Page 130 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

Study Section 14: Ecclesiastes - continued

14.1 Connect

After some transition verses emphasizing the inability of humans to know what will happen
in the future, 6:7-12, a new section begins, 7:1-12:8. The teacher often contradicts what he
has already written. His contradictions then add to his picture of frustration in life. We must
constantly remember that we are following the thinking of a pagan. He has no revelation
other than natural revelation. He is reflecting on his experience in life.

The overall direction of 7:1-14 is marked by a series of comparisons using “better.” The point is aptly
expressed in the comparisons in 7:1 between a good name and the day of death on one side and fine
perfume and the day of birth on the other. The end of life is as much better than the beginning than a
good name is better than perfume. Mourning is better than feasting and frustration is better than
laughter (7:2-4) even though he had previously recommended the pursuit of both (5:18). This is part of a
painful life. The rebuke of a wise person might be better than the laughter of fools, but a bribe can ruin a
wise man (7:5-7). So, in general, the end is better than the beginning and the good old days were not so
very good (7:6-10). Wisdom is about as good as money in making life “better” (7:11-12). This is how God
has made life, not wanting humans to figure out what will happen by ironclad rules they could pursue in
their own strength and intelligence (7:11-14, cf. 1:15).

The perspective adopted by the Teacher is not unusual. John Steinbeck, a well-known American fiction
writer, wrote a novel titled The Pearl after the NT story about the pearl of great price. Contrary to the
way Jesus told the story, Steinbeck viewed the precious pearl as a curse that is eventually thrown back
into the sea. The author gives several cameo pictures of his view of God’s role in life. In chapter six a man
puts his foot down in a line of ants and watches them proceed on their way by crawling over his foot.
This is the degree to which God is interested in humans. He casually disrupts life and just as casually
watches their response. “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked?
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as
the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future (7:13-14).”

14.2 Objectives

1. You will explore typical frustrations of life outside of Christ.

2. You will be reminded of the great sadness of old age and approaching death.

3. You will see the writer’s desire to push people to believe in the one Shepherd who can defeat the

meaningless of life.

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