Ecclesiastes 1

Study Guide 51: Ecclesiastes THE SEARCH FOR MEANING Overview Tradition tells us that this book was written by Solomon near the end of his reign. Linguistic study has revealed word choices and literary characteristics which fit Solomon’ s era, and support the traditional view that the writer, who claims to be king in Jerusalem and the wisest of men, was Solomon himself. In addition, the fact that in Solomon’ s old age he turned aside to worship the gods of his foreign wives adds support to this view. Ecclesiastes is unlike any other Old Testament book, and has no parallel in other literature of the biblical world. Ecclesiastes is philosophical discourse. But more. Ecclesiastes makes no claim to bring man a word from God. Instead the writer specifically states that he includes only what he can determine by reason, and limits himself to data that is available “ under the sun.” The doctrine of inspiration guarantees that this book conveys the message God intended we receive but, as we will see, does not guarantee that all Solomon’ s statements are true! VANITY. This traditional KJV rendering of a key word in this book is correctly translated by the NIV as “ meaningless.” Solomon’ s search for meaning in life apart from God and divine revelation was futile. Like modern existential philosophers, Solomon concluded that life is meaningless. How good to know that God’ s revelation of Himself and His purposes give a meaning to your life and mine which can be found in no other source.

Commentary David’ s son, Solomon, was crowned king of a united Israel just before his father’ s death. The young Solomon was given a unique gift from God: wisdom. He was certainly an intelligent man, and while his father extended Israel’ s kingdom by conquest, Solomon maintained the gains without war, through diplomacy. But Solomon’ s strength was also his weakness. Solomon tended to trust in his wisdom rather than in the guidelines given in God’ s Word. Deuteronomy looked ahead to the future monarchy and said that “ the king moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them. . . . He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold” (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). David had followed these injunctions. He did take several wives, but nothing like Solomon’ s multiplication (700 wives and 300 concubines). David had established a policy of cutting the tendons of enemy war horses so they could not be used in battle, and refused to build a chariot-based military establishment. But Solomon reasoned that these were prudent policies. He failed to see the danger in each — that foreign wives might entice him from wholly following God, and that by becoming a military superpower he might trust his might rather than God. Solomon trusted in his wisdom. Why not? His wisdom was renowned. God’ s warnings seemed unrealistic: wisdom dictated a different course from the one commanded by God. 1 Kings 11:1-43 shows us how much wiser God was than this wisest of men. In Solomon’ s old age the women he loved did turn his heart from the Lord and toward their gods. Solomon brought into the Holy City itself the worship of the very gods and goddesses which the Lord commanded be purged from the land! Because of this God pronounced judgment on Solomon. “ The Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although He had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’ s command. So the Lord said to Solomon, ‘ Since this is your attitude and you have not kept My covenant and My decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David My servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen’” (1 Kings 11:9-13). Thus Solomon’ s failure to trust God rather than his own wisdom had a tragic impact on his nation. But Solomon’ s defection also had a tragic effect on him. Cut off from God by his own choice, left with only his wisdom to guide him, Solomon set out to find life’ s meaning apart from the Lord. This is why the Book of Ecclesiastes is so valuable. David, the emotional man, shared his feelings with us in the Psalms. Now Solomon, the intellectual man, shares his reasonings and inmost thoughts. While Solomon lived in fellowship with God he wrote proverbs that reflect a Spirit-directed wisdom, such as: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6When Solomon was out of fellowship during the later years of his rule, he wrote again. But this time his thinking was different. During these later years Solomon chose to attempt to reason out the meaning of life from data available within the physical universe. It is this reasoning, this exploration of the world in which man lives by unaided human reason, that we have recorded for us in Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes Overview Different kinds of biblical literature must be understood within the framework of their purpose and form. Poetic expression, for instance, should not be taken in the same way as a carefully reasoned teaching paragraph in a New Testament epistle. In order to understand any passage of Scripture, it is important to define its purpose and frame of reference. We need to remember this when we approach the Book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is different from any other book of the Bible. While it is included in the category of “ wisdom literature” (with Job and Proverbs), it remains unique. Wisdom literature is universal in its scope; it does not dwell on the covenant, the election of