Sermon - AudioEcclesiastes 1-6 - Audio
Ecclesiastes 1-6 - Reading
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Quite a bit of reading today in a book that is deep and rich. Unfortunately, we do not have the time/space to go very deep. For an in depth look, check out Craig Bartholomew's Baker Commetnary.
Ecclesiastes 1
1.2 The main theme of the book is stated here in verse two. Several English words are used to translate the hebrew word “hebel.” “Vanity,” “Meaningless,” and “futile” are all options. Perhaps the best word to translate it into contemporary English is “absurdity.” Or in other words, when you read whatever word your translation uses, think: “I can't make sense of it.” According to our teacher, “everything is absurd.” nothing can be counted on to work out the way it ought to. Randomness, pain, loss, failure, and death may break into our lives suddenly and without warning, even if we live the best we can. The whole book creates an interesting balance to the book of Proverbs (which we just read).
1.3 This verse is the BIG question that drives the whole of Ecclesiastes. “What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” or in other words “What's the point?”
1.4-11 Is a poem about the enigma of life. This poem is placed deliberately between the big question and “the teacher's” introduction of him/herself in verse 12.
1.12-18 Most of Ecclesiastes will be dominated by the voice of “the teacher.” These verses form a general overview of “the teacher's” journey. It was a painful journey for him, which caused him a lot of inner turmoil (ie. existential pain). In stark contrast to Proverbs, his “wisdom” leads him to vexation and pain. Notice the difference in “starting places” as we move through the book. In Proverbs, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” In Ecclesiastes, “the teacher” goes on his own experience and mental capacities.
Ecclesiastes 2
2.1-11 The first area that “the teacher” observes and experiences in his quest is that of pleasure. He goes to the senses. He amasses wealth, music, sex, and so on. He concludes that pleasure is ultimately unfulfilling. “What's the point?” We are sadly reminded of all the celebrities who “have it all” and yet decide to end their life in suicide. This lifestyle manifests itself in middle class america in the form of consumerism. Consumerism is the quest for pleasure through possessions and experience. All the commercials you see on TV attest to this: “buy our product, it will make you happy.”
2.12-23 This speaks to the problem of death and one's legacy. The effect of sin is that God's image bearers forfeit their right to exist and their reason for existence. But God does not give up on us. God has a plan to rescue all of creation. This “teacher” operates without the understanding we have of eternal life and Christ's return. History is not forever “stuck.”
2.24-26 This passage is a bit “happier.” It articulates a glorious vision of our creaturely, embodied human existence. This description comes in two groups of three: “eat, drink, and work” and “wisdom, knowledge, joy.” Verse 24-26a is an affirmation of creation and of what it means to be human. A little gem of a verse tucked away. Don't miss it!
Ecclesiastes 3
3.1-15 The Mystery of Time. Once again, “the teacher” reaches wide in describing the “whole” of humanity: life, death, and everything in between. He again falls into a futile circular approach to time. Remember the hope we have in Christ.
3.16-22 The problem of injustice. Once would expect to find justice at least in the law courts, but “the teacher” finds just the opposite. And if there is no justice, then the fabric of creation is unraveled. The problem is intensified by death. If death is the end, then humans are no better off than animals and there will never be a time for justice to prevail. But we know that there will finally be justice. Amos 5.24 looks forward to a day when “Justice rolls down like a river and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.”
Ecclesiastes 4
4.1-16 Four Problems:
1) Oppression
2) competition in work (motivated simply to be better than the other guy)
3) Isolation and lack of community
4) in a word: Politics (I relate to his disillusionment) vs 13-16
What things in your life or do you hear about in the news make you ask “What's the point?” Perhaps the only hope we have is that God is ultimately in control.
Ecclesiastes 5
5.1-7 Worship. The teacher urges that one should go to the temple to listen. To approach with a teachable spirit, rather than to offer “the sacrifice of fools.” This acts as a critique of superficial religion, which goes through the rituals but has no awareness of God. For Christians, we see this teaching to be done by the Holy Spirit. God himself is our teacher and enlivens our spirits.
“Worship has to do with God, but we have a constant tendency to shift the focus elsewhere, for example, entertainment, to meet social expectations, or growing the church... “the teacher” simply wants to hold his readers accountable for their worship, to ensure that they understand what they are involved in, and to act accordingly (Bartholomew)”
5.8-17 Oppression and Profit. The struggle for government that will facilitate justice is found throughout the Old Testament. From the New Interpreters Bible (actually commenting on Proverbs 27-28 from yesterday, but it also connects here: “[This chapter] casts a penetrating gaze at the interaction of government, money, justice, and poverty. These chapters call Christians to social and governmental reflection and reform. To reflection because uninformed reform does damage. To reform because much in the land is wrong and crooked... Their concern extends far beyond the red flag moral issues that exercise many religious folk in America today: (other people's sexual) immorality, abortion, and drugs. These issues are important, and in a pluralistic society their resolution is complex. Unfortunately, passion about them is no substitute for a biblicially informed, wise view of the government's task... To move to one example in our American context, the perennial debate about the size of government requires a clear understanding of its task. Christians cannot say that government is too big or too small without serious, bibically informed analysis of that part of creation that is government and politics. Government should be big enough to do its job and small enough to do it without inappropriate trespass into other spheres of life...[however] to do its task, government must often intrude into other spheres “for the sake of justice and righteousness.” These issues and tasks of justice are complex and crucial... Proverbs consistently warns that money diverts the government from heeding the truth and doing justice. Thus Christians ought not to be silent when Congress perpetually fails to enact campaign finance reform...Christians ought not to be silent when civil and criminal justice is affordable only to wealthy individuals and corporations who can afford [them].” --Raymond C Van Leeuwen
5.18-20 The Gift of God. See the parallel to 2.24-26. There is a remarkabble shift in tone from the pessimism of the previous vreses. The change in tone comes with the first reference to God since verse 5. “Where the love of God is frim, full enjoyment of the creation is possible and desireable: one is 'completely in the arms of God and completely in the world' (Bartholomew).”
Ecclesiastes 6
6.1-12 Riches and wealth continued. Love of money does not answer the question of what life is about. It does not give meaning. Here “the teacher” explore the contradiction of wealth. A rich man is not able to enjoy his riches. The person who is continually pursuing wealth is unable to find rest. Rest is essential for a “full” life. Our search for the newest gadget, the bigger house, the nicer car will only exhaust us. The “new, cool” thing will be an “old, lame” thing in only a few years. And then we'll have to start saving for the next “thing.” As Jesus says in Matthew 6: “Do not store up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. But store up your treasures in heaven.”
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