In some respects Ecclesiastes is a difficult book to understand but we all face difficulties in our lives and we must remember that God gives us life. It seems that the writer asks if life is worth the living?
I believe that this book was read at the Feast of Tabernacles, a harvest festival feast when there was rejoicing over God’s rich provision for His people.
Like John’s Gospel where he tells why the book was written when almost at the end in chapter 20:30,31 where he says, “Truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” The writer of Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 likewise, in his final words gives us some help to understand it – “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” This then, should be man’s purpose in life and to have purpose, we must begin and end with God. In fact the writer makes no mention of Yahweh, the LORD, or the name of God until chapter 12.
The writer shows the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly things. He gives the reader a chance to see the world through the eyes of a person who, though very wise, is trying to find meaning in temporary, earthly things. He explores most forms of worldly pleasure and concludes that none of it gives him a sense of meaning. In the end, he seems to come to accept that faith in God is the only way to find personal meaning. He accepts the fact that life is brief and ultimately worthless without God. The writer advises the reader to focus on an eternal God instead of temporary pleasure.
Before we go any further let’s look at who the writer is.
1v1 “The words of the preacher” (teacher). The Hebrew title is ‘Koheleth’ which the speaker applies to himself. “I, the teacher”. It means assembler or Convenor of a meeting and a Preacher to such a meeting. Solomon was endowed with inspired wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-14; 6:11,12; 9:1 etc) especially fitting for the task.
Whilst many authorities are uncertain as to who the author is, most would say it is Solomon and from the brief details of his life found in Scripture, many of the experiences related seem to correspond to those he may have had.
Others have no doubts as to Solomon being the author and refer to Ch.1:12 “I, the preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem”. And v16 “I communed with my heart saying, “Look, I have attained greatness and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart understood great wisdom and knowledge.” Ch12:9 “Because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set (arranged) in order many proverbs.”
The Book of Ecclesiastes does not directly identify its author but there are verses that imply Solomon wrote it. There are clues that may suggest someone else wrote the book after Solomon’s death, possibly several hundred years later.
Some have attributed authorship to Isaiah or Hezekiah perhaps because of the difference in its style as compared with Proverbs and Song of Solomon, but this is due to the difference of subjects and the different period of his life in which each was written. Song of Solomon – written in the enthusiasm and fervour of his first love to God.
Proverbs around the same time or a little later, but Ecclesiastes in late old age after he had turned back to God in repentance after his folly and the period when his heart had turned from The Lord. He spends around 200 verses (in our count as it wasn’t written in chapters and verses) with the meaninglessness of life and around 5 verses with the answer.
v1 says that the Preacher “was the son of David, king in Jerusalem”, naturally assuming that this means Solomon. But David had other sons. It was someone known as ‘The Preacher’. In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as The Son of David – The blind man in Luke 18:38 sat by the wayside begging near Jericho cried, “Jesus, Son of David have mercy on me.” Is it possible that these are pre-incarnation words of Jesus Himself? Maybe, but I think v12 seems to indicate that The Preacher WAS king over Israel. Why ‘WAS’? Is he no more the king when he writes? Surely goes a long way to show that it was Solomon, and certainly, at the very end of his life reflecting on a sad deterioration and depressing failure, which is certainly not, Jesus.
I think we can safely say that the writer is Solomon and it was likely written towards the end of his reign, in approximately 935 B.C. Almost all he refers to seems to have a parallel with the life of Solomon.
Of the end of his life nothing definite is known. Whether he did finally repent and return to God has been debated by Bible Students. Those who believe he wrote this book see him wandering in the labyrinth of human philosophy and seemingly at last to emerge into the light of faith and divine providence.
He tells us several times to enjoy life while we can. It is only by knowing Jesus as our Saviour and having our sins
forgiven and an eternal promise for the future that we can really enjoy life.
1 Kings 11:4 “When Solomon was old, his wives (he had disobeyed God by loving many foreign women” (v1-3)(700 in all and 300 concubines) turned his heart after other gods and his heart was not loyal to The Lord his God as was the heart of his father David…. (v6) Solomon did evil in the sight of The Lord.”
There is no reference in the life story of Solomon of his repentance, but many times in this book he mentions the fact of sin and evil and the judgement of God thereon. In 8:12 “Though a sinner does evil a hundred times….yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.” 11:9,10 “….know that for all these God will bring you into judgement. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart and put away evil from your flesh.” 12,13 … ” Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man” (v14) …”For God will bring every work into judgement including every secret thing whether good or evil.” To repent, first needs a recognition of sin.
Solomon concludes in this book that “All is vanity” (pointless) (1:2) The book contains the reflections and experiences of a philosopher whose mind was in conflict over the problems of life. Certainly, not Jesus!
The word ’vanity’ can be translated as ‘Absurdity’. ‘Frustration’. ‘Futility’. ‘Nonsense’.
What a state at which he had arrived! Five times in one verse he uses the word, on two occasions indicating that this is the epitome of vanity – “Vanity of vanities”. Thoroughly disillusioned and realising the worthlessness, futility and foolishness of life without God. He clearly believes in God but the question is, ‘does God matter?’ However, the good news is that God and everything matters for 12:14 says, “For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
The book deals with the problem of right values.
Rev Sam Gordon states – ‘Many today have no sense of direction or real purpose in their lives. Ecclesiastes is a diary of one man’s pursuit after fulfilment in life. It records good days and bad days, high and low points…it tells it like it is.
It seems that the writer tried everything but was satisfied with nothing; He investigated everything but found nothing; He owned everything and realised he possessed nothing; He had been into everything and was left profoundly empty.’
After starting with the conclusion that all is vanity, he proceeds to give us his reasons for that conclusion.
