Ecclesiastes 1
The writer of this book is Solomon 1,12. He alone (of all the kings of Israel, who reigned from Jerusalem) could have undertaken the various tasks and doings in his search for meaning 'under the sun' (3b). He has the time, money, resources, and wisdom do try all these things to the 'utter most' (lest someone after him say 'well, you just did not have enough money or work projects, or women, or entertainment, ect...) In his quest for meaning 'under the sun' (that is from a human, earthly perspective, without God) he states his conclusion at the outset and repeats it 37 times in the book 'meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless' 2,(key verse) 4, 2:1,11. The endless cycle of life and in nature was wearisome 3-11. There really is nothing new 'under the sun' 9. Lack of knowledge was not the problem 12-18. Note: Have you noticed that for as much as we think we know, we really know very little ? More knowledge and know how does not satisfy. In fact, sometimes knowing, brings with it grief 18 !

Ecclesiastes 2
Solomon next tried pleasure 10; in entertainment 1-2, drinking 3, work projects 4-6, materialism and wealth 7-8a, women 8b, achievements 9, and hard work 10b. What was his conclusion ? The same for each one 'meaningless'. Nothing really gained 11. He tried prove that wisdom had advantages, yet both the wise and the fool die 12-16. All his hard work and toil would not last, because he will one day die. Who would get what he gained ? 17-22. This troubled his mind 23.
God is made reference to in 24-26. Note: The various references to God through out the book are not from the standpoint of one who is living for the Lord. It is more of the general sense of God, much like the unbeliever would say 'God has been good to me', yet that person does not know the Lord. I suggest this interpretation since Solomon is trying to find meaning in life that is 'under the sun' or purely an earthly existence. Also, it could be that life is so meaningless without any references to God that even Solomon (in this quest) can not bring himself to totally remove God from the picture ? From a positive note; only God can give meaning and value to the activities of life; even in eating and drinking 24-26,2:12-13. (see: 1 Corinthians 10:31)

Ecclesiastes 3
There is a time for everything 1-8. Note: In what season, do you find yourself ? God sets eternity in the hearts of all, that we might seek Him 11. What God does endures and lasts 14, He also judges the works of men 15,17, even though on earth, justice is perverted 16. Death awaits all, alike; without partiality 18-22. There is uncertainty in death (apart from the Lord) 21. Note: Isn't this an encouraging thought (sarcasm intended). What hope does one have without a saving relationship to the Lord ? Answer, none.

Ecclesiastes 4
Another troublesome reality (under the sun) is the oppression of the poor by the powerful 1-3. Why can't we 'all just get along' ? The motivation of many is to be better, or have more that your neighbor 4-6. The original concept of 'keeping up with the Jones'.  A person who is alone and works to achieve and have much is also meaningless 7-8. Two are better than one 9-11, a cord of three is not quickly broken 12. Note: This has been applied to the marriage bond. The third cord can refer to Christ, who is interwoven into the lives of two believers who are married ! Youth has some advantages, if one is wise 13-15, yet leaders come and go and not everyone is pleased with a successor 16. This too is meaningless 16. Note: It's as if to say 'so what' or ' who cares' !

Ecclesiastes 5
Solomon takes a moment to reflect on the Lord and warns us against failing to fulfill vows that we have made to Him 1-7. It is meaningless for a person to promise much to the Lord and then never come through or make it good. Note: How many have say 'I promise to or I will; so help me God' only to fail. This, Solomon sees is meaningless ! (not to mention that God takes note of our words and hold us accountable). Attention turns to riches and corruption that loving money brings 8-10. A craving and pursuit of getting 'stuff' is utter vanity since we take nothing out of this world with us 12-15, and what is left behind can no longer be enjoyed 16-17. Solomon also indicated that wealth is a blessing that comes from God and is to be enjoyed 18-20. However, it can be a snare if one never truly reflects on the meaning of life and comes to seek after God 20.

Ecclesiastes 6
It is meaningless when one has much, but can not enjoy it 1-6. Solomon does not elaborate here why one can not enjoy what he has. When this does happen, it is a 'shame' from a purely humanistic point of view. Note: Jesus said, 'what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul' (Mark 8:36). How many have we seen that 'have it all' (in a material sense) yet are the most miserable of people ? A person's appetite is what drives one to have, but this is also meaningless 7-11. Who knows what is good for us in the here and  now and what about the after life ? 12. Note: An earthly and humanistic world view has no answers to this.

