Welcome back to Bible Gateway’s weekly Look at the Book series of short blog posts and infographics introducing you to the books of the Bible. The second of Solomon’s trilogy of wisdom books, Ecclesiastes shows a seasoned philosopher taking a hard look at the patterns of life.
Scroll to the bottom if you’d prefer to see (and save) this article as an infographic. You’ll also find a handy 30-day reading guide. Or, for a challenge, you can do it in one week using the 7-day reading guide below.
Summary
Represents the painful autobiography of Solomon who, for much of his life, squandered God’s blessings on his own personal pleasure rather than God’s glory. He wrote to warn subsequent generations not to make the same tragic error.
- Category: Wisdom
- Theme: Meaning
- Timeline: Around 931 BC
- Written: Traditionally attributed to Solomon
Key Verse
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” — Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NIV)
This Too Is Vanity
The Hebrew word translated “vanity” expresses the futile attempt to be satisfied apart from God. Solomon’s experience with the effects of the curse led him to view life as “chasing after the wind.”
“Vanity” is used 38 times expressing the many things hard to understand about life.
7 Day Reading Guide
(See 30-day guide below.)
- Day 1: Ecclesiastes 1-3
- Day 2: Ecclesiastes 4-6
- Day 3: Ecclesiastes 7-9
- Day 4: Ecclesiastes 10-12
- Day 5: Song of Songs 1-3
- Day 6: Song of Songs 4-6
- Day 7: Song of Songs 7-8
Eyes on the Prize
In light of this judgment by God, the only fulfilled life is one lived in proper recognition of God and service to Him. Any other kind of life is frustrating and pointless.
Access the rest of the series. Browse Bible studies for each book of the Bible. Or right-click on the infographic below to download and save the image for your reference.
![Infographic depicting major themes and content from Ecclesiastes](https://i0.wp.com/staticblog.bgcdn.com/learn/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/06145437/Look-at-the-Book-Ecclesiastes.jpg?fit=800%2C2000&ssl=1)
Chris Fann is the Senior Digital Marketing Manager for Harper Christian Resources. He loves the smell ofa baseball glove, coffee, and old books. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife, 2 teenage boys, and their dog, Freya.