Israel, redemption, prophecy, sacred history, or the temple. Its focus is on man the creature, his life on earth, and the inscrutability of God and His ways. Ecclesiastes goes beyond the other wisdom literature to emphasize the fact that human life and human goals, as ends in themselves and apart from God, are futile and meaningless. Key phrases. There are three key phrases which help us understand the Book of Ecclesiastes. (1) Twenty-nine times the writer used the phrase “ under the sun” to define the limits he chose for his search. Only data which the senses can test and probe would be considered. Nothing from beyond this space-time universe would be considered. Nowhere in Ecclesiastes is Moses or Scripture or any form of revelation mentioned. Ecclesiastes 1:13 of Ecclesiastes 1:1-18 illustrates the limits that Solomon set for himself: “ I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven.” (2) The second key phrase appears seven times and reflects the same limitation. Solomon said that, “ I thought in my heart” or “ thought to myself” in reaching his conclusions. His methodology was empirical, but all the data he gathered was evaluated by the standard of his own intelligence. In this book Solomon recognized no higher wisdom than his own; he never looked beyond the conclusions unaided intelligence can draw. (3) The third key word appears 34 times! It is “ meaningless,” a term translated in other versions as “ vanity” or “ emptiness.” Solomon’ s determined effort to make sense of human life led him to the same tragic conclusion of many modern philosophers. Life is absurd. There is no meaning or purpose in human experience. There may be fleeting joys. But ultimately, above the doorway through which men are born into this world and the doorway through which they exit is written the same phrase: “ Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless.” This is not the overall witness of Scripture! God looks beyond the brief years human beings live on earth, and reveals our true destiny. Human beings were created in His image, touched by the eternal. Each of us has a future that extends beyond the limits of time itself. We will exist forever — with God, or separated from Him. In light of this heritage, and this destiny, each human life has tremendous meaning and each individual immeasurable worth and value. When we know God and hear His Word we affirm with Him that life is filled with meaning. But Solomon here was looking for meaning within time — in fact, within the span of a man’ s lifetime on this earth. Using the intelligence Solomon had been given by God, he extended his great powers to the limit. But no matter how hard Solomon searched, he could find no satisfying purpose for life — within the limits he had set. Within these limits, life does become absurd and meaningless, and no one has any prospect of personal fulfillment. Interpreting Ecclesiastes. When we know the context in which this book of Scripture was written, we are immediately warned not to draw doctrinal conclusions from Ecclesiastes. We can safely draw such conclusions from a Pauline epistle, for instance, or from the Book of Exodus. But what is recorded in Ecclesiastes is Solomon’ s reasoning. It is not necessarily the divine viewpoint! How then do we interpret this book of the Bible? (1) We recognize it as a report of human reasoning. We remember that this book communicates what Solomon thought, not what God reveals. As such, it may well contain many truths. But the conclusions Solomon reached will not necessarily express God’ s own thoughts or His will. (2) We remember that in this book inspiration means simply that Solomon’ s reasoning was accurately recorded. Inspiration does not guarantee that everything recorded here is truth. (3) We rely on the whole revelation of God for interpreting problem passages. Where a conclusion or insight in this book seems questionable, it is important to compare it with the rest of Scripture, which does reveal God’ s thoughts through men rather than describe as Ecclesiastes does the best reasoning of human beings. When we approach Ecclesiastes in this way, the book gives us a penetrating insight into the emptiness of Solomon’ s last years. And a deep awareness of how tragic life is for all those who search for its meaning apart from our God. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT To help your group members come to grips with the unique nature of this book, list the following on the chalkboard. Ask the group, “ Which of these things is in the Bible?” Don’ t be overrighteous. A live dog is better off than a dead lion. The dead know nothing. You will not surely die. After group members have expressed opinions, ask: “ Are these statements true?” Then look at each separately. The last statement (“ You will not surely die” ) is in Genesis 3:4. It directly contradicts Genesis 2:17 — and it was said by Satan! Inspiration of the Bible guarantees that this is what Satan actually said, but it does not guarantee that what Satan said is true! The other three are in Ecclesiastes: in order, in Ecclesiastes 7:16; Ecclesiastes 9:4 and Ecclesiastes 9:5. Like the Genesis 3:1-24 statement, these expressions also are not necessarily true! Go on then and explain the uniqueness of this book which records the reasoning of Solomon, not revelation from God!

Observations on the Text The Book of Ecclesiastes can be outlined quite simply. It contains a prologue which states the writer’ s theme, two major sections, and then an epilogue.

