The author of this book introduces himself as "son of David, king of Jerusalem"
(Ecc 1:1), which according to tradition refers to Solomon who reigned about
970–930 BC. He was widely known for his wisdom (Ecc 1:16, 1 Kings 4:29–32).
He used his mind to study and to explore with wisdom all that was made under the heavens (Ecc 1:12–13a). He also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched and put in order many proverbs. (Ecc 12:9).
Despite his wisdom, Solomon fell into sin through pagan women, power, and wealth (1 Kings 10:26, 11:1–8, Deu (5 Mos) 17:16–17). It caused him to compromise God's word (1 Kings 11:9–13).
The Book of Ecclesiastes is also called The Book of Foolishness because of the phrase "under the sun". "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." (Ecc 1:9 (NIV)).
That phrase is mentioned 27 times in this book. When Solomon refers to a life
"under the sun" he speaks of a life separated from God. It means a life from a purely human perspective. But as wise as Solomon was, his conclusions are just
conclusions from man.
The book presents conclusions based on human reasoning by Solomon after he had compromised God's word. We must therefore approach this book with caution.
The overall conclusion that Solomon gives is: "Everything is meaningless" (Ecc 1:2). Everything earthly as pleasure, wealth, work, and knowledge had been shown to be: "meaningless, a chasing after the wind" (Ecc 1:14).
However, Solomon's conclusion is correct that we must: "Fear God and keep his commandments" (Ecc 12:13, 1 Tim 6:6, Mat 6:33–34), see
To Fear the Lord in Fear of Man. To be compared to Jesus and the Law.
Solomon answers several questions that he asks himself based on human wisdom:
- What do men gain from all their labor (Ecc 1:3)?
- History repeats itself all the time (Ecc 1:4–7, 9–10).
- We will basically all be forgotten (Ecc 1:11).
- No matter how much a man has, he wants more
(Ecc 1:8b, 5:10 (9 in some translations)), see below. - We are born with a need for satisfaction. When we run after the things
of this world, we won't be satisfied. A life confined to this Earth is a life of dissatisfaction. It gives a life of emptiness and a lack of purpose
(Ecc 1:14).
Christian remark: We live in a fallen world, see
The Biblical Creation and the Fall of Man. - Is there any real lasting meaning to a life that is ultimately lived for pleasure and pleasure alone? That is, living a life in hedonism? (Ecc 2:3–10).
- This also turned out to be pointless, chasing after the wind
(Ecc 2:1–2, 11). - The best to be, in a life apart from God, is just to be happy while you are still alive (Ecc 3:12–13, 22). But this opens the door to sinful behavior.
Christian remark: Many wicked people seem to live in great prosperity (Psalm 73:1–5). They increase in wealth despite their pride and violence and people follow them (Psalm 73:6–12). This can be difficult to understand, especially when living a life of hardship (Psalm 73:13–16).
However, we should endure all hardships as discipline,, see the first part of The Book of James. The wicked will end in judgement, their destiny will be terrifying (Psalm 73:17–20, 27). It's therefore wrong to envy them (Psalm 73:21–22). God is with us and takes care of us
(Psalm 73:23–25). When this life is over, we will enter the Lord's presence forever (Psalm 73:26, 28). - What is the benefit with wisdom (Ecc 6:8a)?
- Although wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness, the same fate overtakes them both, that is death.
Wisdom is therefore meaningless. (Ecc 2:13–16). - The righteous may perish in their righteousness, and the wicked may
live long in their wickedness. Therefore, we shouldn't be over-righteous or over-evil. (Ecc 7:15–17 (16–18 in some translations)).
Christian remark: The "word of wisdom" can be given by God as a spiritual gift, see Spiritual Gifts. These gifts are given for the common good, see The Golden Rule in The Sermon on the Mount.
We receive our righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, see Righteousness Through Faith in The Book of Romans. - Is toil futile (Ecc 3:9)?
- The toil that is done is futile, a chasing after the wind, because the result must be left to the one who comes after (Ecc 2:17–23, 5:14–15).
- To toil hard and have no one to share the fruit of labor is futile (Ecc 4:8).
Christian remark: God looks at our hearts and our motives, why we do what we do, see The Parables of the Talents and the Ten Minas. - Do humans have any advantage over animals?
- Man has no advantage over animals. The same fate awaits them both,
as one dies so does the other. (Ecc 3:18–21).
Christian remark: There are differences between humans and animals.
Only mankind (and not the animals) is made in God's image
(Gen (1 Mos) 1:26–27). Man consists of three parts; one body, one soul, and one spirit (1 Thess 5:23) which together form a human being.