Ecclesiastes 7
Wisdom has its advantages and teaches us to ponder deeply the meaning and purposes of life 1-5. Being a fool has no advantage; (ignorance is not bliss) 6-10. Wisdom considers God and makes Him part of the equation 11-14. Yet, all die so don't follow any extremes 15-19. Don't look for righteousness among mankind, because you will not find it 20,29. Even with the advantages of wisdom, one can not find it one his own 23-25. Misery comes to a man ensnared by a woman 26. The implication is that she is wicked or evil in her intentions. Note: Why are no women upright in Solomon's quest and search 28 ?

Ecclesiastes 8
Wisdom is still better 1. Doing things the right way has advantages 2-6. Note: Though he says this, the same conclusion is reached, this is meaningless in life apart from a moral foundation in the Lord. We have no control over our lives or over events 7-8. Justice can be corrupted in this life 9-11. But, just because people seem to 'get away with it' 11, one should still seek to fear God and do what is right 12, yet the righteous get punished and the wicked are praised, this is meaningless 13-14. Note: Remember this is life, under the sun, in this fallen, sinful world; from the perspective without God. Solomon could not discover, nor understand the depths of God 15-17. Note: A search for God turns up empty, when one starts with himself and thinks that God is like us (humans). The world and universe are so vast that we can not begin to comprehend it, neither can we fully know or grasp God.

Ecclesiastes 9
Solomon was troubled by that fact that death comes to all 1-3. The living have hope (in a sense of having this life) but the death have nothing 4-6. Note: Solomon is not teaching that death means non-existence, but that from the earthly, human viewpoint (under the sun), death ends it all with no further hope. With that in mind, his exhortations that follow make sense 7-10, which in essence are 'eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you may die' ! (1 Corinthians 15:19,32). Life, from a human perspective seems to be made up of chance 11-12. Note: What a bleak picture of the purpose of life without God. This is the way the majority of humanity lives. Sad, is it not ?

Ecclesiastes 10
This chapter appears to be a series of actions and consequences. The humanistic perspective can observe these yet does not have an answer or explanation as to why this principles work and are so. Many times things are not the way they are 'supposed to be' 5-7, and accidents occur at random 8-11. The wise and foolish are never able to be 'on the same page' 12-15. A noble king is better than a fool for a ruler 17. Those who curse the king may just be found out 20. Note: Why are these things so ? The 'under the sun' crowd says it is all random. The believer says it is so, because of GOD !

Ecclesiastes 11
There are actions and results that God has ordered and ordained, even though we can not understand all this 1-6. Note: I see an aspect of human responsibility built into the world by God. We are not bound by a blind fate which controls us. What we reap, we sow. If one does not sow, he/she will not have crops and thus have no food 4. Yet even in this we are Dependant upon God who causes things to grow 6. This is implied here, and is explicit in verse 5. Note: Even conception of a child is both a human act and a divine one ! (Psalm 139:13-16).  Solomon knew that 'sunny' days are to be enjoyed 7, even though there would be dark days 8. Youth was also to be prized 9 but not to excess, because this too was meaningless 10.

Ecclesiastes 12
Solomon brings his quest to a close and exhorts all who are in their youth to seek the Lord, who is their creator 1. Do this, he says, before old age and the limitations it brings, comes upon you 1. He gives a picturesque portrait of a person in old age in 2-5b. Notice what he says happens as we grow old: the eye sight goes 2, we get bent 3a, teeth are few 3, eyes are dim 3, hearing goes 4, sleeplessness sets in 4, fears grip us 5, hair turns gray 5, strength is gone 5, so is romance 5. Then one faces death 5b and dies 6. The body returns to dust and the soul enters eternity 7. Solomon finds all of this as meaningless 8 ! He turns a corner and draws a conclusion that is something you can 'hang your life and hope on' 9-11, not the many ramblings of men who try to make sense out of life and put it in books 12, but by fearing God and keeping His commandments. For HE will bring everything and everyone into judgment 13-14. Is this not the entire message of the Bible ? God makes Himself known that we might seek Him, know Him, be saved by Him, serve Him, please Him, and enjoy Him forever. If one is to make sense out of life that is lived here (under the sun) one must look above and beyond the sun, to the Lord who gives us life and breathe to His own glory ! Amen.