Read “Encountering Ecclesiastes”
This is another book that is part of the class on Moral Formation and Wisdom Literature. This book is enlightening on the nature of this style of wisdom. From earlier impressions of Ecclesiastes, it seems to be a depressing book. The author has a negative view of life. He always harps on “Hevel” which is the Hebrew word for “vanity.” “Hevel” rhymes with “Level.” But really the book is full of wisdom for modern society. It provides a balanced perspective in life. Life is vanity, but the author does not tell one to reject this world for the world to come, but rather informs the reader to embrace life while you have it. It really provides some counter wisdom. It counsels the young man to life it up in his youth, but always remember God is watching. It tells the man to eat, drink, and be merry. This little book should be preached in a lot of joyless congregation. It encourages the Christian to enjoy life. In fact, I liked the book so much I am going to be preaching a series of lessons from it for the congregation and for the class at Harding Graduate. If you want to preach on Ecclesiasties, read this book first.
Related posts:
- Read “Preaching Biblical Wisdom in a Self-Help Society”
- Read “IT”
- Read “Through Painted Deserts”
- Read “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes”
- Read “Living with Paradox”
About The Author
A lot of our churches need a good series on this book.
[...] Original post by Matthew [...]
Inagree churches would profit from a series of lessons from this book. I just must also extend my sympathy (tongue in cheek) concerning last night. I think some Tennessee fans I know might have done well to read 1 Kings 20:11 before they played UCLA.
I took a couple of classes at a non-accredited, distance learning Bible college before a “change of direction.” One of the classes was on the Wisdom Literature. I picked up a copy of Tommy Nelson’s “Life With God- Living With A Perfect God in an Imperfect World,” an exposition of Ecclesiastes. As part of my class, I was to develop a quarter worth of lessons so I chose to do a class on Ecclesiastes which I later taught at my church. Reading that book (which I bought seperate from the class; I can be dangerous with Amazon gift certificates) and preparing and teaching those lessons really made Ecclesiastes for me to be a message of hope. It’s like Solomon was saying “Go ahead and enjoy the world God made while you’re here, just don’t take it too seriously and keep it in eternal perspective.
Good advice my friend. Good to see that you will be at Topsy soon. Hopefully, I will get to see you. Here is the verse that Leon quoted, that everyone will enjoy it. I do not mind eating some humble pie, but I never like the taste of it though. “Then the king of Israel answered and said, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.’”
I think that is a good summary Eric. I liked it a lot.
Mathew,
Thank you for sharing this with us.
I hope you have a great week!
I appreciate the post. Indeed, Ecc is negative about live “under the sun” when it is lived in a way that gives an opening to “hevel”. But Ecc not only counsels to embrace to life as it is, but also to recognize that only those who fear God, are enabled by God, and recognize the depth of life as a spiritual walk truly enjoy life “under the sun.”
Eric, I got “Life With God- Living With A Perfect God in an Imperfect World.” Thank you for suggesting it.