Page 73 - Old Testament Survey Student Textbook

Ecclesiastes
Applying Wisdom to Find Life’s Meaning

Author/Date: Debated (genre/language), Speakers (Narrator, Qoheleth)

Theme(s): Questions, Quest and Quintessence (frustration, fear, faith)

Message: Wrestling with experience vs. teaching, Qoheleth’s man-centered wisdom leads to futility.
Meaning is found in fear of God (trust/obey), enjoying His gifts.

Prologue: Question (1:1-11) Narrator opens with Qoheleth’s thesis in a question, answer and
illustration: Searching for profit in labor and life under sun, Qoheleth concludes that all is fleeting (2-3)
Illustrated by cycles of life and nature, he is unable to reconcile what he sees and hears, concluding that
all is wearisome nothing new, nothing remembered, (4-11)

Quest: Wisdom, Pleasure and Work (1:12-2:26) In a biographical record, Qoheleth details his quest: (1)
Explore creation by human wisdom. Alas, project-process are fleeting! (12-18 (2) Test pleasure projects,
people, possessions, wine, women and whatever. Alas, it is all fleeting! (2:1-11) (3) Consider work and
wise living. Only a temporary advantage- death, both are deemed as fleeting (12-23). Concluding with a
contrasting vision Qoheleth urges one to enjoy both work and pleasure as God’s good gifts, based on
character consequence teaching in wisdom (24-26; cf. Proverbs)

Quest: Fit and Frustration (3:1-15) (4) Illustrated by catalogue of times (1-8), God created everything
fitting in its time. But He has obscured man’s ability to discern His plan, so that people might fear before
Him (3:9-11, 14). With similar admonition nothing better Qoheleth urges one to do well, enjoy work and
pleasure as God’s gifts as long as they live (12-13). Quest: Ethics, Effort, Esteem (3:16-5:7) (5) In quest to
find meaning, Qoheleth turns to ethics. He believes that God will judge evil yet he sees evil, not justice.
All is fleeting, all go to one place! He still urges joy in work (3:16-4:3). (6) But work, if motivated by envy
or greed, is also fleeting; only beneficial if shared (4-12). (7) Even a wise king is briefly revered, quickly
forgotten. This is also fleeting (13-16). In sum, Qoheleth urges one to fear God, respect- worship obey-
life (5:1-7)

Quest: Wealth and Honor (5:8-6:12) (8) Qoheleth now turns to wealth. Since money can’t satisfy (10-
12), may be lost in misfortune or death (13-17), Qoheleth again urges one to enjoy work and pleasure in
life as God’s gifts (18-20). He gives wealth and honor, as well as the power to enjoy them! Without such
joy, appetite for wealth has no advantage, is fleeting (1-9). In fitting end to Qoheleth’s quest, he laments
life’s fleeting nature, lack of profit (10-12; cf. 1:4f).

Wisdom: Fleeting (7:1-8:17) Like money, advantage of wisdom is also fleeting! (7:1-13). In light of
exceptions to retribution, Qoheleth cautions not to presume on wisdom righteousness (14-22). In spite
of his claim, he finds wisdom inaccessible folly (23-29), irrelevant power (1-9). He wrestles w/ theology
vs experience (10-14). He again urges one to enjoy gifts- work and pleasure (15) Wisdom: Fate (9:1-12)
Bracketed by common fate for righteous and wicked death (1-6, 11-12), Qoheleth wrestles w/ exception
to retribution character and consequence Yet again, he urges people to enjoy work and pleasure in this
life as God’s gifts (7-10, in contrast to darkness after death in Sheol).

Wisdom: Parable and Proverbs (9:13-11:6) With a parable about wisdom, Qoheleth teaches that
wisdom is powerful- better than might but fleeting- refused, ruined by folly! (9:13-10:3). With collection
of proverbs, he highlights the vulnerability of wisdom- though a temporary advantage, wisdom can’t
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