The author's gentle cynicism and "don't take yourself too seriously" attutude speak to the contrary side of me. Are you familiar with Ecclesiastes, and if so what is your impression of it? Considering how reverently the Bible is generally taken, how the heck did someone manage to sneak a book of its ilk into the "good book?" Just wondering.
2007-11-25 13:47:51 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well, my favorite verse from it all through high school and college was Ecclesiastes 12:12 -- "Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body."
People (generally speaking) should read this book AND the footnotes -- it helps with the attitude of the entire book. Also, read up a bit on Solomon, the author, from other books in the OT -- helps to see a bit of where he's coming from.
Have a great night!
2007-11-25 14:24:51 · answer #1 · answered by herfinator 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wonder that you call the author's attitude "gentle cynicism." I think the words "vanity of vanities" or "meaningless, meaningless" said about everything needs a more acerbic term. The author uses the life of King Solomon as a foil for life lived outside of God's covenant. In a sense, from a Biblical viewpoint, the book is written from an upside down perspective. If you are familiar with C. S. Lewis' "Screwtape Letters," where Lewis writes from the perspective of a demon, then you will understand this genre.
Suffice it to say, the author reveals how the life of King Solomon, once he drifted away from God's covenant, ended up being meaningless. Every thing Solomon attempted and every where he looked at life turned out to be empty of purpose. As someone stated, "only the things done for Christ will last."
There was, then, no need to sneak this book into the biblical canon, because it teaches exactly what the rest of the Bible teaches. If you live your life only for the here and now, in the end, everything you do is meaningless.
What does matter? Living within God's covenantal framework.
(Eccl 12:13-14 NIV) Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
2007-11-25 22:08:00 · answer #2 · answered by C Gardner 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, wonderful book. The very first 'truthful' thing I ever learned from the Bible came from it, I learned that the dead are actually dead, and not floating around in heaven, or in eternal torment in some hideous hell:
(Ecclesiastes 9:5) . . .For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. . .
(Ecclesiastes 9:10) . . .All that your hand finds to do, do with your very power, for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in She′ol, the place to which you are going.
Also here, how it shows that man and animals when they die all end up dead.... out of existance...
(Ecclesiastes 3:18-22) . . . I, even I, have said in my heart with regard to the sons of mankind that the [true] God is going to select them, that they may see that they themselves are beasts. 19 For there is an eventuality as respects the sons of mankind and an eventuality as respects the beast, and they have the same eventuality. As the one dies, so the other dies; and they all have but one spirit, so that there is no superiority of the man over the beast, for everything is vanity. 20 All are going to one place. They have all come to be from the dust, and they are all returning to the dust. 21 Who is there knowing the spirit of the sons of mankind, whether it is ascending upward; and the spirit of the beast, whether it is descending downward to the earth? 22 And I have seen that there is nothing better than that the man should rejoice in his works, for that is his portion; because who will bring him in to look on what is going to be after him?
Of course there is the hope of the ressurection... but when men die, they are actually dead and in a sleep like state, not existing at all. This 'truth that sets you free' helps one understand HELL DOES NOT EXIST, and neither does man have an immortal soul that leaves the body at death but "positively does not die". Thus proving satan (and most modern 'christians') to be liars, since they perpetuate that original lie, saying when you die, you keep living in heaven or hell, which goes against the clear, wonderful scriptures in Ecclesiastes.
2007-11-25 21:53:54 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Our family just went through it. Personally, I think the first few chapters to be deliberately showing natural arrogance and touches on many peoples thoughts about themselves, how smart they are, what they do in life, etc.etc. but all those suppossedly superior notions one may have end up being depressing and their hopes promised to be dashed and that it was intended to destroy ones arrogance. The exaltation of man is destroyed. The last few chapters seems to bring the reader to the final fact. WE are not in charge of our on live in the first place and therefore we should find that Yahweh alone is worthy of worship and of our submission, ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES should take a secondary role to that fact. If so we would be a happier people. The conclusion of the whole matter is to Fear Yahweh and Keep His commandments, for that is the whole duty of man. Few seem to listen.
P.S. I enjoyed the question, perhaps you could consider changing your profile to show your other questions you have asked so I could respond. You have that list blocked now.
2007-11-25 22:33:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't see where you think the Bible is not in character with Ecclesiastes.. Many of the Old Testament Prophets got down and gritty too!
2007-11-25 21:52:20 · answer #5 · answered by PROBLEM 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really like Solomons explanation of what happens when things and substances and pleasures are sought rather than the heart of God.I like how He puts it straight and to the point.
2007-11-25 21:56:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
one has to keep in mine the amount of people it took to write the bible and their feelings at the time,all wanted to be heard and their voice spoken
2007-11-25 23:38:00 · answer #7 · answered by THE"IS" 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I glean from it's wisdom, but it is also taken out of context a lot. Not by me; mind you! I'm always right in my interpretation of Scriptures!
2007-11-25 21:57:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
my bible is .......how to brew beer at home......now this may not be reverent to you....but its very reverent to me......i respect both volumes equally.....on par so to speak.....seamanab.......hoping you do the same
2007-11-26 00:40:47 · answer #9 · answered by seamanab 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