Raphaeal Summary of Ecclesiastes, 1–4

Chapter 1
Solomon asked for wisdom rather than riches, power, or glory. God responded to Solomon, that because he asked for wisdom, he would not only become the wisest man on earth, but would also be given greater riches than any King of Israel had ever known.
Lesson
Thus, Ecclesiastes is a story of warning to those of us who think life is about our peace, our joy, our comfort, our happiness, and our contentment. We must return to God, repent for our sins of pride and selfishness, and cling to His Word for our salvation.

Chapter 2
God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good: Solomon reflected on how sometimes it seems that what the sinner has gathered and collected is given to him who is good before God. This might seem unjust, but even under the sun, sometimes injustice seems to work in one's favor.
Lesson
Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Chapter 3
Ecclesiastes 3:3 King Solomon acknowledges that, despite his vast knowledge and wisdom he obtained (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18), he alone cannot stop killing and other destructive forces of mankind. Neither can he heal and restore things to good. Even as a king he does not have the power to control evil or good.
Lesson
The point is that God is balanced. He loves the world so much that he sent Jesus to die for our sins. But he hates the world so much so — that if you're a friend of the world you make yourself an enemy of God — and he goes on and commands his people to not love the world, just like he doesn't.

Chapter 4
Oppressions increase vanity: (In verses 1-3), the author considers the thought that oppression is so great in the world that the oppressed would actually be better off dead, thus rending death more appealing.
Lesson
Life is utterly awful and meaningless if it is lived under the sun and without the Son of God. 4I have seen that every labor and every skill which is done is the result of rivalry between a man and his neighbor This too is vanity and striving after wind. Solomon has great insight into the human condition.

---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/irtwbey365/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/irtwbey365/support