The Fellowship Residency Program has introduced me to the idea of reading commentaries alongside scripture. By next August, I will have read through the entire Bible as well as The King in His Beauty, our selected commentary. As I am reading, I am writing a little bit about each of the books of the Bible so you and I can have a more thorough understanding of the scriptures. I invite you to follow along with me as we learn the Bible in its entirety from Genesis to Revelation. This summary does NOT encompass the entire book, but it is a good place to start. I encourage you to read for yourself and begin your own Biblical journal along the way. To read any of my other Residency related posts, click here.
Introduction – Many consider Ecclesiastes to be the “black sheep” of the canon that doesn’t fit with the hope that is present in other books of the Old Testament. Though it tends to focus on the anomalies of life and reflect on the irrationality of life, it is also in alignment with the rest of the wisdom literature. It focuses on understanding the mystery and injustice involved with human life with regards to wisdom. However, the book is best understood by its conclusion. Ultimately, our duty as man is to fear God. In the end, He will offer judgment according to the deed whether is it good or evil. The primary theme is not that life is ridiculous and meaningless, but that reverence for God is our primary responsibility. Additionally, our obedience towards God’s commands is important and matters greatly. Like the rest of the wisdom literature, Ecclesiastes describes life under Yahweh’s rule and portrays God as being intimately involved in all things. The book is described as coming from “the Preacher” who is believed to be Solomon. Solomon’s words of truth, wisdom, and knowledge are essential to the canon of scripture and understanding what it truly means to fear the Lord.
The Futility of Life under the Sun – One of the major themes is the vanity and futility of human life. Vanity, which is mentioned 37 times and both opens and closes the book, signifies the meaninglessness of our existence. The phrase “under the sun” is used 29 times in the book and signifies the fleeting life on earth. This phrase is a limited perspective that only looks at life from an earthly point of view. A major point of discussion is that human labor in itself is useless since the structures and cycles of our world primarily remain unchanged. Ecclesiastes argues that even human skill is built from envious desire for the approval of others. The concept of vanity is also discussed as seeking and engaging in pleasurable activities as a way to escape the meaningless of life. “The Preacher,” Solomon, is a good example of this. He was able to testify that after seeking and pursuing all of the pleasures of his heart, it did not remove the weariness of life. If pleasure is not the answer, then perhaps wisdom, as the ability to walk through life with discernment and understanding, is the way to go. However, even the wise will experience the emptiness associated with life under the sun. They are simply better able to see the grief and frustration that is prevalent in the world.
Another major discussion of Ecclesiastes is the irrationality of the fleeting life. Solomon laments the injustice that is seen in this life. He even remarks that it is better to be dead than alive since life is so unfair and unpredictable. He reminds us that no one know when tragedy and celebration will hit. Therefore, we do not manage our own life rather our life manages us. We are to respond as life comes remembering that no one is able to undo what God has set in motion. The Preacher discusses the lack of correlation between wealth and the “promised” happiness. Throughout the book, it can almost sound as if Solomon believes death is always better than life. However, the book is proverbial and readers should be cautious to overextend its meaning. Conversely, Solomon recognizes the preciousness, wonder, and beauty that is life and also captures the reality of death and futility of this life.
Fearing God – As previously mentioned, the theme of life as “puzzling, perplexing, unpredictable, unjust, and maddening” is prevalent throughout the entire book. However, even with a futile life, we must continue to fear God for his ability to assess the lives of all. It is spoken that our fear of the Lord will be rewarded, though we may not understand that reward during our time on Earth. God will humble us and encourage us to be wise in our fear of Him. The book even recognizes that “the spirit of human beings will ‘[return] to God who gave it’ (12:7), and that a day of judgment is coming in which God will judge people for their actions (11:9).”
Enjoying Life – Finally, there is a prevalent theme calling us to find pleasures in the complexity of this life. God designed this life such that we would see His beauty and glory in it. However, this life is impossible for humans to comprehend. Rather than attempting to figure out the why’s of life, we should humbly admit we are in God’s hand and seek to enjoy righteous pleasure in God’s gifts. We should respond to the pleasure with gratitude and joy. God is sovereignly over both the good and the bad times. Fear of the Lord is evident in “recognizing that God’s favor cannot be controlled by anything we humans do.”
Conclusion – Ecclesiastes focuses on the irrationality and vanity of life. It reminds us that there is no pleasure under the sun that will fully satisfy us and no wisdom that will unveil all of the knowledge of God. We are called to fear God and keep his commands. When he does gift us pleasure, we are to respond in joyful thanksgiving. Canonically, the NT will recognize the fallen world and usher in Jesus to inaugurate the kingdom and promise an eternity with Him.
Themes: Reverence for God is our primary duty. Our obedience will make a difference in God’s judgment. God is intentionally involved in all aspects of our lives. Life under the sun is irrational and futile. God desires us to find enjoyment in the righteous living.