A Few Thoughts on Last Evening's Discussion

Below: Ecclesiastes (the "Preacher"), by Gustave Doré.

Last night twenty of us met to discuss "Ecclesiastes," one of the more challenging texts our group has tackled, despite its relative brevity. Some of us came prepared to delve more deeply into the context of Ecclesiastes with King James, Jerusalem, and Jewish Publication Society editions of the Bible.

My overriding question was: What is the Preacher's prescription for a meaningful life? He is, after all, so given to making grim pronouncements about the brevity of life, the worthlessness of material possessions and worldly fame, the tiring effects of the pursuit of wisdom. All this, in short, is what the Preacher calls the "vanity of vanities," a phrase that perfectly encapsulates what one participant referred to as the cyclical, churning, nature of the Preacher's seemingly endless ruminations. Vanity, to steal a line from Carly Simon, is just s-o-o vain.

The Preacher's Rx (as I came to see it during the course of our 90-minute discussion) : A peaceful resignation to the unfairness of human life, and a consequent re-dedication to your life's work. As the Preacher says (in chapter 9, verse 10) with his inimitable literary flair: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest."

Questions about "Ecclesiastes"

1. Who is speaking? (cf. p. 1, "I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem"

2. Who is his audience?

3. Page 2: "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." What is the Preacher's attitude towards the examined life? Compare the statements on p. 3, "Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness," and "And how dieth the wise man? as the fool."

4. P. 4. : In the famous section that begins, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven," is the Preacher extolling the richness of life, or lamenting our grim destiny? Why must there be a "time to hate"?

5. Page 4: "So I returned" , page 8: "I returned and saw under the sun" From where is the Preacher returning?

Some verses to discuss:

Page 3: "For God giveth to a man that is good in his slight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit."

Page 6: "The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep."

Page 6: "As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry in his own hand."

Page 8: "For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time: when it falleth suddenly upon them."

Page 8: "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap."

Page 9: "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity." Does this exhortation contradict itself at the end?

Evaluative Question

Does Ecclesiastes present a coherant life philosophy, or is it really a collection of choice aphorisms?