it hath been already of old time, which was before [the face of] us.
¹¹ There is no remembrance of former things;
neither [also not] shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come
with those that shall come after.

Teacher's Introduction: The Vanity of Everything - 1:12 - 2:11

¹² I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
¹³ And I gave [this] my heart to seek and search out by wisdom
concerning all things that are done under heaven:
this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
¹⁴ I have seen [this] all the works that are done under the sun;
and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
¹⁵ That which is crooked cannot [not able to] be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot [not able to] be numbered.
¹⁶ I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate,
and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem:
yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
¹⁷ And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly:
I perceived that this [though] also is vexation of spirit.
¹⁸ For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.