Outline I.PrologueEcc_1:1-11 II.Theme Proven1:12-6:12 III.Deductions7:1-12:8 IV.EpilogueEcc_12:9-14Prologue (Ecc.Ecclesiastes 1:1-11). Solomon clearly stated his theme: “ Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “ Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:2The cycle of nature repeats endlessly as generations come and go. There is nothing new, nothing unique, and those who die are soon totally forgotten by the generations that succeed them. The endless repetition of sunrise and sunset suggested to Solomon that human life itself has no meaning. Theme proven (Ecc. 1:12-6:12). In this first major section of the book Solomon marshaled evidence that supported his conclusion. All the evidence was drawn from Solomon’ s own experience and his observations. All the evidence was limited to what human beings can test by their senses within the limits of the physical universe. We can trace his argument, and see all the avenues that Solomon followed in his vain attempt to find a meaning for his life apart from God. *The avenue of knowledge (Ecclesiastes 1:12-18). Solomon at first devoted himself to intellectual pursuits, and to learn all he could about everything “ done under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 1:12). After years of study he concluded that learning is “ chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14), because the more he learned about the nature of things, the more sorrow and grief he experienced. *The avenue of pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11). Solomon created gardens and parks, amassed wealth, collected a harem of beautiful women. He said: I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. Ecclesiastes 2:10And while Solomon was involved in his construction or projects he was distracted for a time. Yet when he looked back, and evaluated the many things he had achieved, he realized that it was all meaningless. *The avenue of achievement (Ecclesiastes 2:12-16). In all Solomon’ s activities he proved himself superior to others. He had achieved, and surpassed all others. But while he felt that wisdom was better than folly, he couldn’ t help noting a terrible reality. The fate of the fool will overtake me also. Ecclesiastes 2:15Solomon realized that he would die, and in time be forgotten just as the fool would die and be forgotten. How meaningless then to feel that contrasts between people can give life meaning. *The avenue of work (Ecclesiastes 2:17-26). Solomon looked back at the energy and enthusiasm with which he had approached his work as king, and everything seemed to have the taste of ashes. He said, “ I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me” (Ecclesiastes 2:17). Solomon’ s problem was that everything he had accomplished and worked for he must soon leave to some one else — “ and who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?” (Ecclesiastes 2:19) Solomon was not suggesting a life of idleness and abandonment. In fact, he said a “ man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work” (Ecclesiastes 2:24). But in an ultimate sense this too is meaningless. *The avenue of natural cycles (Ecclesiastes 3:1-15). Solomon looked at the natural cycles of nature, life, and society. He found that time and time again what had been was repeated in the experience of the individual, the culture, and in nature. Yet these cycles in nature and human experience could offer no help in Solomon’ s search for meaning. Why? Because, Solomon said, God “ has also set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). There is no way that the cycles of time, repeated as they are, can satisfy, because eternal meanings cannot be found in time’ s cycles. *Injustice demonstrates meaninglessness (Ecclesiastes 3:16-22). Solomon discovered wickedness in man’ s treatment of man. He tried to explain it, arguing that someday God would bring good and evil people to judgment. But limiting himself to what he observed, he could not accept this thought. “ Man’ s fate is like that of the animals” (Ecclesiastes 3:19). Both simply die, and their deaths seem to be the same in nature. “ Who knows,” Solomon said, “ if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” (Ecclesiastes 3:21) *Human suffering gives evidence of meaninglessness (Ecclesiastes 4:1-16). When Solomon saw all the oppression to which people were subject, and noted their tears, he decided that “ the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive” (Ecclesiastes 4:2). In the context of human suffering, those with friends are better off than those who are alone. But ultimately all are vulnerable. *God is hidden (Ecclesiastes 5:1-7). Solomon realized from the evidence of Creation that God must exist. He also was convinced that it was dangerous not to honor God: one should stand in awe of the Lord. But God is distant and hidden. “ God is in heaven, and you are on earth” (Ecclesiastes 5:2). So respect for the hidden God cannot be translated into a personal relationship which might give life meaning. *Riches cannot provide meaning (5:8-6:2). No one really has control over his own possessions, for there are always authorities with power to take it from us. And there are many other reasons why riches are meaningless. First, the one loving money never really gets enough. Second, “ as goods increase, so do those who consume them” (Ecclesiastes 5:11). Third, the one with riches will worry about protecting them. But ultimately, human beings who enter the world naked leave the world the same way, and as they bring nothing with them so they take nothing away. What weighed so heavily on the heart of Solomon (then one of the world’ s richest men!) was that “ God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them” (Ecclesiastes 6:2). Money does not bring happiness, and when death comes all one possesses passes to another. *Life itself is meaningless (Ecclesiastes 6:3-12). Grimly Solomon drew this section of his discourse to an end. The stillborn child was better than the person who lived, had a hundred children, and died in his old age. Life itself was a restless state. Ultimately no one could say what was “ good” for a man in this life, and no one could tell what would happen on earth after a person was gone. