Question
While listening to your tape series “Job thru Song of Solomon”, we were unable to hear the last part of Ecclesiastes, where you are outlining all the types of vanity that Solomon covers. Example: Ecc 6 you described it as “Vanity of living without meaning” (no after-life); in Ecc 7 “Vanity of living as, life is what you make of it,” (feeling good about yourself is the motivation). But that’s where it ended and we didn’t hear the rest of them. Can you please give us the rest of your break down of these vanities?
Response
According to what you said, the tape went through the basic outline I had given at the beginning of the study up to and including chapter 7, where Solomon sets forth and deals with the issue of “the vanity of living a life based upon the idea that life is what you make of it, etc.” The rest of my outline is as follows:
Ecc 8:1-17
The vanity of the thinking and living of those who are out to exercise social power and to make great changes in society; to alter the course of society and/or history; to bring in a better society/world than has been, etc.
Ecc 9:1-18
Solomon’s pointed declaration, (after all the vanities that he has exposed), concerning the unavoidable bottom line issue in life, which is that death comes alike to all; and the folly of not facing up to it and dealing with it.
Ecc 10:1-11:8
In view of his previous declaration, Solomon begins to conclude “this sore travail” by setting forth a number of discerning remarks and observations regarding responses to it; especially those characteristic of a “fool.”
Ecc 11:9-12:14
Concluding exhortation concerning the issue of accountability to God, given to those most prone to ignore it; followed by a final reiteration of the “vanity of vanities” that have been exposed and set forth; and then “the conclusion of the whole matter,” which if heeded provides especially for a “son of man” in the fifth and final installment of God’s program with Israel to give heed to “the everlasting gospel.”
Keith Blades
Enjoy The Bible Ministries
20020412 A64 IP