Ecclesiastes An Introduction and Overview
Authorship The book begins with the statement, “The words of the Preacher” (1:1). The Hebrew term translated “preacher” is “Qohelet” or “Koheleth” (Ko-hay-leth). This is the title of the book in Hebrew. The term comes from a Hebrew root word which means “to call, to assemble, esp., assemblies for religious and solemn purposes. Hence, the “preacher” is a speaker in assemblies 1. The Greek translation of the Old Testament selected the Greek term “Ecclesiastes” (a member of an assembly). Instead of being a personal name--Koleleth from passages such as 12:9 appears to be a descriptive title, that is, the author of this book regularly addressed and taught the people. The English word “preacher” therefore is a very good translation, for a preacher is one who typically addresses an assembly which has gathered for spiritual and solemn purposes. “The Greek term ecclesiastes is a good translation of this term, for it too means preacher and is derived from ekklesia, meaning assembly” 2. Therefore, the book can be dated around 985 B.C., probably near the end of Solomon’s life. For the book describes much of his life experience (2:1-11). Is Solomon the Writer that God Used? Up until about the 16th century A.D., all Jewish and “Christian” writers agreed that Solomon was the human instrument which God had used to write this book. The first individual to argue otherwise was Martin Luther. The internal evidence fits Solomon. Beyond being a king in Jerusalem and a son of David (1:1,12). The writer claims to have possessed wealth and wisdom far beyond all the kings 1 Theological Wordbook Of The Old Testament, Harris, Archer, Waltke, p. 790 2 A Survey Of Old Testament Introduction, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., p. 475 1
before him, “Behold, I have magnified and increased in wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me” (1:16). This definitely applied to Solomon (1 Kings 3:12; 4:30-31,34; 10:23-24; 11:41). The extensive and elaborate experiments, building projects and lifestyle described in the second chapter fits Solomon better than any other king in Israel’s history (2:4,8,9). Again, the claim is made by this author that what he possessed had exceeded the wealth of all other kings before him. “And the king made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem” (1 Kings 10:27). The book of 1 Kings describes the wealth of Solomon. He spent 13 years in building his own royal residence (1 Kings 7:1). The Queen of Sheba was amazed at the splendor of Solomon’s administration (1 Kings 10:7 “You exceed in wisdom and prosperity the report which I heard”). A good description of Solomon’s wealth is found in 1 Kings 10:14-29. In addition, this book also notes that “the preacher”, “In addition to being a wise man…also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out and arranged many proverbs” (12:9). This also fits Solomon better than any other king in Israel’s history (1 Kings 4:32; Proverbs 1:1). The Purpose of the Letter “The preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly” (12:10). As noted above, the period of Solomon’s reign brought unprecedented wealth and fame to the nation of Israel. Not only did Solomon increase in wealth, but the entire nation shared in this prosperity. Yet the danger of prosperity is that such can tempt us to believe that material things, goals or good times can provide lasting meaning to our lives (Luke 8:14 “they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life”). It is easy for even the most religious people to become very secular oriented when prosperity hits. All Is Vanity This is the major theme of the book. While ancient writers did not question the authorship of the book, they did question its inspired status. Many have thought that the writer was teaching pessimism, fatalism, or a similar view of eat and drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. Yet Solomon doesn’t argue that everything is vanity. For example, serving God is not a futile task (12:13-14). Rather, he qualifies the realm of futility by the expression, “under the sun” (1:2-3).
