The title of this book is a word which means in the
Hebrew one who addresses an assembly,
so in the Greek it is translated "ekklesiastes" or preacher. More than
likely Solomon wrote this
book although some scholars from Martin Luther's time have doubted
his authorship. The theme
of the book, "Life apart from God can have no meaning, for God alone
can give life meaning."
The writer wanted to press into the minds of mankind that God is the
ultimate standard and point
of reference by which every aspect of life must be interpreted. If
man was the ultimate standard or
point of reference then all would be indeed vanity. When man becomes
his own god then life becomes meaningless and can only lead to despair.
Solomon writes from the standpoint that he has tried
all ofthe pleasures this world can entice us
with and found that they only bring pleasure for a little while. So
Solomon then points us to the
greatest of all things which is God and says that when all things are
considered pleasing God is what
really matters in this life, for all else is vanity. The conclusion
of the whole matter is the true solution
of the problem "Fear God and keep his conunandments for this is the
whole duty of man." Plus to
safeguard us against the illusion that we can live as we please and
then slip out of all existence in the
grave the passage adds, "For God will bring ever work into judgment,
with every hidden thing, whether
it be good or whether it be evil. The book of Ecclesiastes brings us
one of the greatest messages of the
Bible, but we must read and interpret it from the stand points which
are so clearly indicated.
© Copyright 2001. Paul D. Fisher. All rights reserved.