Ecclesiastes – A Post-Script
Years after completing our study on Ecclesiastes, I ran across a blog post by Richard Beck at Experimental Theology concerning how Ecclesiastes fits within the Hebrew canon. This post is reproduced here.
Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes 6 – No Satisfaction
In our striving to obtain whatever we believe will give contentment and happiness, we will lose that contentment and happiness. We will never obtain enough to bring us the happiness that we ultimately seek.
Ecclesiastes 5 – Vows Before God
The Speaker is concerned with our making promises to God (i.e. vows) that we cannot satisfy. It is better not to vow at all than to vow and not fulfill. Thus the Speaker tells us that vows are not to be taken lightly or inadvisably.
Ecclesiastes 4 – Insouciance
When the Speaker addresses oppression, he simply describes the situation with no contemporaneous recognition of any role that he could play to address the oppression that he sees.
Ecclesiastes 4 – Companionship
The Speaker finds great value in companionship. Two are better than one in their endeavors and for support, warmth, and protection. In vv.9-12, the Speaker extols the goodness of having a companion.
Ecclesiastes 3 – The Resurrection?
The Speaker knows wisdom and righteousness but also knows that death has the final say over all. As Paul reminds us, if there is no resurrection of the dead and if Christ has not been raised then our faith is pure vanity. 1 Cor. 15:14.
Ecclesiastes 3 – There is a Time for Everything
There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven:
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot;
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build;
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance;
A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to avoid embracing;
A time to search and a time to count as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away;
A time to tear and a time to sew;
A time to be silent and a time to speak;
A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 2 – The Perspective of Old Age
But Christianly understood death is by no means the last thing of all, hence it is only a little event within that which is all, an eternal life. – Sören Kierkegaard
Ecclesiastes 2 – Death Comes for All
I leave Sisyphus at the foot of the mountain! One always finds one’s burden again. But Sisyphus teaches the higher fidelity that negates the gods and raises rocks. He too concludes that all is well. – Albert Camus
Ecclesiastes 1 – The Absurd
The Speaker begins his teaching with the recognition of the Absurd – life makes no coherent sense, life is not fair, and life is not just. For the Speaker and for us, therefore, the question arises as to how he/we respond to this recognition. This is the story of Lent.