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“This is not a statement of despair, but rather one which simply states the truth concerning the nature of this world and all earthly things. The basic theme….is the ultimate futility of a life based upon earthly ambitions and desires. Any world view which does not rise above the horizon of man himself is doomed to meaninglessness and frustration” 3 The phrase “under the sun” is a way of describing the secular world. Solomon says, “Rule out God and all spiritual values and what do you have? Vanity!” Draw a horizontal line between earthly things and spiritual things and leave out all consideration for what is above that line, and I guarantee you will hit the wall of futility, frustration and meaninglessness. Who Better Qualified? At times people in the world scoff at the claims of the Christian. Especially when the Christian says, “Things can’t bring you happiness or money can’t solve all your problems”. The world often responds back, “You’re just jealous”, “you have sour grapes” or, “enough things would make a person happy”. Derek Kidner writes, “One of the most fascinating passages in the book is a tour of exploration into the rewards and satisfactions of experience (1:16-2:26). Solomon, that most brilliant and least limited of men, to set out on the search. With every gift and power at our command, it would be strange if we should come back empty-handed. We start with wisdom—the most promising of pursuits. But in a disordered world ‘he who increases knowledge increases sorrow’ (1:18)…And in the last analysis, whatever else wisdom can do for one, it can do nothing about the end of life. In that crisis the wise man is as naked as the fool (2:15-17)…So we swing to ‘madness and folly’ (1:17; 2:3b)---and this has a modern ring, chiming in with some of our attempts to by-pass the rational by exploring the absurd and the world of hallucinations. Pleasure, of course, it yet another realm: a many-sided one with its appeal to sensual appetites at one end of the scale (2:3,8) and the aesthetic joys of the connoisseur and the creative worker at the other. Even the best of these pursuits, though, will satisfy us only in passing….On top of all this, as if death and evil were not enough, there is the smaller but equally unmanageable factor of ‘time and chance’ to reckon with (9:11). The well-organized man may bask in self-sufficiency…..It is self-deception. Even the most limited and predictable prizes in life---let alone the quest for something ultimate---can go astray, and a man be left with nothing” 4 3 Zondervan Pictorial Ency., p. 187 4 The Message of Ecclesiastes, pp. 17-18 3
If any man could have found meaning and purpose in material and earthly pursuits, goals and pleasures it would have been Solomon. Solomon had at his disposal the resources of an entire nation—and yet came back empty handed. So much for the argument that wealth will bring happiness—if you have enough of it (5:10). In addition, Solomon far from being a spend-thrift or a spoiled rich kid, was attempting to find happiness in material things—by using his wisdom. So much for the argument that happiness can be found in the shrewd and controlled use of pleasure or even sinful pleasures. A Relevant Message For Our Time The message in this book is just as needed today as in Solomon’s time. For we also live in a very secular society in which many people are convinced that this life is the sum total of our existence. Or, that while belief in God has some value, what really matters and what really brings happiness are earthly goals, rewards and accomplishments. This is a great book for every non-Christian to read. “If the average non-Christian individual would but read it today, it could bring him much more quickly to Christ. It would save him the difficult, arduous journey of a wasted life” 5 Solomon challenges the skeptic, humanist, atheist, agnostic, and the proponents of a very liberal and materialistic twist of Christianity. He gives us a good, hard, clear and crisp view at life. If this life is truly it----then face up to these realities! Solomon asks and confronts those troubling questions that few unbelievers are willing to face head on. He keeps on pressing questions that most of us would hesitate to push too far. He brings up all the questions which are forbidden in society which is prospering. Solomon will bring up God at the end of the book and there are hints throughout the book, but his main point is to see how far a man will get without God. “He puts himself---and us---in the shoes of the humanist or secularist….the person who starts his thinking from his observable world” (Kidner p. 14). He is trying to drive us to a point of despair, to break our illusion of self-sufficiency. To destroy our confidence in every material and earthly thing, goal or accomplishment. He is out to strip away all the myths, illusions, pretense and frills of this earthly life and present to us a real picture of life apart from God.