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Ask your group to list things which people think of as giving life meaning. Among the things they suggest will probably be money, power, status, pleasure, etc. Ask: “ Have you ever tried to find meaning for your life in one of these things? What happened?” After sharing, divide into teams to discuss why these things are not able to provide life with meaning. After team members have listed their ideas, let them compare with Solomon’ s findings in parallel passages of Ecclesiastes. Deductions to be derived (Ecc. 7:1-12:8). Solomon had proven to his own satisfaction that no real meaning could be found to human life. Still, he believed that some things are better than others. In the latter part of this book, then, Solomon gave suggestions to his readers. He was still convinced that life was meaningless. But he did want to suggest rules for living the best life possible. *Preferred ways (Ecclesiastes 7:1-12). Given the meaninglessness of life Solomon was still aware that some experiences were better than others. For instance — and perhaps surprisingly — Solomon said sorrow was better than laughter. And the house of mourning better than the house of pleasure. Essentially, Solomon saw sorrow and mourning as more realistic, and thus less likely to lead to disappointment. He also said that patience was better than pride, and noted that both wisdom and money could shelter human beings from troubles. *Fatalism is to be adopted (Ecclesiastes 7:13-14). Since no one has control over his future, good and bad must be accepted, with the good enjoyed while present. *Extremes are to be avoided (Ecclesiastes 7:15-22). A person should not be “ overrighteous” or “ overwise” — or “ overwicked.” Solomon was aware that there is “ not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). He supposed that the middle road of avoiding all extremes was the best road to take. To be overwicked would lead to an early death. To be overrighteous to the torments of guilt. *Wisdom is preferable (7:23-8:1). While wisdom cannot penetrate or learn “ the scheme of things” it was clear to Solomon that wisdom, here as moral insight, was to be preferred. One who engaged in folly (an act that was morally perverted or twisted) would discover only that wickedness was stupid and folly was madness. *Submission to authorities is better (Ecclesiastes 8:2-10). One who does not obey will be harmed by temporal authorities. In this world where misery weighs heavily on every man there is no reason to ask for more by disobeying the king. *Reverence for God is better (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13). People are naturally twisted toward evil. No matter that Solomon had seen wicked men survive; “ I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God” (Ecclesiastes 8:12). *Good things are better (Ecclesiastes 8:14-15). The good things of life which persons enjoy cannot give life meaning. But it is better to enjoy them while we live than not to experience their pleasures. *Enjoy life while it’ s possible (Ecclesiastes 9:1-12). In view of the common destiny of the wicked and the good, for death awaits all, Solomon could only say, “ Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun — all your meaningless days” (Ecclesiastes 9:9). Work hard, for there will be nothing for you to do in the grave, and death may catch you soon and unaware. *Wisdom’ s ways are better (9:13-10:20). But wisdom will never protect a person. Fools are advanced by rulers, and a wise man’ s contributions will often be forgotten. *It’ s better to prepare for the future (Ecclesiastes 11:1-6). While no one can tell what the future will hold and no one can control the future, it’ s better to prepare for it rather than to be idle and wait until disaster strikes. *Enjoy your youth (11:7-12:8). Ahead of every person is only darkness, lying with blind eyes under the earth unable to see the sun. But there is no use dwelling on this future. The phrase, “ Remember your Creator” (Ecclesiastes 12:1), is not a call to religious commitment but a suggestion that youth realize they are simply created beings, placed within creation and given capacity to enjoy what has been made. Thus Solomon said, “ Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 11:9). Do it while you can, because the days of trouble will come and the years approach in which you will say, “ I find no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). With age comes the awareness that Solomon’ s discovery is true for all: “ Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “ Everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:2Epilogue (Ecclesiastes 12:9-14). Solomon’ s conclusion has a different tone. He suggested, “ Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Ultimately it is God who will “ bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

Teaching Guide Prepare Have you ever felt the kind of despair that Solomon’ s book communicates? Was there a special occasion, or a particular cause?

Explore

1. Use the “ link-to-life” idea above to introduce the book. See if your group members recognize several sayings as from the Bible, and realize that they are not necessarily true. Then go on to show how the Book of Ecclesiastes is not intended to be taken as a divine revelation of truth.
2. Or give a minilecture on the book, and on Solomon’ s spiritual decline. Then ask your group members to locate statements in the book with which they disagree.

Expand

1. Examine the reasons Solomon gave as basis for his belief that life is meaningless. Use the teaching idea in “ link-to-life” above. See how many of the reasons Solomon gives your group members can suggest from their own personal experience.
2. What “ guidelines to the good life” could you give to a person who is not a believer? Make a list from Ecclesiastes 7:1-12:8. When your group has developed a list, discuss: “ How much would this really help another person?” Talk together about the need for each person to find meaning in personal relationship with the God we know through Jesus Christ.

Apply Brainstorm situations in which a Christian might use the Book of Ecclesiastes. Under what conditions might it be helpful in dealing with non-Christians? With other believers? In our own lives?