My wife loves to laugh. She enjoys life. By nature, she is not a person who dwells on the negative or one who cries a lot. Instead, she faces difficult times and situations with faith and joy. So when I told her that she was going to preach Ecclesiastes, she quickly let me know that it wasn’t her favorite book of the Bible. When I asked her to explain why, she told me that when she read it, she found Ecclesiastes to be a dark and depressing book.
Is this how you feel about Ecclesiastes? A dark and depressing book? It is true that it begins and ends by recognizing that everything in life is meaningless, everything is vanity (1:2; 12:8). And in between those two admissions that life is “vanity of vanities,” the “Preacher” (as the writer calls himself) evaluates every aspect of life to prove his point. If you think that Ecclesiastes is a dark and depressing book, you are absolutely right. But that is the point. To understand Ecclesiastes, you need to understand the author’s perspective and his overall plot. Once you understand how the Preacher is making his case, you will appreciate the message of Ecclesiastes and want to pass it on, particularly to those who do not believe in the God of the Bible. let me explain.
Ecclesiastes is Scripture
We come to Ecclesiastes as Christians. Consequently, we receive it as Scripture. The Ecclesiastes Preacher sought to teach people knowledge (12:9) with words of delight and words of truth (12:10). The purpose of these words is to galvanize us to action in an unknown world (12:11) and to give us stability in an unstable world (12:11). And because Ecclesiastes is Scripture, these words are inspired by God (12:11) and are sufficient for everything we may face in this life (12:12).
Regardless of how we feel about it, then, Ecclesiastes is the word of God. And since it is the word of God, we know that it is also “inspired by God and useful to teach, to rebuke, to correct, to instruct in righteousness, so that the man of God may be perfect, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Since it is the word of God, we will benefit from reading and studying Ecclesiastes. To understand Ecclesiastes, then, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you understanding. Second, however, to understand this book we need to identify the type of text it is and interpret it that way.
Ecclesiastes is wisdom literature
Ecclesiastes, like Proverbs, is wisdom literature. Wisdom literature has been used throughout the world. In fact, many cultures have proverbs: sayings that state a general truth that offers guidance that, if followed, promises blessing. Regarding the Old Testament Proverbs, the author distinguishes “two paths” from which a person can choose: the path of wisdom (the path of God) that leads to life (Prov. 8:20- 21), or the path of foolishness that leads to destruction (Prov. 7:27). This perspective characterizes wisdom literature. This literature is intended to guide the person on the path of justice, that is, towards God himself.
But we will misinterpret the wisdom literature if we only see it as general truths that, if followed, lead to promised blessings. Unfortunately, many Christians view wisdom this way, but that is missing the point. We need to read the wisdom literature in the context of the covenant. The old covenant was given with very clear blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Deut. 27–28). God clearly promises incredible blessings for obedience and terrible curses for disobedience. When read in this light, the wisdom literature is intended to guide members of the covenant community on the right path to remain faithful to the covenant.
Wisdom literature reminds us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, while emphasizing that wisdom is a divine gift.
Wisdom literature establishes two paths: the path of obedience and the path of disobedience. The life of obedience is the life of righteousness that leads to the covenant blessings of the Lord. But the life of disobedience is the life of injustice that leads to the curses of the Lord of the covenant. So wisdom literature relates to all of life. He reminds us again and again that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, at the same time he emphasizes that wisdom is a divine gift. It is given to God’s people so they can walk in His ways and stay true to the covenant.
As wisdom literature, Ecclesiastes is also about life, all of life. It is written to expose a harsh reality: life apart from God is meaningless, it is vain. The author of Ecclesiastes uses a technical phrase to identify life without God: life “under the sun” (1:3, 9, 14; 2:11, 17, 18, 19, 20; 3:16; 4:1 , 3, 7, 15; 5:13, 18; 6:1, 12; 8:9, 15, 17; 9:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 10:5). To approach life “under the sun” is to hold to a naturalistic worldview that denies there is anything “above the sun.” In other words, it is to deny that something exists in the heavens, it is to deny that God exists. Such a worldview is dark and depressing. Leave the person empty. And that is the point of Ecclesiastes.
