ECCLESIASTES OUTLINE

A Ralph Johnson

Title "The preacher" (7 times). By Solomon.

Theme:  All things under the sun are vanity (empty, without ultimate value). 

Conclusion: Fear God and keep His commandments.

Vanity” is found 37 times.  “Under the Sun,” 29 times.

CHAPTERS &

KEY WORDS

OUTLINE

12ch(6) (brief)

1:

INTRODUCTION: (1:1-2)

 

1.    Writer:  The “Preacher,” Solomon, son of David, king of Jerusalem. (1:1)

 

2.    Theme:   All under the sun is vanity (1:2). 

 

Nothing new

I.    VANITY OF ALL THINGS UNDER THE SUN.  (1:2--4:26)

 

A.   What profit from our labors? (1:2-11)

 

Nothing lasting accomplished.

 

Generation follows generation. (1:4)

 

The sun comes up and goes down.(1:5)

 

The wind circles continually.(1:6)

 

The rivers run into the sea and return to where they came.(1:7)

 

All things are a weariness. (1:8)

 

Nothing new under the sun. (1:9-10)

 

Each Generation soon forgets the last. (1:11)

 

 

B.       Personal experience of the preacher.  (1:12--2:26)

 

1.    Search for wisdom and knowledge only increased dissatisfaction. (1:12-18)

2: Vanity

2.    Nothing under the sun really profits. (2:1-26)

 

a.    Laughter and fun (2:1-2)

 

b.    Wine to cheer (2:3)

 

c.    Great works (2:4-6)

 

d.    Possessions (2:7-8)

 

e.    Greatness  (2:9)

 

f.    Having everything wanted (2:10)

 

3.    Examination of wisdom, madness and folly (2:12-26)

 

a.    Wisdom is better than folly but a death is same end for all--soon forgotten (2:12-17)

 

b.    Everything we accomplish may be left to a fool to destroy. (2:18-23)

 

c.        The man who follows God can enjoy things most, yet even this is vanity. (2:24-26)

 

3: A time

C.    World of examples. (3:1—4:16)

 

1.    Everything has a time but all comes to an end.

 

Man is given time to learn to fear God. (3:1-15)

 

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)

4: Problems

2.    Problems continue.

 

Oppression. (4:1-3)

 

Hard work   (4:4-6)

 

Loneliness  (4:7-12)

 

Self-willed rulers. (4:13-16)

 

5: Values

II.    SOUND VALUES ARE ONLY WITH GOD (5:1—6:6)

 

A.    Be right with God

 

Control your actions and words. (5:1-7)

 

God sees, even when the king does not. (5:8-9)

 

 

B.    Wealth without God cannot fully satisfy (5:10-6:12)

 

Gaining goods only increases those using them. (5:10-12)

 

Wealth often hurts the owner and always just ends at the grave. (5:13-17)

 

Wealth depends upon God. (5:18-20)

6:

Unless God gives the ability to enjoy it, wealth is a mockery. (6:1-6)

 

Wisdom

III.  WISDOM'S BENEFITS (6:7--10:20)

 

A.      Wisdom teaches contentment (6:7-9)

 

 

B.       Wisdom teaches humility. (6:10-12)

 

7: Better

C.    Wisdom teaches better values. (7:1-10)

 

A Good name is better than fine oil. (7:1)

 

Better the day of death than the day of birth. (7:1)

 

Mourning is better than feasting. (7:2)

 

Sorrow is better than laughter. (7:3-4)

 

Better wise rebuke than the song of fools. (7:5-7)

 

Better the end than the beginning. (7:8)

 

Better patience than pride. (7:8-9)

 

Better live in the present than the past. (7:10)

 

 

D.   Wisdom is a good inheritance.

 

It is a protection. (7:11-14)

 

It avoids excess. (7:15-18)

 

It restrains impulsive decisions. (7:19-22)

 

 

E.    What the preacher has learned about wisdom

 

It is hard to find (7:23-24)

 

A woman who is a snare is more bitter than death (7:26)

 

There is only one [wise?] man in a thousand. A woman I could not find. (7:27-28)

 

God made man upright but they have turned aside to many schemes. (7:29)

 

8: Wise

F.    How to know a wise man (8:1)

 

1.    Wisdom makes a man’s face soften and shine (8:1)

 

        2.    A wise man respects the law. (8:2-5)

 

        3.    A wise man respects time

 

a.    He makes decisions for good while he is able. (8:5-8)

 

b.    The foolish use time to gain power and do evil to their own injury. (8:9-13)

 

 

IV.  WISDOM WITHOUT GOD IS ALSO VAIN (8:14—10:7)

 

A.   The reward of the righteous and the wicked often seems reversed. (8:14-17)

 

B.   Only God has the answers to why. (8:16-17)

9: Death

C.   Both righteous and wicked have the same end. (9:1-10)

 

D.   Time and chance happen to all. (9:11-12)

 

E.   Wisdom is great but often despised. (9:13 -16)

 

F.   Foolishness often outweighs wisdom and honor. (9:17--10:7)

 

10: Vindication

V.   WISDOM WITH GOD WILL BE VINDICATED. (10:5-20)

 

A.    Poor judgment results in bad consequences (10:5-11)

 

B.    Words will reap a result. (10:12-15)

 

C.    Irresponsible behavior will not escape (10:16-20)

 

11: Youth

VI. USE YOUTH WISELY (11:1—12:8)

 

A.   Do not put off doing good (11:1-8)

 

B.    Enjoy being young, but remember that in the end you must give account to God. (11:9-10)

12: Old age

C.    Remember God before old age robs you of the opportunity to serve Him. (12:1-8)

 

 

CONCLUSION:

 

A.    Solomon’s purpose in writing (12:9-10)

 

B.    Importance of the words of the wise.

 

They provide valuable security. (12:11)

 

Books are endless and study can be wearisome. (12:12)

 

C.   Conclusion: (12:13-14)

 

Fear God and obey Him. This is man's highest duty. (12:13)

 

Remember, God will bring every work into Judgment. (12:14)