Ecclesiastes

Fools assume they know all about God and are able to please Him. True piety and wisdom recognize the limitations of both our understanding of God and our ability to please Him with our deeds. The attitude of awe toward God that Ecclesiastes recommends (5:7) is in reality dependence on God's grace and recognition that the benefits we have from Him are only by His mercy.

Corruption of government officials is a universal occurrence and should not surprise anyone. But anarchy is not the answer. Verse 9 should be translated: "In all, this is an advantage to the land: a king, for the sake of cultivated fields." Despite all the problems of government, it is necessary for a well-ordered society and economy.

Through a series of proverbs and short reflections, Ecclesiastes warns the reader not to fall into the trap of the quest for wealth. Where riches are concerned, enough is never enough. The laborer has more peace and better sleep than the affluent man.

Ecclesiastes here summarizes its position on wisdom through a series of proverbs and reflections. We must recognize the limits of our wisdom. There is much we will never know. But it is better to go through life with sobriety and understanding than in inane pleasure seeking.

Verse 7 is transitional from the previous passage. Bribery can destroy personal integrity and lead to injustice in government. Verse 10 counsels readers not to lose heart or suppose that their generation is the most corrupt that has ever been. When dealing with injustice, be patient and careful.

Ecclesiastes now compares wisdom to wealth and considers wisdom better because it does not disappear in hard times. The wise understand that both prosperity and adversity are from the hand of God and accept both.

In this complex section Ecclesiastes discusses the attempt to secure happiness and divine protection through self-discipline and scrupulous observance of religion and morality. Verses 15-18 at first appear to say that a little sinning is acceptable as long as it is not excessive, but this is not the real meaning. Ecclesiastes here addresses those who follow the traditional teaching of wisdom that a disciplined life is prosperous and safe but a life of indulgence is fraught with disaster. Rigorous self-depravation for the sake of religion does not really guarantee a peaceful life. No one can truly please God by his or her righteousness, since all are sinful. This ought to make us more forgiving of others.

The mystery of human sin and how it impinges on behavior is perplexing, but it does have one clear implication: sin makes domestic life very painful. This text, more than any other, demonstrates our need for God's grace.

On the basis of 7:26-29, some readers think the author was prejudiced against women. In fact, this section reflects on the pain sin has brought upon marriage. It looks back to Genesis 3:16b. There the woman desired to manipulate her husband, but he harshly dominated her. Sin made the home into a battlefield.

Similarly, Ecclesiastes says (again using hyperbole) that a man may find one man in a thousand who can be his true friend, but he will not find a single woman in whom he can have the same confidence. This is not because women are innately worse than men—a woman has the same problem finding a man she can trust but may have one woman friend. Humanity's history of domestic strife and faithlessness fully vindicates this passage.

The wise know how to behave with discretion and tact toward those in power, but the uncertainty of life makes it difficult to stay on the right path. Many who have power use it ruthlessly for their own gain. That they often seem to go unpunished aggravates the situation. This is, perhaps, the most troubling problem of life. Death levels the differences between the powerful and the powerless, but it aggravates the problem in that the good and bad suffer the same fate. For the reader, however, this should not lead to cynicism. Instead, it should provoke deeper faith that only God knows the end from the beginning and only He can finally set all things right.

This passage builds upon the certainty of death as described in 9:1-6. Life is short and therefore should not be lived in sorrow. Enjoy the good things of life and do not let ambition for success ruin the time you have. The advice in 9:9, "Enjoy life with your wife," seems to contradict 7:28, but wisdom literature often gives counsel that is paradoxical or apparently contradictory. The reason is that life itself is complicated.

Prudence and political skill are essential for effective governance of a nation, but they are often neglected or lacking. Ecclesiastes presents this concept here first in a short anecdote and then in a series of proverbs and reflections. Whether the wise man saved his city by military strategy or diplomacy is not clear. What is clear is that he was soon forgotten because he was not wealthy or from an influential family. But the worst fate that can befall a nation is that it have ignoble or self-indulgent rulers. Such fools are not even capable of giving a stranger correct directions to the nearest town; they can hardly be trusted in matters of state.

