1. Background on Ecclesiaetes
Tradition tells us that this
book was written by Solomon near the end of his reign. Linguistic study has
revealed word choices and literary characteristics which fit Solomon’s era, and
support the traditional view that the writer, who claims to be king in
Jerusalem and the wisest of men, was Solomon himself. In addition, the fact
that in Solomon’s old age had turned aside the worship of false gods of his
foreign wives adds support to this view.
Ecclesiastes is unlike any
other Old Testament book, and has no parallel in other literature of the
biblical world. Ecclesiastes is philosophical discourse. Ecclesiastes makes no
claim to bring man a word from God. Instead the writer specifically states that
he includes only what he can determine by reason. [1]
Different kinds of biblical
literature must be understood within the framework of their purpose and form.
Poetic expression, for instance, should not be taken in the same way as a
carefully reasoned teaching paragraph in a New Testament epistle. In order to
understand any passage of Scripture, it is important to define its purpose and
frame of reference. We need to remember this when we approach the Book of
Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes
is different from any other book of the Bible. While it is included in the
category of “wisdom literature” (with Job and Proverbs), it remains unique.
Wisdom literature is universal in its scope.
Ecclesiastes goes beyond the other wisdom literature to emphasize the
fact that human life and human goals, as ends in themselves and apart from God,
are futile and meaningless.
Key
phrases. There are three key phrases
which help us understand the Book of Ecclesiastes.
(1)
Twenty-nine times the writer used the phrase “under the sun” to define the
limits he chose for his search. Only data which the senses can test and probe
would be considered.
(2)
The second key phrase appears seven times and reflects the same limitation.
Solomon said that, “I thought in my heart” or “thought to myself” in reaching
his conclusions. His methodology was empirical, but all the data he gathered
was evaluated by the standard of his own intelligence. In this book Solomon
recognized no higher wisdom than his own; he never looked beyond the
conclusions unaided intelligence can draw.
(3)
The third key word appears 34 times! It is “meaningless,” a term translated in
other versions as “vanity” or “emptiness.” Solomon’s determined effort to make
sense of human life led him to the same tragic conclusion of many modern
philosophers. Life is absurd. There is no meaning or purpose in human
experience. There may be fleeting joys. But ultimately, life is meaningless. [2]
2. Life is Meaningless
Eccl 1:2-4; “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the
Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” 3What
does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? 4Generations
come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. [3]
The fact is we are hear today and gone tomorrow. If there is no God and we do not know God,
then life would be meaningless. Our time
would come and go and in the world it would not matter. But with God we have hope.
3. Wisdom is
Meaningless
Eccl 1:16-17; I thought to myself, “Look, I have grown
and increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before
me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 Then I
applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly,
but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. [4]
You can gain great wisdom and knowledge, but those who
do not know God are just chasing their “tails.”
4. Pleasure is
Meaningless
Eccl 2:1-2; I thought in my heart, “Come now, I will
test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be
meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is foolish. And what does
pleasure accomplish?” [5]
You can be happy one moment, but a tragedy the next
will take it all away. God give us the
right to pursue happiness, but we will not know true happiness until we come to
heaven.
5. Work is
Meaningless
Eccl 2:17-18; So I hated life, because the work that
is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing
after the wind. 18 I hated all the things I had toiled for under the
sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me.[6]
If
you are just working because you have to work, then it is meaningless.
6. Advancement are Meaningless
Eccl
4:13-16; Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no
longer knows how to take warning. 14 The youth may have come from
prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.
15 I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the
youth, the king’s successor. 16 There was no end to all the people
who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the
successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. [7]
These
verses are somewhat confusing, but the overall meaning is that if your life is
about advancement, achievement, and honor in the eyes of people it is
meaningless. People are fickle. One day they will love you the next you will
be thrown away.
7. Riches are Meaningless
Eccl. 5:10; Whoever loves money never has money
enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is
meaningless. [8]
If your goal in life is to gain riches and money then
you will never have enough. Only the
treasure you store in heaven will matter in the end.
8. Solomon here was looking for meaning within
time—in fact, within the span of a man’s lifetime on this earth. Using the
intelligence Solomon had been given by God, he extended his great powers to the
limit. But no matter how hard Solomon searched, he could find no satisfying
purpose for life—within the limits he had set.
Which is a purpose for life without God. Within these limits, life does
become absurd and meaningless, and no one has any prospect of personal
fulfillment.
But
God looks beyond the brief years we live on earth, and reveals our true
destiny. We were created in His image. Each of us has a future that extends
beyond the limits of time itself. We will exist forever—with God, or separated
from Him depending on how we choose.
Each of our lives have tremendous meaning. [9]
Rick
Warren’s book “The Purpose-Driven Life” basically sums up the fact that we were
created for God and our purpose is to please God. We are so special, because God made us for
himself. And that makes life meaningful.
[1] Richards, Larry ; Richards,
Lawrence O.: The Teacher's Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1987, S.
349
[2] Richards, Larry ; Richards,
Lawrence O.: The Teacher's Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1987, S.
350
[3] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed.
Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ec 1:2-4
[4] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed.
Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ec 1:16-17
[5] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand
Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ec 2:1-2
[6] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed.
Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ec 2:17-18
[7] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed.
Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ec 4:13-16
[8] The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed.
Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ec 5:10
[9] Richards, Larry ; Richards,
Lawrence O.: The Teacher's Commentary. Wheaton, Ill. : Victor Books, 1987, S.
351