To make his point, the author presents his case using his own life as an example. As a king, he had great wealth, accomplished great things, indulged in the greatest pleasures, but life without God (under the sun) left him empty. No matter how much he sought the value of life in these activities, he was left empty.
Ecclesiastes is for us and for our days
No matter how much wealth we accumulate, apart from God we will be empty and long to find the true meaning and purpose of our existence.
Throughout Ecclesiastes, the author shows the futility of a naturalistic and secular worldview. He exposes the vanity of a life without God. No matter how much wealth we accumulate, how many pleasures we enjoy, how much work we do, how famous we become, apart from God we will be empty and long to find the true meaning and purpose of our existence.
What is Ecclesiastes about? Let me give you a walk through the book.
When we live without God (under the sun), all the work we do in this life is meaningless, empty. It is a meaningless monotony that adds nothing new to this world and is quickly forgotten (1:1-11). Under God, however, the work we do in this life is meaningful and enjoyable (3:9-13).
When we live apart from God (under the sun), seeking the meaning of life through accumulating human wisdom and knowledge is like trying to catch the wind (1:12-18). Seeking meaning in experiences and pleasure is also like trying to catch the wind (2:1-11). Even searching for meaning in living a good life is like trying to catch the wind (2:12-17). Even success in our work will not fill the void (2:18-23). However, under God, we can enjoy God’s good creation (food and drink), and we can enjoy our work (2:24-25).
God is sovereign over all of history (3:1-8) and over all of creation (3:9-15). God is the one who gives meaning to his creation, and the only appropriate response to it is to fear him (3:14). Only God produces true justice (3:16-22), while in this world there is much evil and injustice (4:1-16).
But be careful how you approach God in worship (5:1-7)! True worship is based on a true understanding of who God is and how he has revealed his nature (5:7).
Apart from God (under the sun), the desire to be rich will never be satisfied and brings with it many temptations and problems (5:10-17). However, satisfaction with what God has provided leads to peace and joy in this life (5:18-20). Therefore, follow wisdom and you will find life. Instead, if you follow foolishness you will find destruction (7:1-29).
In the last few chapters we find several proverbial truths. For example, we see the command to obey authorities (8:1-9). It is in vain to pursue evil (8:10-13). It is in vain to try to discern all that God is doing (8:14-17). Despite all the evil we may personally experience, we can trust that our lives are in God’s hands and enjoy the life he has given us (9:1-10). Life without God is difficult. It is vain (11:5-12:8). Instead, you are to fear God and keep his commandments (12:9-14).
conclusion
As you can see, Ecclesiastes reminds us that we will find neither meaning nor purpose in the pursuit of pleasure or wealth (2:9-10; 5:10; 6:1-2), nor in the pursuit of work (2:11, 18-23), not even in the search for human wisdom (2:12-17). He reminds us that if we want to make sense of this chaotic world with all its ills, then we must remember that God is sovereign over all things and all times (3:1-8). He reminds us that we cannot understand what God is doing (3:9-11; 8:14-17), but we can enjoy the life God has given us while on this earth (2:24-25; 9 : 7-10). Finally, Ecclesiastes reminds us that while we are surrounded by much injustice (3:16; 4:1), God is the judge of all mankind (3:17).
Therefore, our duty is to fear God (12:13; also 7:18, 26; 8:12-13). The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and we must choose wisdom over foolishness (9:16-17). Even a little foolishness undoes a lot of wisdom (9:18). But, when we fear God, we will naturally obey his commandments (12:13) and walk in the path of wisdom.
At first glance, Ecclesiastes may seem dark and depressing, but since it is God’s word, it is inspired and sufficient to sustain us in this harsh and unfair world. As you read Ecclesiastes, I pray that it will prompt you to fear God and keep his commandments so that you can walk in wisdom and find life. And, by reading Ecclesiastes, you can be free to face the difficulties that you will face in this life, and that you do it with faith in the sovereign God, enjoying the good things that God has given you.