Key Words: Preacher, Vanity. Vanity of Vanities, Vexation
There is purpose for every book in the Bible. If not read carefully Ecclesiastes will make you wonder if life is worth living but upon careful reading you discover its powerful meaning and purpose.
Ecclesiastes reveals the emptiness and futility of life without God. Pleasure is no substitute for divine purpose. Solomon, the richest and wisest king of Israel, explored every pleasure life had to offer but concludes that it is all vanity. Solomon concludes that the duty of man is to serve and obey God.
Solomon is the preacher. Ecclesiastes is the only book in the Old Testament that mentions the word preacher (KJV). Solomon also concludes that man should eat, and enjoy life, because it is the gift of God.
In the end, the Preacher comes to accept that faith in God is the only way to find personal meaning. He decides to accept the fact that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God. The Preacher advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure!
Ecclesiastes: 1:1-2 The words of the Teacher, (Preacher, KJV) son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher (Preacher). “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” 3:1-8 NIV To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; Also: 12:8 and 12:13-14
Blessings Apostle