Welcome to a very unique Wisdom book in the Bible, Ecclesiastes! Possibly a book you have not read or studied too seriously in your life. A book that most probably centred around significant debate on whether it should have even been included in the canon of Scripture, but in the end was considered worthy of this position. A book that seems to be very relevant to our time in history when so many are searching for meaning in life, experimenting with similar things that the author of Ecclesiastes writes about in this fascinating book. Things that seem to confirm the author’s words: What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Tremper Longman 111 in his commentary on Ecclesiastes says that the author “expressed the uncertainty and anxieties of our age. He is driven by the question, ‘Where can we find meaning in the world?’ This issue is the fundamental one that all sensitive human beings must address.
But while the questions that [he] raised attracted me, his answers shocked me, coming as they do out from the midst of the sacred canon. ‘Meaningless,’ … ‘everything is meaningless.’” (# 58)
Hopefully, over the next months, we shall endeavour to understand the reason this book is in the Bible and how it fits in with what we believe and how it applies to our lives today. Hopefully drawing us closer to the only One who can give us meaning, making us wiser and spiritually richer followers of Jesus.
Before we do this though, let me begin with a basic but vital truth that we may need to remind ourselves of occasionally as we read this book. A truth that should help us as we read and study this unique Wisdom book. That truth is contained in the following verses of Scripture:
16 All Scripture [including Ecclesiastes] is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
“[God] All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.” (Psalm 119:160)
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5)
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)
So, as we read through Ecclesiastes, may God’s word [be] a lamp for [your] feet, [and] a light on [your] path (Psalm 119:105) as you pray, Open my eyes [Lord] that I may see wonderful things in your [word] (Psalm 119:18). Amen.
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms and Proverbs 