Ecclesiastes 1

SOLOMON’S WISDOM
UNDER THE SUN

Background on Ecclesiastes
1. The author is almost certainly Solomon
2. The book was written at the end of backsliding
3. The book is a philosophical sermon
4. The book includes inspired record of wrongful thinking
5. It is doubtful that his kingdom realized his depression
6. The phrase ‘under the sun’ occurs 27 times
7. He examines extreme wisdom, pleasure, toil, riches
* Matthew 11:25-30

What Do We Find Under the Sun?
1. The depth of meaninglessness
2. The scope of meaninglessness
3. A maddening randomness
4. A sickening cycle
5. A boring repetition
6. Reason for pessimism
7. An ‘ignorance is bliss’ mentality

The Nature of Worldly Wisdom
1. Worldly wisdom changes all the time
2. It is better to be wise than foolish
3. Both the wise and the foolish die
4. The wisdom of this world passes away
5. There is much that we will never fathom under the sun
6. Wisdom is not always rewarded under the sun (9:11)
7. Wisdom is often ignored under the sun (9:16)

“She came from the ends of the earth
to listen to Solomon's wisdom,
and now one greater than Solomon is here”
Matthew 12:42

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:14