5 Bible Study Textbook Series, Ecclesiastes & Song of Solomon, R.J. Kidwell & Don DeWelt, p. 2 4
Kidner notes, “The function of Ecclesiastes is to bring us to the point where we begin to fear that such a comment (vanity of vanities) is the only honest one. So it is, if everything is dying. We face the appalling inference that nothing has meaning, nothing matters under the sun. It is then that we can hear, as the good news which it is, that everything matters---“for God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (12:14). That is how the book will end. On this rock we can be destroyed: but it is rock, not quicksand. There is the chance to build.” (p. 20). Been There-- Done That This book is truly priceless and invaluable. For we see many people today running down the same paths as Solomon journeyed under the illusion this pursuit will bring meaning and purpose to their lives. Is education, intellectual simulation and head games the ticket to happiness?(1:13-18) How about the irrational, philosophy, eastern religion, the metaphysical? (2:2) Or what about the good life, nice things, vacation homes, beautiful surroundings, cars, and possessions? Or,cool earthly projects? Remodeling, hobbies, starting a business, etc..(2:4-8). Or, is it physical pleasures, travel, the opposite sex and the best wines? (2:3) “Ecclesiastes presents itself as the matured and chastened wisdom of a king who has learned from experience the futility of living for any other purpose than the glory of God. He has come to realize what a poor bargain it is for a man to gain the whole world but to lose his own soul. He had been personally favored with unlimited wealth and power to test all that the world had to offer. He enjoyed the finest education and an unrivaled reputation for wisdom (1:16). His riches were immeasurable (2:8); he was surrounded with hosts of servants (2:7); his opportunities for carnal pleasure knew no restriction (2:3); he could afford the most extensive building projects and looked with pride on their accomplishment (2:4-6). Yet in the end these false avenues to life’s highest good led only to a vanished satisfaction and a sense of personal emptiness: all was ‘vanity’, futile meaninglessness. In the end this son of David was driven back to the lessons and insights of his early upbringing, and he had to recognize that only in God can a man find real significance and lasting satisfaction” (Zond. Ency., p. 190). A Message for Young People 5
This book has a great message to young people who have become enthralled with what the world claims it can offer. At times a young person will think that Christianity is simply a crutch that people fall back on when their earthly dreams don’t materialize. Believing in God and a better future is a way that people rationalize their lack of material success. This book is a challenge to the cynic. “So you think God is merely a crutch, something only for losers?” Well, let’s honestly look at life---“under the sun”, void of spiritual realities and what do we find? We find many material crutches don’t we! The love of money, wealth, pleasure, earthly goals, hobbies etc……are ways that people try to cope and hide from the true realities of life. They are often crutches for people who can’t be happy with who they are. Themes in the Book And where do we even begin? This book is filled with fantastic points, illustrations and observations. But here are a few: Welcome to the rat race (1:5-8). Apart from God, life is a monotonous treadmill, a rut, a never-ending struggle. The human memory is short-lived, nothing on the material plane is truly new (1:9-11). And man doesn’t even seem to benefit from this repetition (1:11). The only thing we learn from history is often that we don’t learn from it. There are many things in this life which cannot be changed (1:15). Man will never create Utopia or the ideal social order upon this planet. The “new society” is nothing more than an impossible dream. Disease, suffering, death, racism, crime, etc…, will always exist. Knowledge has a downside—pain! (1:18) Besides bringing power, knowledge can also destroy your own sense of peace and well-being. Man has always pursued the same old worn out theories on what will bring real happiness (2:1-11). Death is the great equalizer. Wealth and earthly wisdom, at best, only have a very limited usefulness (2:14ff). You will probably be forgotten by our posterity and they might squander everything you have amassed. And this life is filled with many similar injustices and inequities (3:16).
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Apart from God, man knows just enough about himself and the future that he is frustrated (3:11). Life is often very unfair (4:1). And wealth (apart from God), far from solving problems, usually causes additional problems. It can bring jealousy (4:4), destroy friendships, make one into a miser or a man who is addicted to his job (4:8). Human popularity, even for the most famous, is often fickle and fleeting (4:13-16). Will I spend all my life trying to get to the top, only to be stranded there? And just as soon as you become real popular, people will immediately try to undermine that popularity. We cannot take liberties with God and “manipulate Him in our interests. We are confronted with God at His most formidable: as one who is not impressed by our chatter or by our ritual gifts and airy promises” (Kidner p. 14). (5:1) A relationship with God isn’t the same thing as a membership in a prestigious country-club. God will not fit into our lifestyle and be merely one of our trophies. Once again, money isn’t the cure to all our problems (5:10-15; 6:1-2). And over and over the point is made that apart from God, no man can really enjoy what he does have (6:2; 5:18-20; 2:24-26). Without God in our life, without the right perspective, even the nicest things, rewards and blessings will become a curse instead of a blessing. Wealth and things are useless, if you can’t enjoy them (6:3). Death has a positive side, it makes men think (7:1-4). And beware of living in the past, of trying to find happiness in nostalgia and the good old days (7:10). All rewards and punishments are not issued in this life (7:15). No man is perfect (7:20), and be careful who you marry (7:26). People are very limited. While many may boast of human advances in technology, the fact of the matter still is that man is helpless before the weather and death (8:8). Human history isn’t infallible. Often history mislabels the good as evil and the evil as good (8:10). The proper interpretation of human history is only found when put under the light of God’s word. Death comes to all, death is no respecter of persons, and death cuts us off completely from this life (9:6). Therefore, don’t waste this life in self-pity or depression (9:8-9), and enjoy your marriage!
