After finishing Daniel, next on my alphabetical list of Bible books was Deuteronomy (see my post from January 12). But I read that back in January, so I was on to Ecclesiastes. I meant to just read half of it this morning, but I was so enthralled I read all 12 chapters.
A few years ago, we worked through Ecclesiastes in the single adult Sunday School class I was teaching. Most of the people in the class, including myself, were slightly familiar with the book; just enough to have a negative predisposition. After all, the book starts off by declaring, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" (Or "Vanity! Vanity!" in the King James version.)
The text is attributed to "Qohelet" which is translated from the Hebrew as "Teacher." If I remember correctly, qohelet also suggests an assembly or gathering. The Greek word translating the Hebrew is ekklesiastes, meaning, "called out, summoned," or "a gathering, assembly." However, traditionally, the book has been attributed to King Solomon, famous for his wealth and his wisdom. Whether he actually wrote it or not (and it may have been written quite a bit later than the 10th century B.C.), it sounds like it could have been.
There's little doubt that the book was written by a world-class curmudgeon. He talks about all his wealth and power, and how he used his legendary wisdom to try to understand the Meaning of Life. That's kind of the gist of the book, but there are a lot of interesting sections.
Most people of my generation are very familiar with the passage in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 that was made into a famous song, "Turn! Turn! Turn!" or "To Everything There Is a Season" written by Pete Seeger and recorded by The Byrds. That passage (and song) captures a good part of the message of Ecclesiastes: Life continues, good and bad, up and down, generation after generation. The final line of the song is "A time for peace;I swear it's not too late." The "I swear it's not too late" phrase isn't in the biblical text, but in my opinion, Solomon would approve. Even though the book has a sense of inevitability, Qohelet charges people to make the most of what they have, including the opportunities that come along.
A lot of the observations in Ecclesiastes could come out of the world today. Rich people who are not satisfied with what they have. Kings and rulers who struggle to hold on to their power. Oppression and injustice in the marketplace and the judicial courts.
There is a sweet part, 4:7-12, that discusses how much better life is with a close companion, whether it's a brother, a son, or a friend (or a spouse).
Much of the wisdom in Ecclesiastes sounds like Proverbs. Much is highly practical: "Do not pay attention to every word people say or you may hear your servant cursing you--for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others" (7:21-22). "Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say" (10:20) "As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor" (10:1).
Yes, a lot of Ecclesiastes is pessimistic and bleak; kind of along the lines of "Life is short, and then you die." (Isn't there a version of that saying that's a little earthier? That, too, would be an apt interpretation of Ecclesiastes.)
Still, for me, the take-away message is this: Everyone has good things and tragic things happen, and everyone has his or her allotment of work and of food or other resources. Enjoyment and contentment are more a matter of attitude. See 5:18-20; the center of the text.
Moreover, "A man can do nother better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness..." (2:24-26a) And who pleases God? I think it's the person who reaches out and accepts God, who has (as we Evangelicals say) a personal relationship with God.
I believe it is God who gives meaning to our life; and the meaning leads to the contentment and enjoyment. Otherwise, (2:26b-27) "...but to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."
The other final message of Ecclesiastes is in the last couple of verses: "Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (12:13-14).
Ecclesiastes is a great book. Go, now, pick up your Bible and read it!
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