S2E299-Ecclesiastes 1-2: The Search for Meaning

Transcript Today's Bible Translation Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-2 ERV Associate Producer James in Norway Podcast Introduction It’s Poetry Thursday, and we’ll begin the book of Ecclesiastes with chapters 1 and 2. Design: Scott Snider | Photo: Mick Haupt on Unsplash Summary Ecclesiastes, written by King Solomon, explores the pursuit of wealth and pleasure and concludes that everything is meaningless. Despite his wisdom and wealth, Solomon feels unfulfilled and finds life empty. The book encourages readers to seek deeper meaning and reminds them of God's presence and love. Listen to the episode for more! Support This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising equals censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and donate here: SUPPORT. The Team Lifespring Family Berean, Sister Denise: Transcript CorrectionMichael Haner: Podcasting 2.0 ChaptersLifespring Family Berean, Brother Scott Snider: Show ArtJason Paschall: Show ArtLifespring Family Berean, Sister Brittaney: Newsletter Publisher Transcript Download .txt file. Transcript not yet corrected. Steve Webb 0:00Well, that's almost more than he can bear. Steve Webb 0:03This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible and podcasting since 2004. I'm Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster. It's poetry Thursday, and we're going to begin the book of Ecclesiastes with chapters one and two. I'm calling the episode The search for meaning. The website is Lifespringmedia.com. and I'll have contact information at the end of the show. This is the final episode before my vacation. Beginning tomorrow, you'll be hearing episodes that I recorded ahead of time so that you would continue to have fresh episodes, there won't be any rewrites. For several weeks, I've been doing an episode here and an episode bear to fill the queue up for you. You see how I tried to take care of you. But seriously, the lovely lady Liana and I have been looking forward to this vacation for a very long time. We're taking an Alaskan cruise and then after the cruise, we'll be spending a few days on land in Alaska before coming home. I've wanted to visit Alaska since I was a boy, I had a cousin that moved from California to Alaska. and since then, I have wanted to go, hopefully, I'll have a story or two to tell you about the trip when we get back and I begin producing new shows for you. Okay, so let's get on with the show, shall we? Before we read, let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for our time together today. I pray, Lord, that You would teach us Father and bless us as we read. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Okay, are you ready? Let's begin. Steve Webb 1:32Ecclesiastes was written by King Solomon, the same King Solomon who wrote the book of Proverbs. and like proverbs. Ecclesiastes is classified as a book of poetry. Sometimes it's called a book of Wisdom. But you'll very quickly see that Solomon's approach is much different here. I don't want to give away too much right now. But I do want to say that it's important to stick with this book right up to the end. Don't be held early and don't draw conclusions early. This is a book that requires patience on the part of the reader. Steve Webb 2:05Ecclesiastes, chapter one. These are the words from the teacher, a son of David and King of Jerusalem. Everything is so meaningless. The teacher says that it is all a waste of time. Do people really gain anything from all the hard work they do in this life? People live and people die, but the earth continues forever. The sun rises and the sun goes down, and then it hurries to rise again in the same place, the wind blows to the south, and the wind blows to the north, the wind blows around and around, then it turns and blows back to the place it began. All rivers flow again and again to the same place....

Episode Transcript

Steve Webb (00:00):
Well, that's almost more than he can bear.
This is the Lifespring! One YearBible and podcasting since 2004.
I'm Steve Webb, your OGGodcaster. It's poetry Thursday,
and we're going to begin thebook of Ecclesiastes with
chapters one and two. I'mcalling the episode The search
for meaning. The website isLifespringmedia.com. and I'll

(00:21):
have contact information at theend of the show. This is the
final episode before myvacation. Beginning tomorrow,
you'll be hearing episodes thatI recorded ahead of time so that
you would continue to have freshepisodes, there won't be any
rewrites. For several weeks,I've been doing an episode here
and an episode bear to fill thequeue up for you. You see how I

(00:42):
tried to take care of you. Butseriously, the lovely lady Liana
and I have been looking forwardto this vacation for a very long
time. We're taking an Alaskancruise and then after the
cruise, we'll be spending a fewdays on land in Alaska before
coming home. I've wanted tovisit Alaska since I was a boy,
I had a cousin that moved fromCalifornia to Alaska. and since

(01:02):
then, I have wanted to go,hopefully, I'll have a story or
two to tell you about the tripwhen we get back and I begin
producing new shows for you.Okay, so let's get on with the
show, shall we? Before we read,let's pray. Our Heavenly Father,
we thank you so much for ourtime together today. I pray,
Lord, that You would teach usFather and bless us as we read.