An animal has no spirit. Through my spirit (intuition) I have contact with God. The spirit begins to work when I become a born again believer and receive Jesus in my life, see Salvation. See the description of
"born again" in The Book of Peter. See this explained in
Body, Soul, and Spirit in The Danger with Gnosticism. - Will all souls go back to the Creator when we die (Ecc 12:7)?
- See time 0:31–2:08 in Bible Q & A With Pastor Paul │ July 2023.
Christian remark: Physical death occurs only in the human body.
It's only the body that dies. Our spirit and soul can't die, see
Body, Soul, and Spirit in The Danger with Gnosticism. To die and be absent from the body means for a Christian to be immediately with the Lord in God's Heaven. However, people who reject Jesus will, sadly for them, go to hell, see The Great White Throne Judgement.
- There is a time for everything (Ecc 3:1–8, 17b). Seasons come and go
(Ecc 3:15). It seems to be the time for things that we can't control.
Christian remark: Sometimes we need to rest in God to work it out. God's timetable may not be ours. We can learn to yield to God's timing. - The dead are happier than the living. But even better is not being born. (Ecc 4:2–3). Solomon based this on all oppression that took place where the power was on the side of the oppressors (Ecc 4:1–2).
The unborn need not be aware of this (Ecc 4:3).
Christian remark: We must look at this evil through the lens of God's word: We live in a fallen world, see The Biblical Creation and the Fall of Man. See also The Book of Job. - All toil and all achievements stem from one person’s envy of another
(Ecc 4:4a). The reason is to appear better and more respected than the next person. There is a competition going on. This is meaningless endeavour (Ecc 4:4b). It's better to live with little and just live a quiet life
(Ecc 4:6, 5:11).
Christian remark: See Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? - Two is better than one. If one of them falls, one can help the other up. Although one can be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord with three wires doesn't break quickly. (Ecc 4:9–12).
Christian remark: See Unity. - Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning (Ecc 4:13–16).
Christian remark: See King Asa of Judah. - Don't be quick with your mouth, don't be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. When you make a vow to God, don't delay in fulfilling it. It's better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.
(Ecc 5:2–5 (1–4 in some translations)).
Christian remark: See Jephthah the Judge and
Israel's Version of Sodom and Gomorrah. - Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart
(Ecc 7:7 (8 in some translations)).
Christian remark: See Balaam and Balak. - It only takes a little foolishness to destroy much wisdom (Ecc 10:1).
Christian remark: See The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven. - He who loves money never has enough, he who loves riches is never satisfied with his income (Ecc 5:10 (9 in some translations)).
Christian remark: See The Love of Money. - As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are caught in a snare, so men are caught by evil times that unexpectedly fall upon them (Ecc 9:12).
Christian remark: See The Parable of the Rich Fool.
Solomon based these conclusions on his wisdom and experiences, but not on God. His conclusion was; to enjoy your existence, try to get some happiness out of it
and enjoy the fruit you get from your daily basis (Ecc 6:9a, 8:15, 9:7–10, 10:19).
Even so; this too is futile, a pursuit of the wind which is emptiness (Ecc 6:9b).
In this case, a grievous evil that can occur, is having the things of this world but
not being able to enjoy them (Ecc 6:1–7).
and enjoy the fruit you get from your daily basis (Ecc 6:9a, 8:15, 9:7–10, 10:19).
Even so; this too is futile, a pursuit of the wind which is emptiness (Ecc 6:9b).
In this case, a grievous evil that can occur, is having the things of this world but
not being able to enjoy them (Ecc 6:1–7).
Christian remarks:
We need to put on the full armour of God, so that we can withstand in the evil day and having done everything, stand firm. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit at all times with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Eph 6:13–18a).
Although outwardly we perish, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and temporary troubles attain for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, because what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if our body is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in Heaven, not built by human hands. (2 Cor 4:16–5:1).
There is redeeming value in everything that we go through, even when we suffer,
to become more like the image of Christ (Rom 8:29), see the first part of
The Book of James. It gives eternal benefit. As Christians, we need to lay off our
old self and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness,
to be made new in the attitude of our minds by the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:22–24).
By faith we understand this from Scripture. Despite Solomon's wisdom, this was hidden for him. As Christians we shouldn't live our lives "under the sun". We should keep our eyes on Jesus and on the revelation of his truth. It can move us live a life of contentment and godliness (1 Tim 6:6–10), see Sanctification.
to become more like the image of Christ (Rom 8:29), see the first part of
The Book of James. It gives eternal benefit. As Christians, we need to lay off our
old self and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness,
to be made new in the attitude of our minds by the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:22–24).
By faith we understand this from Scripture. Despite Solomon's wisdom, this was hidden for him. As Christians we shouldn't live our lives "under the sun". We should keep our eyes on Jesus and on the revelation of his truth. It can move us live a life of contentment and godliness (1 Tim 6:6–10), see Sanctification.
See also The Old Testament of the Bible.
