Ecclesiastes part 1

Wisdom for the Fog

Today, I want to ask you a question: What is the meaning of life?

It’s a question that has plagued humanity, but it has also prompted wonderful stories and artistry. Particularly, in the 20th century, films have explored the topic. I admit I am drawn to movies that make me ponder existence, and those ‘what-if’ scenarios. It’s even better when filmmakers explore the question through comedy. Two movies that, I believe, did this well are The Truman Show and Groundhog Day. The Truman Show, you may recall, tells the story of a man who has spent his entire life in a dome filled with secret cameras. It’s not until the end that he realizes the truth of his existence, and he has to decide whether to stay in his false reality or break free into the real world. The second one is Groundhog Day, which tells the story of Phil Conners, a weatherman caught in a time loop in which he has to relive this otherwise uneventful holiday over and over again. He realizes there are no consequences for how he spends each cycle, because everything resets the next morning. It explores the question of what to do when nothing really matters.

These are entertaining movies, but they also draw us to the human experience. Most people simply wander this life without knowing the ‘why’ or ‘how.’ They just live. They are caught in the foggy lostness of this world. 

But God calls us out of this situation. We are called to live wisely, knowing our purpose. He has given us the book of Ecclesiastes to point us toward the Way.

As we begin our series on Ecclesiastes, it will help to give a wide overview first. After all, this is one of those Bible books that the heart of the teaching actually comes at the end. If we read Ecclesiastes just a little at a time, but never make it to the end…we will be extremely depressed. It’s easy to fall into a state of depressed nihilism, because over and over the Preacher describes the meaningless, or vanity, of the world around us. But, this feeling of lostness brings us to some Good News. How is that possible? Turn to the end of the book with me first.

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there’s no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14

You see Ecclesiastes is a book about priorities. The wisdom found in Ecclesiastes is this:

The only thing that truly matters in this world is what we can carry into the next one.

Over the next few weeks, we are going to walk through Ecclesiastes, and I will admit, it can be very difficult. This book will dismantle everything this world holds dear. Fame, fortune, love, pleasure, and even wisdom itself comes under scrutiny. It all falls into the abyss of hebel—meaninglessness or vanity. 

Background Info

To get us started, let’s look at how Ecclesiastes falls into the Bible. It is in the section of the Bible Canon that includes Job to Song of Songs. This section is collectively known as Wisdom Literature, though Psalm and Song of Songs are tended to be labeled Poetry more than Wisdom. Nevertheless, each of these books addresses an aspect of Wisdom, and the order of the books actually helps us understand how Wisdom guides us to a greater understanding of the world around us.

Job tells the story of a righteous man who is tested in the context of a cosmic battle. Job never sees the heavenly side, but his experience drives us to an understanding that something greater is happening around us. The popular understanding that good people are rewarded, and bad people are punished is dismantled. Job has done nothing wrong, and yet, he loses everything. His vindication comes not through understanding why bad things happen, but understanding Who holds the world together.

Psalms then collects a massive song book which explores who God is, what is Israel’s place in the world, and the relationships between humanity, God, and the nations of the earth. It is a Wisdom book derived from the heart of an artist.

Proverbs is next, and it is what we typically think of as Wisdom. It collects sayings and teachings which put order to our world. It describes how things are, and how they should be. In the Bible Project Series, it is compared to an optimistic teacher who wants her students to succeed. 

Ecclesiastes then comes with this cynical professor-type who looks into the eyes of his college freshman saying, “Life is meaningless. You will fail, and then you will die.” It is a ‘kick in the gut’ reality check. But, Ecclesiastes is book-ended by a narrator who helps put this gut check into a wider perspective. This wider perspective is necessary, because the professor has fallen into a trap. And the wisdom that we can glean is to avoid the same trap. 

Ecclesiastes drives us to ask, “Is there something more?” And this question brings us to the Good News—YES! There is more! Christ has come and has opened the door to Heaven. Our pursuits in this life are no longer meaningless pursuits of the temporary, but are used by God to lead us to our ultimate purpose and meaning.