(01:24):
I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.Okay, are you ready? Let's
begin.
Ecclesiastes was written by KingSolomon, the same King Solomon
who wrote the book of Proverbs.and like proverbs. Ecclesiastes
is classified as a book ofpoetry. Sometimes it's called a
book of Wisdom. But you'll veryquickly see that Solomon's

(01:47):
approach is much different here.I don't want to give away too
much right now. But I do want tosay that it's important to stick
with this book right up to theend. Don't be held early and
don't draw conclusions early.This is a book that requires
patience on the part of thereader.
Ecclesiastes, chapter one. Theseare the words from the teacher,

(02:11):
a son of David and King ofJerusalem. Everything is so
meaningless. The teacher saysthat it is all a waste of time.
Do people really gain anythingfrom all the hard work they do
in this life? People live andpeople die, but the earth
continues forever. The sun risesand the sun goes down, and then

(02:32):
it hurries to rise again in thesame place, the wind blows to
the south, and the wind blows tothe north, the wind blows around
and around, then it turns andblows back to the place it
began. All rivers flow again andagain to the same place. They
all flow to the sea, but the seanever becomes full. Words cannot

(02:54):
fully explain things. But peoplecontinue speaking. Words come
again and again to our ears, butour ears don't become full. and
our eyes don't become full ofwhat we see. All things continue
the way they have been since thebeginning. and the same things
will be done that have alwaysbeen done. There is nothing new

(03:14):
in this life. Someone might say,Look, this is new. But the thing
has always been here. It washere before we were people don't
remember what happened long ago.In the future, they will not
remember what is happening now.and later. Other people will not
remember what the people beforethem did. i The teacher was king

(03:36):
over Israel in Jerusalem. Idecided to study and to use my
wisdom to learn about everythingthat is done in this life. I
learned that it is a very hardthing that God has given us to
do. I looked at everything doneon earth, and I saw that it is
all a waste of time. It is liketrying to catch the wind. If

(03:56):
something is crooked, you cannotsay it is straight. and if
something is missing, you cannotsay it is there. I said to
myself, I'm very wise. I'm wiserthan all the kings who ruled
Jerusalem before me. I know whatwisdom and knowledge really are.
I decided to learn how wisdomand knowledge are better than
thinking foolish thoughts. But Ilearned that trying to become

(04:19):
wise is like trying to catch thewind. With much wisdom comes
frustration. and the one whogains more wisdom also gains
more sorrow.
Ecclesiastes chapter two. I saidto myself, I should have fun. I
should enjoy everything as muchas I can. But I learned that

(04:39):
this also was useless. It isfoolish to laugh all the time.
Having fun does not do any good.So I decided to fill my body
with wine while I filled my mindwith wisdom. I tried this
foolishness because I wanted tofind a way to be happy. and I
wanted to see what was good forpeople to do during their few
days of life. Then I began doinggreat things. I built houses and

(05:03):
I planted vineyard for myself. Iplanted gardens and I made
parks. I planted all kinds offruit trees, I made pools of
water for myself, and I use themto water my growing trees. I
bought men and women slaves, andthey were slaves born in my
house, I owned many greatthings. I had herds of cattle

(05:24):
and flocks of sheep, I ownedmore things than any other
person in Jerusalem did. I alsogathered silver and gold for
myself. I took treasures fromkings and their nations, I had
men and women singing for me, Ihad everything any man could
want. I became very rich andfamous. I was greater than

(05:46):
anyone who lived in Jerusalembefore me. My wisdom was always
there to help me. Anything myeyes saw and wanted by God for
myself, my mind was pleased witheverything I did. and this
happiness was the reward for allmy hard work. But then I looked
at everything I had done and thewealth I had gained. I decided

(06:08):
it was all a waste of time, itwas like trying to catch the
wind. and there is nothing togain from anything we do in this
life. Then I decided to thinkabout what it means to be wise
or to be foolish, or to do crazythings. and I thought about the
one who will be the next king,the new king will do the same as
the Kings before him. and I sawthat wisdom is better than

(06:32):
foolishness. In the same waythat light is better than
darkness. Wise people use theirminds like eyes to see where
they're going. But for fools itis if they were walking in the
dark. I also saw that fools andwise people both end the same
way. I thought to myself, thesame thing that happens to a

(06:53):
fool will also happen to me. Sowhy have I tried so hard to
become wise, I said to myself,being wise is also useless.
Whether people are wise orfoolish, they will still die,
and no one will remember eitherone of them forever. In the
future, people will forgeteverything both of them did. So

(07:15):
the two really are the same.This made me hate life. It was
depressing to think thateverything in this life is
useless. Like trying to catchthe wind. I began to hate all
the hard work I had done,because I saw that the people
who live after me would get thethings that I worked for, I will
not be able to take them withme. Some other person will

(07:38):
control everything I worked andstudied for. and I don't know if
that person will be wise orfoolish. This is also senseless.
So I became sad about all thework I had done. People can work
hard using all their wisdom andknowledge and skill, but they
will die and other people willget the things they worked for.

