WEBVTT

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Introduction to the Book of Ecclesiastes,
or The Preacher.

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Vanity of vanities.

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All is vanity.

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This unsettling conclusion about life is
from the Book of Ecclesiastes,

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part of the Wisdom Writings of the Bible.

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Most believe that King Solomon wrote these
sober observations about 3,000 years ago,

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near the end of his life.

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Although unbelievably wealthy and
powerful, he reflects on everything he

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owned and had done, and then concludes
that it was all vain, empty, meaningless.

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Solomon is known in the Bible for his
wisdom, but later in life he became

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foolish, allowing his heart to be led away
from God by his foreign wives.

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Then, scarred by his choices and depressed
by the disappointments of life described

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in the Book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon warns
that apart from a right relationship with

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God, life is futile.

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Note well how Solomon urges us to fear God
and obey his commandments, while enjoying

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life to the full.

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For this is a gift from God.