Without Christ, this world truly is meaningless, but with Christ, we find its meaning.

Two Speakers

To help us understand the teaching of Ecclesiastes, let’s first address the fact that we are actually reading two authors here. The first author is the narrator. He has compiled the teachings of the Preacher (or ‘Teacher’ or ‘Collector’, the word is Qoheleth, and it is something of a nuisance to translate). The narrator gives us a prologue in 1:1-11 to introduce the autobiography of the Preacher. He bows out until the end of chapter 12, and then gives an epilogue which begins in verse 9 (or possibly 8 depending how you read verse 8). 
The second is the Preacher who gives us an autobiography of sorts. He recalls his pursuit for meaning in this life, but he is left empty each time. The reason for this emptiness is found in 1:13.

And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-13

Notice the limit the Preacher has placed on his search. He does not seek the heavenly, he wants to focus only on the earthly. 

The Preacher’s nihilism and lostness is a direct result of his earthly focus.

It takes the narrator who speaks up putting the Preacher’s wisdom into perspective that we understand the meaning behind life. If we only look at the world around us, we will only see the corruption of sin and the lostness it produces. 

One word

Before we conclude, I want us to look at the word that permeates the entire book. It is the word the Preacher uses to describe this life’s pursuits—hebel. In the KJV and ESV, it is translated ‘vanity’ while modern translations tend to use ‘meaningless’. It is a metaphor the translators are trying to explain. The exact translation would be ‘vapor’ or ‘smoke’. Life is a vapor.

Hebel (vanity or meaningless) literally means ‘vapor’ or ‘smoke’.

Consider lighting a match, and then blowing it out. Smoke will still rise from the match as the end smolders. Now, try to catch that smoke in your hand. The harder you grasp, the more it will escape you. That is the picture the Preacher describes. 

Wealth grows only to be given up at death.

Knowledge accumulates only to disappear into the grave.

Pleasure sticks around for the day, and tomorrow leaves us wanting more.

Justice promises balance, but is corrupted by the powerful.

Even our own desire to control what happens to us is rent from our hands by chance.

It is a depressing outlook that comes from human experience. It is only until the narrator reminds us that God does exist, and He has a purpose for us. This is why it is good to study Ecclesiastes in light of other biblical texts. Ecclesiastes reminds us of the futility of earthly life, and we must look up for Truth and Meaning.

When we quit looking for meaning under heaven, we can find it in heaven.

One Shepherd

Truth and Meaning come when we look up. Look once again at the end of Ecclesiastes. 

In verse 11, the narrator tells us the words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings. They are given by one Shepherd.

That one Shepherd is Jesus.

For those who work with animals, especially cattle, you’ll understand ‘goad’ very well. For the rest of us, a goad is a tool used to drive the animals forward. It is a force to move something. Words of the wise are used to move us toward action. We are not meant to read the Wisdom Literature, and say, “Mmm, yes, that’s interesting.” We are to read it and RESPOND. 

But, we don’t respond by taking what we want and leaving the rest, or changing what we don’t like. It also says words of the wise are “like nails firmly fixed.” We don’t change wisdom, wisdom changes us. The truly eternal is the Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who gives us wisdom and understanding to live this life to its greatest potential.

True meaning in life is found in Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10

‘The thief’ is Satan who brought sin into this world, and left us with an utter meaningless and vain smoke-filled life. He leaves us wanting more. He leaves us in a foggy existence in which we don’t understand even our very existence.

But Jesus has come! He restores our understanding by clearing the fog. We can understand our place, our work, and our purpose, because He has defeated Satan.

Today, as we begin our journey through the wisdom of Ecclesiastes, begin by taking the first step towards being wise. Surrender to Jesus Christ, who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He is the Good Shepherd from whom all wisdom comes. 

Seek Him, and you will find meaning.