(07:59):
They did not do the work butthey will get everything that
makes me very sad. It is alsonot fair. It is senseless. What
do people really have after alltheir work and struggling in
this life. throughout theirlife, they have pain,
frustrations, and hard work.Even at night, a person's mind

(08:19):
does not rest. This also issenseless. There is no one who
has tried to enjoy life morethan I have. and this is what I
learned. The best thing peoplecan do is eat, drink and enjoy
the work they must do. I alsosaw that this comes from God. If
people do good and please God,he will give them wisdom,

(08:42):
knowledge and joy. But those whosin will only get the work of
gathering and caring things Godtakes from the bad person and
gives to the good person. Butall this work is useless. It is
like trying to catch the wind.
Well after reading the first fewchapters, what do you think

(09:02):
Solomon sounds pretty jaded andworld weary? Doesn't he almost
makes you want to just give upright? Well, no bail on him just
yet. There's a reason thatEcclesiastes is in the Bible.
But it takes a little while todiscover what that reason is.
It's not a long book, there'sonly 12 chapters. Now for those
that don't know Solomon was theson of King David. That's the

(09:24):
David of the David and Goliathstory. and after David slew
Goliath, he grew up to becomeking of Israel. Solomon, the
author of Ecclesiastes becameking after David died in his old
age. Now, when Solomon becameking, he asked God not for
military might or great wealth,but wisdom in order to rule

(09:44):
Israel well, and God was sopleased with this prayer that he
not only made Solomon, thewisest man that had ever lived,
but also the richest with everyother gift that could be
desired. Now, as he writes thisbook, he's well along in years,
and he's seen it all. And withall of his wisdom and all of his
wealth and possession, he'sfound that life is empty. money,

(10:06):
fame and power have not broughthim happiness, beautiful homes,
good wine, the ability to haveanything that his heart desired,
have only made him angry andsad. The thought of working his
entire life to achieve thesethings, only to have to leave it
all behind for someone else whodidn't work for them. Well,
that's almost more than he canbear. and so he sums it up by

(10:28):
saying that it's all useless ormeaningless. Something tells me
that Solomon would probably notbe invited as a keynote speaker
to many places. Well, as I said,Hang around to see how this
progresses. and please don't letSolomon depress you. God is
still on the throne. He stillloves you in Jesus is still the
savior of men's and women'ssouls. Do you have a comment or

(10:54):
a question? While I'm onvacation, I won't be checking my
email. I'm going to be asunplugged as I can be. But don't
let that keep you fromcommenting. When I get back,
we'll get all caught up. So sendthose Boostagram 's and comments
in via the links I'll tell youabout at the end of the show.
Tomorrow will be prophecyFriday, and we'll read the book
of Habakkuk three chapters.

(11:19):
James in Norway is our associateproducer today he said in his
monthly $20 donation. Thank you,James. God bless you. Hey, did
you ever notice that bills comein no matter what's going on in
life? Yeah, so even on vacation,I still need your support.
Beloved, if you are receivingsomething of value from the
show, please return some value,time, talent or treasure. Here's

(11:42):
where you can find out more.Please pray about it.

Jingle (11:46):
Lifespringmedia.com/support

Steve Webb (11:48):
I'll thank you and I believe that God will bless you.
Well, here's how you can reachme. Besides sending a Boostagram
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Hotline at plus 1-951-732-8511Or if you have a comment or a
question, go tocomment.lifespringmedia.com or

(12:11):
if you have a praise report or aprayer request, go to
prayer.lifespringmedia.com andlastly, my email address is
Steve at Lifespringmedia.com dotcom
once again brother Scott didtoday's album art. Thank you

(12:33):
again brother Scott. Thanks alsoto Sister Denise Michael Haner,
Jason Paschall and sisterBrittaney for their donations of
time and talent. Thanks forhanging out with me today.
You're gonna miss me when I'mgone. Now. I'll be right in your
ears like always, until tomorrowuntil we meet again. May God
bless you richly. My name isSteve Webb, by

James Cooper (12:59):
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