Brief Introduction to the Book of Ecclesiastes

BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES:

AUTHOR, DATE AND TIME:

The Writer’s name, date or time is not directly mentioned in the book of Ecclesiastes. Based on the style of Hebrew and the content of the book, the Jews had concluded that King Solomon could have written the book in his old age but there are other thoughts that the conclusion of the book doesn’t go in line with the life of Solomon, so it could be some other person too. The first verse of the book which introduces the book says, “The words of the preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem”.  The author seems to have enjoyed or seen someone enjoying all the pleasures, disclosures, treasures on the earth and had found no meaning in it and starts his writing by stating, “Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecc 1:2). He also pre concludes the book with exact sense and states, “Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity” (Ecc 12:8) through which we could see that all the strivings of man are meaningless without the understanding of the self and God. The author addresses that he had been king over Israel in Jerusalem in Ecc 1:12, as well the author says in the next verse that he had applied his heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. Also, the author says, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge (Ecc 1:16).” which supports the authorship more to King Solomon. In the course of the book, the author deals with the works of Man as well as works of God, he deals with the limitations as well as the significance of everything. At the End of the book, the author concludes that Fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole duty of man because it alone could give meaning to life. And he cautions and states that God will bring every deed whether it is good or bad into Judgment after the destination of man, whoever it is and however he lives. Because without it there could not be any values, standards, and virtues that could ever exist and needed amongst human beings.

RECIPIENTS:

The recipients of the book are also not mentioned straightforwardly in Ecclesiastes. We could derive that the recipients are all the people who need to understand the Need of God in their life. The wise author wishes to be a good teacher being taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. He sought to find words of delight and he uprightly wrote the words of truth (Ecc 12:9.10). The author also mentions, “My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh” (Ecc 12:12). My son, in the context, could mean that the author addresses the people personally with careful and very important advice.

PURPOSE:

Ø To understand that everything that is considered to be worthy and high will be forgotten over a period of time.

Ø To understand that knowledge has its own limitations though it is good. There is no one in the world who knew everything that is under the sun.

Ø To realize that all the works and toils of the man couldn’t be carried by him along with his death, there will be someone who will enjoy the labors of a man.

Ø To understand that wisdom is better than foolishness, but everyone will have a final destination and will not be remembered over a period of time.

Ø To understand the experiences and happenings in the life of human beings in reference to time and the needs of a person to be joyful with what God has given as everyone needs to face the consequence of death.  

Ø To realize the evilness of the worldly standards under the sun in the face of the earth, which makes the life very difficult with many discriminations and illusions.

Ø To know the importance of fearing God who is all worthy and powerful.

Ø To understand that the striving for wealth and honor by investing all the time and energy have no limits, it could be continued throughout life which is meaningless.

Ø To realize the importance of human relationships over wealth or possessions.

Ø To realize that extremities of Wisdom Vs Folly, Righteousness Vs Wickedness, Birth Vs Death, etc., and find the balance between things in God for enjoying life in a valuable way.

Ø To understand the importance of heeding to the King or the powers and the importance of fearing God to resist evil as Gods ways are incomprehensible and man need to find Joy in everything, he toils by keeping the commandments of God.

Ø To understand the universality of death whether good or bad, righteous or wicked and so enjoy the life on the earth with the beloved, God has provided.

Ø To realize the contrasts that exists in the world though the strivings and toils are for some purpose.

Ø To prepare the hearts and minds to face the things one after another in the midst of enjoying things.

Ø To understand the importance of remembering the creator at differing circumstances.

Ø To understand that seeking something directionless has no limits and the highest duty that is invested towards human beings is fearing God and keeping his commandments, as God judges everything to provide justice, righteousness, values, and standards to the human life on the earth.

LITERARY FEATURES:

The book has beautiful poetry tone and certain portions of narration with many interesting features. The repeated words (for instance, Meaningless (vanity)) and the contrasts (for instance, Wisdom* foolishness) add flavor to the book. Also, it is not uniform by describing or expressing things evenly, the authors pour out his thoughts as he recalls the experience of himself or the people around him as it comes to his mind, so there wasn’t much uniformity of theme in most of the passages of the book. The emotions, intellect, and endeavors of the people without God and the enjoyment of life are chasing after the wind according to the book. The author use the right kind of words and narration to entertain all his thoughts.

LEARNINGS:

Ø We will be able to understand the limitations of the human wisdom, wealth, toils and positions and the directionless strivings in order to achieve it, for everything will be forgotten over a period of time.

Ø We will be able to realize the universality of death for everyone, incomprehensible works of the sovereign God, and Joy of life that God had given with the beloved people around with all the goodness.

Ø We will be able to Fear God and keep his commandments as all things will be vanity when there is no God, for the whole duty of man is living in accordance with the purpose of God. And we will know that God will bring everything into judgment for a sustainable and the righteous world forever.