Ecclesiastes - Introduction

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NEXT I. Nothing New under the Sun (Ecclesiastes 1:1-18)

Introduction

Author

THE AUTHOR STATES THAT HE was “son of David” and “king over Israel in Jerusalem” (1:1, 12). He was also an explorer of proverbs (12:9). Solomon, then, is the likely author. Many scholars think the book was written too late in Israel’s history to come from Solomon, so they date it to at least five hundred years after him. However, strong evidence attests that the book does indeed come from Solomon’s time.

For example, the book displays knowledge of literature from Mesopotamia and Egypt. Solomon had close contacts with Egypt, and his empire stretched to the Euphrates River. Therefore, it makes sense that he would have known and reflected upon such texts. Moreover, it is unlikely that a Jew writing five hundred or more years later, when Egyptian and Mesopotamian glory was finished and when Israel was a backwater nation, would have had access to such texts or been so familiar with them. Importantly, the book shows no similarities with the Greek philosophy that flourished five hundred years after Solomon. Thus, the traditional view that Solomon is the author is best.

Historical Background

Ecclesiastes is identified as part of the Wisdom literature of the Bible. Ancient Egypt and Babylon produced their own wisdom writings as well. Books like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes help readers grapple with the practical and philosophical issues of life. Ecclesiastes goes further though, engaging the question of the “futility” of life lived “under the sun.”

Message and Purpose

Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books in the Old Testament because it deals with what life is all about and shows how real the Bible is. It was written by a very wealthy and wise man who described life as a puzzle he couldn’t quite put together despite his vast riches and wisdom. So he went on a pilgrimage to find out the meaning of life, taking his readers along on his binges of the pleasures of the flesh, the accumulation of wealth, and the reality of death. He discovered that living independently of God was “a pursuit of the wind” (1:14, 17; 2:11, 17; 4:4; 6:9), or what Solomon calls “absolute futility” (1:2; 12:8).

This book is a big deal because in it we find a man who made huge mistakes that would eventually split his entire kingdom. It’s important for us to grab hold of this book and learn from Solomon’s mistakes as we build our families and apply God’s kingdom principles to our lives today. That, in fact, was what Solomon wanted his readers to do because he finishes the book by talking about the importance of getting God into the picture early in life (12:1-7).

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Outline

What is this thing called life? And is it even worth it? One moment it looks like you’ve scored a touchdown, only to have a whistle blower call back the play. Some days it’s like a wild goose chase without the geese, as if you’re doomed to chase something that’s impossible to find.

The Book of Ecclesiastes is a book about life—and how not to waste it.