Ecclesiastes: Intro
Come and learn from me seems to be how the preacher calls us.
In the original Hebrew, the preacher is known as Koheleth, which means one who addresses a congregation. The Greeks translated the Hebrew word into Ecclesiastes.
Both are not names, but are rather titles. They speak of the task he performed which is a role he plays.
Individuals for many centuries have answered his calling and sat at his feet to listen, ponder, argue, and learn. There is nothing trivial in the themes he discusses. They are time, meaning, work, profit, piety, death, joy, grace, freedom, and vanity (mystery).
Altogether these make an incredible scriptural learning experience.
Ecclesiastes is a briefer view of wisdom when compared to the heavier and longer wisdom books of Proverbs and Job but this sharp and shorter book has captured the attention of many generations of those who have wanted to learn life clearly and live it wisely.
We must understand that while it has long been accepted that Solomon wrote the book, as the preacher is described as “son of David” and “king of Jerusalem” the name of Solomon is never mentioned.
The book is at times a baffling chest of puzzles which seems to become more complex each time we open the chest. It is a part of God's Word to us, and we know all scripture is given of inspiration so while at times the book seems to imply God is distant, we must rest assured that He is not absent.
One of the most profound questions asked by the preacher is whether or not life has meaning. We all know the death rate in modern days is 100% and the preacher insists we recognize that fact. We see quickly in this wisdom book that the times and seasons of life are only held in God's hands (chapter 3). God commands prayer, sacrifice, and faithfulness (chapter 5). He insists we obey, fear, and always remember Him as we rejoice in His gifts (chapter 12). But through all this wisdom there remains the question of our own limitations and frustrations as to the vast gap between God's knowledge and power and our ignorance and weakness.
It is this forever strain between the two themes of vanity (mystery) and joy that sets the rhythm of the book for our study. There is a mystery in how life works within the Lord's plan and there comes joy when we finally accept that God's cloudiness of His sovereign will contains a silver lining of grace.
There are several lessons waiting for us in our study of this wisdom book:
A sinful life is a negative life. An obedient life is a positive life. Solomon did not know a fraction of the life trials of Paul but Paul was positive and Solomon negative.
Getting all you desire is not the best path to happiness. Happiness also includes self-denial and self-control.
Giving higher wisdom is not necessarily the best way to achieve God's goal. On the spiritual level God allowed great wisdom to Satan and on the human level God allowed great wisdom to Solomon. Satan led a rebellion of God's holy angels and Solomon may have been the worst idol worshipper ever seen on the throne of the Lord's chosen people.
Without faithful obedience great wisdom is useless. It becomes corrupted.
Compromise of worship of the true living God pollutes that holy effort.
This book gives us the opportunity to compare God's wisdom and perspective with the best the world can bring.
There is a strong lesson in the book that we should remember that when we are dealing with a person who seems to have much wisdom, it is not necessary that this one is practicing that wisdom in life. Which has more true value in life, words or actions?
For historical context, we should remember that Solomon lived and ruled between
900-1000 years before Jesus ministered on the earth. His father, David, had united all tribes and the two nations of Israel and Judah under one crown. But even in these most ancient days, we can see the basic human characteristics are unchanged from that time to our time.
There is still a human yearning to know and understand. Man seems never satisfied.
There remains the same moral values of life and they are aspects of eternity given to our souls by our creator.
Our nature is fallen. We remain in rebellion to our Lord.
As wise as we think we are, we remain ultimately accountable to God for how we have used the gift of life he has so kindly granted.
Let's study deeply together these truths and see how we may apply them to our own lives as we ourselves seek wisdom and His will.