The word "Ecclesiastes" is taken from the Hebrew word "to gather" but is often taken to mean "Preacher" or "teacher". This is Solomon....therefore, this is all human opinion versus the Divine opinion that we normally get.
Solomon observes, and his text is kind of like a journal. He truly has everything from a material possession point of view. He observes that this is nothing.....it means nothing.....one can't take possessions with them when they die....this was also written later in Solomon's life. Solomon was looking back on his life and we will find as we read further, that much of his life was actually lived apart from God.
The purpose of this book is to spare future generations the bitterness of learning through their own experience that life is meaningless apart from God.
Many find that Ecclesiastes is bitter and negative....but Solomon failed to heed his own advice and that really could make one bitter. After all, God had given him the ultimate gift of wisdom and even with that, Solomon had a downward spiral.
You'll read about chasing after the wind.....this is what the pursuit of things that are not God will do.
I know Ecclesiastes best for the "seasons" in Chapter 3....there is a time for everything. The ultimate purpose for this is found in verse 14. God does it so that men will revere him.
Have you ever heard verse 12 were it says "a cord of three strands is not quickly broken"....generally that third person is God and I have heard this quoted in marriage scripture....Man, Wife and God.
My Bible notes says that 2:11 is saying that solomon climbed the ladder of success, only to realize he was on the wrong ladder. If you do go through your life with God, your life will not have meaning.
ReplyDeleteYep....I have heard of Ch. 3...a season for everything....I didn't realize it came from the Bible.....I thought it was a song! I have always like this and we do have different seasons in our lives.....that is what makes it life.....
I really like 4:9-12....the value of a friend.....