It should be noted that when the author of Ecclesiastes writes from the second perspective noted above, it is not as one who knows God from full revelation He views life as a man does who knows and worships God primarily as Creator This is rmed by the fact that every time he names Him he uses the word Elohim, which is the name especially associated with the work of creation (cf Gen 1:1) The name “LORD” (Jehovah), which is the Old Testament equivalent of Redeemer-Saviour, does not appear once in the book.8 Today when the reader of Ecclesiastes reaches the last command of the book, “Fear God and keep His commandments” (12:13), he is ready to be introduced to Christ the Redeemer “As the law was designed to lead men to Christ, so this book was written to lead those ‘under the sun’ to the Son (cf Heb 1:1).”9 The purposes of Ecclesiastes, then, are to show the futility of pursuing materialistic, earthly goals as an end in themselves, and to point to God as the source of all that is truly good.10 The theme of the book is determined by these purposes, and may be stated in this twofold way: Every pursuit of man is futile if God is excluded Only God’s work endures, so that only He can impart true value to man’s life and service B VANITY Read the following selected verses as an introduction to the subject of vanity (futility) in this book.11 THE TEN VANITIES Human wisdom—2:15-16 Human fame—4:16 Human labor—2:19-21 Human insatiateness—5:10 Human purpose—2:26 Human coveting—6:9 Human rivalry—4:4 Human frivolity—7:4 Human avarice—4:8 Human awards—8:10, 14 V KEY WORDS AND VERSES Observe the key words listed on Chart 76 Read in the Bible the two key verses, which are also cited How are these re ected in the title assigned to the book? VI APPLICATIONS What are your thoughts about the statement, “There is nothing new under the sun” (1:9)? Read Peter 3:3-7 What is lacking in the heart of a person who is never satis ed (1:8)? Is human desire normal or abnormal? “Thou hast made me for Thyself, and my heart will not rest until it rests in Thee.” Compare this statement by Augustine with Ecclesiastes 2:25b, “Who can have enjoyment without Him?” “Life is not worth living, apart from redemption.” This is how Oswald Chambers identi es the theme of Ecclesiastes.12 What does Ecclesiastes reveal about man’s salvation from the predicament of hopelessness? Compare Chamber’s statement with Corinthians 15:19 What are some conditions for genuine enjoyment in the experience of a Christian? Compare Ecclesiastes 11:8a and Philippians 4:4 Do the scales of divine justice always settle and balance quickly? If not, why the delays? “Fear God and keep His commandments” (12:13) Relate this command to the doctrine of salvation ...show the futility of pursuing materialistic, earthly goals as an end in themselves, and to point to God as the source of all that is truly good.10 The theme of the book is determined by these... WORDS AND VERSES Observe the key words listed on Chart 76 Read in the Bible the two key verses, which are also cited How are these re ected in the title assigned to the book? VI APPLICATIONS... VI APPLICATIONS What are your thoughts about the statement, “There is nothing new under the sun” (1:9)? Read Peter 3:3-7 What is lacking in the heart of a person who is never satis ed (1:8)? Is