In Today's Email:
Welcome to the Book of Ecclesiastes!
The Book of Ecclesiastes is got its name from the Septuagint, an early Greek translation of the Old Testament, which translated the opening the word koheleth as ecclesiastes. Both words carry the idea of someone speaking to an assembly and is often translated into English as preacher or teacher. The book was written as Solomon looks back on his life and takes stock of his mistakes. “All is vanity!” is the conclusion he makes about every endeavor he attempted. All his attempts to find peace and happiness brought instead emptiness. He realizes in the end that the only place where true blessing and joy may be found is in serving the Lord. This book is a dark and raw look at humanity, much of which reflects the thinking of a mortal mind.
A few quick facts about Ecclesiastes:
The author is Solomon.
The time of the writing is shortly before his death in 975 B.C.
The key verse is 1:2 – “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”
A brief outline:
Prologue and Solomon’s Search – Chapters 1-2
Solomon’s Discoveries – Chapters 3-4
Solomon’s Conclusions – Chapters 5-6
Solomon’s Advice – Chapters 7-12
Key events:
A season for all things – 3:1-8
Solomon’s verdict – 12:1,13-14
Ecclesiastes 1 Notes
In this chapter Solomon declares his purpose and searches through wisdom.
vs. 1-11 – Solomon examines life through his human eyes and understanding. All is vanity, that is, empty! Life marches on with its unending cycles and nothing new is discovered. It is a depressing outlook that is true without Divine purpose.
vs. 12-18 – Solomon first seeks meaning through wisdom. This, of course, is something that God had supernaturally gifted to him. But in the end, all the knowledge and intelligence brought no relief. There is no peace in the tumultuous sea of human understanding.
Ecclesiastes 2 Notes
In this chapter Solomon searches through self-indulgence
vs. 1-11 – Solomon seeks meaning through the luxuries and comforts of this life. He had everything a person could wish for. He lived in the greatest palace of his day. He had a virtually inexhaustible treasury. He was perhaps the most famous man of his day. What did he gain through this? Nothing.
vs. 12-26 – Solomon tries to make sense of his experiences. Wisdom and folly seemed to have no effect. All the fruits of human labor and the wealth we may store up also had no effect. He begins to conclude that in vs. 24 that life is meaningless without God.
Ecclesiastes 3 Notes
In this chapter Solomon speculates about life and the brief existence of man.
vs. 1-11 – Solomon examines the existence of man. All his existence is seen in cycles and appointed times. Good will come, but so will the bad. God is seen as the author of it all but had also made it impossible for man to find meaning without Him.
vs. 12-15 – Solomon concludes that we might as well make the best of our short existence. It is akin to the concepts of epicureanism or hedonism. This is not a correct conclusion and fails to give meaning to life.
vs. 16-22 – Solomon speculates on the judgment of God. He assumes that God will judge all men, the righteous and the wicked. In his human understanding, he cannot see the supernatural or eternal in these equations. He concludes that God is teaching man that they are no better than animals because they all share the same fate of death. This is similar to fatalism or nihilism. Without divine revelation this is the natural conclusion of human wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 4 Notes
In this chapter Solomon continues his speculations about life and human existence.
vs. 1-3 – Building of the hopeless conclusions he just made in the final verses of Chapter 3, Solomon surveys the injustices of this world and concludes it is better to have not lived than to have experienced them. Again, this akin to fatalism or nihilism.
vs. 4-7 – Solomon surveys the ideas of labor and success. The successful may have more comforts but they also create envy against them. This is contrasted with the lazy fool who starves because he has no food. Solomon suggests a middle road between the two of a modest lifestyle. This is similar to stoicism.
vs. 8-12 – Solomon examines the greedy miser, who accumulates wealth that only benefits himself. What good are the riches if they are not shared with others? Solomon concludes it is better to have family and friends than to be alone with countless possessions.
vs. 13-16 – Solomon now examines the influence of men on each other. Kings are seen as replaceable. You could take a child out of prison, place them on the throne, and the nation would continue, and the people would continue to suffer. No meaning is to be found in these leaders.
Closing Thoughts
You have to keep in mind while reading Ecclesiastes how the conclusions are being made. It is similar to reading the words of Job’s friends in that there can be some truth but overall it is a flawed argument. Solomon is speaking through his human understanding. Much of his conclusions have truth to them, but without the light of God’s revelation he is groping for answers. There are many people today that doing the same thing. They try and fail to make sense out of life, but without God it is impossible.
Hymn for Today
Our hymn today sometimes appears under the heading “Worldly Pleasures Renounced”. It was written by David E. Ford and first published in 1828. It reminds us of the vanities that distract us and exhorts us to focus our eyes heavenward.
Vain are all terrestrial pleasures,
Mixed with dross the purest gold:
Seek we, then, for heavenly treasures,
Treasures never waxing old.
Let our best affections center
On the things around the throne:
There no thief can ever enter;
Moth and rust are there unknown.
Earthly joys no longer please us;
Here would we renounce them all;
Seek our only rest in Jesus,
Him our Lord and Master call.
Faith, our languid spirits cheering,
Points to brighter worlds above;
Bids us look for His appearing;
Bids us triumph in His love.
May our light be always burning,
And our loins be girded round,
Waiting for our Lord’s returning,
Longing for the welcome sound.
Thus the Christian life adorning,
Never need we be afraid,
Should He come at night or morning
Early dawn, or evening shade.