Wow. We start the year studying the book of Ecclesiastes, which is 66th on my list of well-understood Canonical books. I know I've read it in the past, but the only portions of Ecclesiastes that register with me are the ones that we dip into with some regularity -- "The dead know nothing" (9:5), and "Cast your bread on the waters" (11:1). [As an aside, I noticed this week on rereading Ecclesiastes that both of these textbytes are typically quoted out of context.] And, of course, we are familiar with Chapters 3 and 12; the first (Ch 3) because its statements appeal to nihilistic, cycle-of-life rockers, and the second (Ch 12) because it appeals to preachers.
But what about the rest of it?
It reads like the pre-Prozac ravings of a sophisticate. It is certainly difficult to interpret as a serious theological or practical guide to life. For example, consider 9:1,2
I ... concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hands,
but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him.
All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked,
the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean,
those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.
As it is with the good man,
so with the sinner.
Or, consider 7:28.
I found one upright man among a thousand,
but not one upright woman among them all.
What are we going to make of this book? I guess we will find out.
But, in the meantime, can I offer the following two suggestions.
First, this book validates a human experience -- that of an intelligent seeker who stops to consider the meaning of life. If your life's search for meaning, wisdom and integrity has left you jaded, you are not alone. And God understands, in that He guided Ecclesiastes' inclusion into the Bible.
Second, knowing what doesn't provide happiness is very helpful. Consider the research process for a moment. Researchers publish studies that fail to support an hypothesis. Why? Because it tells other researchers not to bother going down that research path and to look in other more fruitful directions. Now, assume that our research objective is "the pursuit of happiness", since we currently have "life" and "liberty" fairly well in hand. Solomon has already done a bit of experimentation, and he reports back to us that the following don't result in happiness:
* Knowledge / wisdom
* Real estate development (esp. houses and vineyards)
* Pleasure-seeking
* Hard work / career advancement
* Riches
* Food and wine
* Research and writing
I dare say that some of us have tried a few of the above. This quarter we can share some of our experiences with replicating Solomon's experiments. However, I suspect that the men in our group will have to take his word about the 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11).
This study starts with context. We can't understand the book without understanding the author. Until recently I had a 'bedtime story' view of Solomon. Great guy, wisest man who ever lived. Well, that's just wrong. He lost the plot. He lost the kingdom and sowed the seeds of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, although for the sake of Solomon's father, David, God held off the natural consequences of Solomon's actions until after his death (1 Kings 11:34,35).
So, set aside any preconceptions you might have had about Solomon, and dive into this study as the first step to understanding one of the least understood books of the Bible.
But what about the rest of it?
It reads like the pre-Prozac ravings of a sophisticate. It is certainly difficult to interpret as a serious theological or practical guide to life. For example, consider 9:1,2
I ... concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God's hands,
but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him.
All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked,
the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean,
those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.
As it is with the good man,
so with the sinner.
Or, consider 7:28.
I found one upright man among a thousand,
but not one upright woman among them all.
What are we going to make of this book? I guess we will find out.
But, in the meantime, can I offer the following two suggestions.
First, this book validates a human experience -- that of an intelligent seeker who stops to consider the meaning of life. If your life's search for meaning, wisdom and integrity has left you jaded, you are not alone. And God understands, in that He guided Ecclesiastes' inclusion into the Bible.
Second, knowing what doesn't provide happiness is very helpful. Consider the research process for a moment. Researchers publish studies that fail to support an hypothesis. Why? Because it tells other researchers not to bother going down that research path and to look in other more fruitful directions. Now, assume that our research objective is "the pursuit of happiness", since we currently have "life" and "liberty" fairly well in hand. Solomon has already done a bit of experimentation, and he reports back to us that the following don't result in happiness:
* Knowledge / wisdom
* Real estate development (esp. houses and vineyards)
* Pleasure-seeking
* Hard work / career advancement
* Riches
* Food and wine
* Research and writing
I dare say that some of us have tried a few of the above. This quarter we can share some of our experiences with replicating Solomon's experiments. However, I suspect that the men in our group will have to take his word about the 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11).
This study starts with context. We can't understand the book without understanding the author. Until recently I had a 'bedtime story' view of Solomon. Great guy, wisest man who ever lived. Well, that's just wrong. He lost the plot. He lost the kingdom and sowed the seeds of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, although for the sake of Solomon's father, David, God held off the natural consequences of Solomon's actions until after his death (1 Kings 11:34,35).
So, set aside any preconceptions you might have had about Solomon, and dive into this study as the first step to understanding one of the least understood books of the Bible.
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