Ecclesiastes · Memory Palace

Theme

See the outline below for the structure of this book.

Outline

Adapted from the NIV Study Bible outline via Bible Study Tools. Verses: ESV.

I. Author (1:1)
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
II. Theme: The meaninglessness of human efforts on earth apart from God (1:2)
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
III. Introduction: The profitlessness of human toil to accumulate things in order to achieve happiness (1:3-11)
3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?

4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.

6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.

7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.

8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.
IV. Discourse, Part 1: In spite of life's apparent enigmas and meaninglessness, it is to be enjoyed as a gift from God (1:12)
1. Since human wisdom and endeavors are meaningless, people should enjoy their life and work and its fruits as gifts from God Introduction Human endeavors are meaningless Pursuing human wisdom is meaningless Seeking pleasure is meaningless Human wisdom is meaningless Toiling to accumulate things is meaningless Because people must leave the fruits of their labor to others Because all human efforts remain under the government of God's sovereign appointments, which people cannot fully know and which all their toil cannot change Because there are things better for people than the envy, greed and amibition that motivate such toil Because the fruits of human labor can be lost, resulting in frustration (5:1)
  1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
2. Since people cannot fully know what is best to do or what the future holds for them, they should enjoy now the life and work God has given them Introduction: What is predetermined by God is inalterable, and people cannot fully know what is best or what the future holds People cannot fully know what is best to do People cannot fully know what the future holds (9:1)
  1 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him.
V. Discourse, Part 2: Since old age and death will soon come, people should enjoy life in their youth, remembering that God will judge (11:7)
1. People should enjoy thei life on earth because their future after death is mysterious, and in that sense is meaningless for their present life (11:7-8)
  7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
  
  8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.
2. People should enjoy the fleeting joys of youth, but remember that God will judge (11:9-10)
  9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
  
  10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
3. People should remember their Creator in their youth, before the deteriorations of old age and the dissolution of the body come (12:1-7)
  1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut — when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low — 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets — 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
VI. Theme Repeated (12:8)
8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.
VII. Conclusion: Reverently trust in and obey God (12:9-14)
9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.

10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.

12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.