The series of proverbs in 10:8-11 emphasizes the importance of fore-thought and careful planning. Those who practice cunning often bring about their own demise. They dig a pit for someone else and fall into it themselves. Or they are bitten by a snake while breaking into another's home. But even legitimate activities can be dangerous. Thorough planning must precede any enterprise. In context this means that one must exercise great care in dealing with the intrigues of political life.

Three transitional proverbs bridge the gap between the political and economic realms. First, diligence is necessary to maintain an economy, be it the national household or a private home. Second, at least some money is essential in order to enjoy the good things of life; verse 19 is not cynical, as it appears to be in many translations. Third, be careful of those who have power, be it political or economic.

While Ecclesiastes discourages the pursuit of wealth, it favors wise investment and diligent work. Verses 1-2 speak of long-term investment, not charity. To "give portions to seven or eight" is, in modern terminology, to diversify investments. While we do have to look out for dangers on the horizon, we cannot allow ourselves to be so cautious that we do nothing. Better to recognize that all things are in God's hands and proceed with our work with an eye toward all possible contingencies.

This section is in two parts: counsel to youth and a poem on aging and death. To the young, Ecclesiastes advises that their brief time of youthful vigor be spent in joy rather than in anxiety. But they are not free to pursue folly and immoral behavior. Awareness of divine judgment and the fleeting nature of youth should always govern their decisions.

The poem in 12:1-7 is also meant as a warning to the young concerning things to come. Its imagery is in some points obscure, but it is nevertheless poignant and moving. Verse 2 may refer to the day of death or to failing eyesight. Verse 3 describes the loss of strength in the arms ("keepers of the house") and legs ("strong men"), the loss of teeth ("grinders"), and encroaching blindness ("those looking through the windows"). Verse 4 alludes to failing hearing that is yet coupled to the sleeplessness whereby one awakes at the slightest sound. Verse 5 speaks of the general loss of courage, confidence, and sexual drive. Finally, in 12:6-7 death is portrayed as the shattering of a vessel whereby its con-tents—life—are spilled out.

The book concludes in four subsections. (1) Verse 8 reaffirms the theme of 1:2. These two verses bracket the beginning and ending of the main body of the work. (2) Verses 9-10 describe Solomon's work. Compare 1 Kings 4:32. (3) Verses 11-12 offer a final word on wisdom. (4) Verses 13-14 conclude with a call to fear God.

True wisdom comes from God, the one Shepherd, and is worthy of acquiring. But one should be wary of endless academic pursuits. Ecclesiastes is not anti-intellectual; still, no one should try to build a meaningful life on the reading and writing of books.

Some readers feel the concluding call to fear God does not follow from all that has gone before, but it is in fact the perfect conclusion. The pursuit of wealth, knowledge, and political power is ultimately unsatisfactory and leads to divine judgment. Life is short and full of mystery. All our attempts to make life meaningful fail. The wise response, therefore, is to cling to God and His grace.

Theological Significance. Ecclesiastes challenges its readers to live in the world as it really is instead of living in a world of false hope. It addresses those who have sought meaning through wealth, education, or political power. For some this search for lasting meaning and value has left them empty. Others have yet to realize the futility of this search.

Ecclesiastes challenges its readers to abandon illusions of self-importance, face death and life squarely, and accept with fear and trembling their dependence on God. Solomon's faith in the justice of God and the goodness of His commands was stronger than his pessimism (8:12-13; 11:9). Even when he did not understand life or God's ways, his response was one of faith. The seeming senselessness of life in the real world drove him to God, the only Giver of permanent worth. Life is God's precious gift. Its fleeting pleasures should be enjoyed, even while pursuing the lasting joy that comes only from God.

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