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Time and chance—two factors that even the wisest and most resourceful of men cannot control. A vivid reminder that we can’t plan for everything and that there isn’t any earthly investment which is a sure thing (9:11). One sinner can bring a lot of misery and suffering (9:18). The people in charge are not always smart (10:5-6 “folly is set in many exalted places”). From experience Solomon knew that any administration or government contains incompetent people. And the person who places all their trust in the efforts of civil government is setting themselves up for a great disappointment. Government, even the best government cannot save us or solve our problems. What goes around comes around (10:8-9). Work smarter—not harder (10:10). And if you really want to keep something a secret—tell no one (10:20). There are many things that we don’t know (11:5). And the person who waits for the “ideal time” will end up missing out (11:5,6). One can be too careful and too cautious, you can research something so much that you completely miss the point of what you are trying to accomplish. Life will be full of disappointments (11:8), so get rid of all harmful attitudes that could make your life miserable (11:10). And enjoy your youth in those activities that will stand God’s scrutiny (11:9; 12:1). God isn’t against wholesome and fun activities. God isn’t trying to make our lives miserable, in fact, God is trying to keep us from living miserable lives! A pattern of life can be set in the days of our youth which can become hard to break (12:1). Watch the habits that you are adding to your life! The retirement years have their drawbacks (12:3-7). The golden years can often be tarnished by aches and pains. Retirement isn’t utopia either! Don’t place all your hopes for happiness is the years following your retirement. Happiness isn’t found in not having to get up and go to work! All academic pursuits and all mental simulation isn’t necessarily good or profitable. Wisely select what you study. A mind that doesn’t contemplate the things of God is a wasted mind (12:12). Secular knowledge can’t save your soul. The purpose of life, the purpose for every person who has ever been born is to serve God and keep his commandments (12:13-14). The person who finds God will find themselves. Yet the person who spurns God and concentrates on other things, will never find the real reason for their existence. The person who dies apart from God not only has wasted their 8
time, talents and potential, they have also wasted the purpose for which they were created. A Brief Overview of the Book Here is how one writer summed up the contents of this book: THE VANITIES OF ECCLESIASTES CONTRASTED WITH THE FEAR OF THE LORD 1. Man’s advantages: 1:3; 2:11; 3:9; 5:16 2. The desire to learn all things: 1:13; 2:23,26; 3:10 3. Excessive wisdom: 1:18; 2:15; 7:16 4. Pursuit of pleasure: 2:1; 7:4; 8:15; 10:16 5. Mad mirth: 2:2; 7:2-5 6. Increase of earthly possessions: 2:4-9; 6:2; 5:11 7. Personal accomplishments: 2:11,18-20 8. Living only for tomorrow: 3:22; 2:18; 6:12; 8:7; 10:14 9. Envy, rivalry: 4:4 10. Laziness: 4:5-6; 10:18 11. Greed: 4:8; 5:10,13; 8:13,17 12. Hypocritical worship: 5:1-6 13. Discontentment: 6:2-3; 7:10; 11:9 14. Self righteousness: 7:16-18 15. Sexual immorality: 7:26,29 16. Lawlessness: 8:3-4 17. Self-deceit: 8:11; 9:3 18. Wicked oppression: 8:12-13 19. Identify with evil: 9:18; 10:1 20. Intellectual pride: 10:10, 12-14 21. Self-reliance: 11:1-6 22. Youth spent without God: 12:1 6
6 Kidwell p. 291 9