Have
you ever questioned what is going on in life when things seem completely out of
control or ridiculous? It appears that all your
efforts to get answers are useless. At that point you turn the Bible for
answers and struggle to understand what you are reading. You even tried
reading Ecclesiastes and you feel like you are chasing and clutching at the
wind. The book gives the impression of being so pessimistic.
You wonder, “What
on earth is this book on about?” You question its validity to help you in daily
life. It may appear an odd book to include in the Bible. However, it has been sovereignly
included under the inspiration of God. It
has been said that, “Ecclesiastes is a book that investigates life and tells
what kind of life is worth living.”[1]
A large portion of the book records a life lived minus a relationship with God,
(cf. 1:15; 2:24; 3:3,4,8,11; 8:15).
Basically, the
book describes two conflicting life or worldviews. One worldview emphasises the
futility of a merely earthly perspective of life. While the other the hopeful outlook
of a relationship with God.[2] Concerning the
first assessment, it has been proposed that the inclusion of the teaching of
Ecclesiastes sets its own “hermeneutical context of its sayings: Everything is
‘utterly’ (a vapour).”[3] Whereas, the second
worldview is an evaluation of what life with God needs to be. That is, its conclusion
is that, to “reverence and respect God and keep His commandments” (12:13) is in
fact the correct course in life.
Pause in His
presence for a moment and think this over…
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