#XIII
Title: Ecclesiastes
Book: The Daily Bible in Chronological Order 365 Daily Readings, New International Version (NIV) with devotional insights to Guide You through God’s Word.
Commentary: F. LaGard Smith.
Genre: Religion
Challenges: 100+, Read & Review, Operation Actually Read the Bible
Rating: B
Dates read: 5/28/09 - 5/31/09
No. of pages - 6

In the midst of I Kings and the reign of Solomon comes some reflections on his life. Smith’s commentary continues, “Despite his great sin -- or perhaps because of it, Solomon may ultimately have gained the most valuable wisdom of all: a full appreciation of the emptiness of all that he had -- even his own wisdom -- when compared to things eternal. The book traditionally known as Ecclesiastes, meaning the Preacher or the Teacher, may have been written either personally by King Solomon or sometime later by a scribe in Solomon’s honor as the patron of the wisdom movement. In either case, Solomon appears to be the Teacher, and the observations about life which are the basis for the writing seem to be drawn from Solomon’s own experiences. The central frame of reference indicates that the author has experienced the consequence of great sin, such as that into which Solomon fell.

“In this writing, Solomon’s wisdom challenges the wisdom literature of other cultures in which truth is sought by empirical observation of life without reference to a creative God. The premise of Solomon’s wisdom is that only the Creator of the universe can know the true needs of his creatures and provide for their ultimate fulfillment.

“Ecclesiastes is a critical essay about the meaning of life. In its original organization several themes are woven together in an overlapping collage. For purposes of these presentation, the book has been organized according to topics in order to highlight the obvious themes of the Teacher.

“As thus organized, the book begins by posing man’s ultimate question: what is the meaning of life? The Teacher first observes the cyclical flow of life, in which human nature -- like physical nature -- never seems to change. The Teacher then explores death -- its certainty and unexpectedness. If Solomon is writing these reflections in his last years, it is not at all surprising that he confronts the issue of death. To Solomon the fact of death brings home the transience of life and gives urgency to the ultimate question: what is life’s meaning? When measured against eternity, the brevity of life makes it more important than ever to utilize the present time in the most meaningful way possible. The Teacher then considers what there is in this ’life under the sun‘ that has any real or lasting meaning, and his search is both unproductive and discouraging. None of the things in which man normally puts his trust for such things as wealth, power, pleasure, popularity, and human wisdom are all sheer vanity -- meaningless and empty.

“Human insight cannot give a clue as to what is meaningful; only ‘the wisdom which is from above‘ can imbue one’s life and lasting purpose. To illustrate the value of divine wisdom, the Teacher then gives several proverbs and wise sayings of the type contained in the more complete book of Proverbs. In one of the most beautiful poems in the Scriptures, the Teacher shows that there is purpose and balance to all things, even in this present life. Just as there is a time to die, there is a time to live. Just as there is a time for sorrow, there is a time for joy. And everyday life takes on significance in the enjoyment of one’s work and the happiness of human love. The message is aimed directly at the young people for whom much of the wisdom literature is intended. In conclusion the Teacher urges that all things find their fulfillment in acknowledging the Creator’s purpose for mankind and in obeying his will.

“With the parting advice to those who would follow him in these ‘days under the sun,’ Solomon himself falls prey to the ‘same destiny which overtakes all men.’ After a rather obscure reference to other historical records pertaining to Solomon (perhaps the record of Samuel and the Kings), the end of Solomon’s life is given only brief mention.”