Ecclesiastes: Part 2
Back & Forth
As we conclude our study on the book of Ecclesiastes, we will now be diving into the final 6 chapters of this book. If you were with us earlier this week, you know how in the first 6 chapters, we discovered how the preacher in this book who is most likely Solomon, points out all the futilities in life and has a very depressing outlook on everything. We saw how the preacher would go back and forth on a bunch of issues and how he really struggled to find the meaning and purpose of life since everything seemed to be left up to chance. The first few chapters alone talked about how wisdom is better than folly, but then again, how the wise person is not always rewarded over the foolish person. We saw how there seemed to be a time for everything in life, including suffering, but also how God has orchestrated everything according to His design. And this is where we pick up in chapter 7, with the preacher continuing to have this battle in his head on whether or not it is worth striving for a holy life with so much randomness that seems to cover the earth. So what hope does the author give here in such a seemingly depressing book? No one says it better than Jay Adams. On the author of Ecclesiastes, Adams notes, “He’s been through it all — the bad and the good — and, in repentance, has come to terms with life. God’s terms, that is. Actually, there is much that, when interpreted correctly, can only give a believer confidence and joy in the face of trouble.” As we come to the end of this book, I think that you will actually agree with what Jay Adams says here, despite how sorrowful this read may have seemed thus far. Let’s dive in.
Wisdom & Folly
As we previously stated, this battle in the preacher’s head continues into chapter 7 where we see the contrast between wisdom and folly once more. However, this contrast doesn’t bring Solomon to the conclusion that you may think. Look at what he says in Ecclesiastes 7:15-17 “I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is a righteous person who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked person who prolongs his life in his wickedness. Do not be excessively righteous, and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself? Do not be excessively wicked, and do not be foolish. Why should you die before your time?” Seems pretty straightforward forward doesn’t it? Don’t worry about being too wise or too foolish, just do whatever you want cause we’re all going to die. This may seem to be the overall message, but there is more that the preacher is saying here. Just look at what the next few verses tell us. Ecclesiastes 7:18-19 says, “It is good that you grasp one thing while not letting go of the other; for one who fears God comes out with both of them. Wisdom strengthens a wise person more than ten rulers who are in a city.” Right after Solomon appears to tell us not to worry about our righteous or evil deeds, he tells us to hold onto wisdom because then we won’t lose sight of God either. It would seem that Solomon is telling us that we must avoid the trap of thinking that every time we choose righteousness, we will be rewarded. While it is true in principle, it is not true that all hardship and struggle will avoid us because of this pursuit of righteousness. In other words, pursue wisdom because it will lead you to God, not because it will give you material blessings. I hope this point has humbled your heart as it has mine. When we attempt to be righteous, may we not do so for a blessing or reward, but because of our love for the Lord who holds our eternity in His hands.
An Eternal Perspective
After noting this point, the preacher really begins to see how regardless of our understanding of life, all of reality rests with the Lord. In fact, pending on your translation, the title of chapter 9 is along the lines of ‘Mankind Is in the Hand of God’. As good and righteous as this title seems to be, this is not the focus of Solomon in this chapter. Look at what Ecclesiastes 9:2 has to say “It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked; for the good, for the clean and the unclean; for the person who offers a sacrifice and for the one who does not sacrifice. As the good person is, so is the sinner; the one who swears an oath is just as the one who is afraid to swear an oath.” Now why would Solomon choose to focus on this? It would seem he just came to the good stuff in chapters 6 & 7, and here we are being depressed again in chapter 9! Solomon tells us that no matter how we live here on earth, our fate is the same. We all die. It doesn’t seem to get much darker than that does it? So why does Solomon go here? There’s actually a great reason for this as we see how Solomon concludes the book. Chapters 10 & 11 go on to discuss why living foolishly is a dumb way to live and that we are to enjoy the days that we have left since death awaits us all. And then we come to chapter 12.
After all of this talk about death and how nothing seemingly matters about the way that we choose to live, we come to chapter 12 to see what the preacher is to make of all this. After going back and forth on how wisdom is better than folly and yet, both the wise and the foolish of the world will die, Solomon concludes with the best take and perspective he’s had. And this perspective comes in the final two verses of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says “The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” This is the perspective that we are to have in this life. No matter how life treats us, remember that God is over all and will judge all. Even though death awaits everyone someday, this is not the end. Eternity still weighs in the balance. This is why despite how life may treat us, we must ‘fear God and keep His commandments’. I hope and pray that this book, as harsh as it may seem, does the same for you that it has for me. May this book open your eyes to follow the Lord, not for a temporary reward, but for an eternal reward.
Sources
[1] Blue Letter Bible. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/
[2] Ecclesiastes by Jay Adams. (n.d.). Ligonier Ministries. https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/ecclesiastes
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