PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

Although Ecclesiastes has its own summation (12:13-14), let me attempt to provide a proverbial assessment that includes the beginning through the end: “God has doomed us to failure so that we may ultimately succeed.”

Already I can hear the doubts and disagreements. Speaking in a way that suggests God has doomed us make us uncomfortable, and understandably so. If I had seen this written by someone else, it too would have given me pause. But if I had worded it differently, I doubt anyone would disagree: “God created us so that true happiness is only found in Him, and that without Him we only find failure.” That would get a hearty “Amen!” And yet, both say the same thing. Saying such as in my proverb is not suggesting inherent evil, even Solomon denies that saying, “God made people upright, but they persued many schemes” (7:29). Life lived “under the sun” is doomed to failure.

This was in part an exercise by me to try and replicate the art of the Solomon’s proverbs. In studying this method of teaching, and in particular Ecclesiastes, I have come to three guiding principles.

• Proverbial statements are often deeper than they appear on the surface and contain multiple truths
• In Ecclesiastes, the proverbs are stated in a way darker and more realistic than in Proverbs even when discussing the same topic.
• Finally, Ecclesiastes says things in a way that we might disagree except they are found in the Bible. Call it disguised truths.

My proverb hopefully had both depth and a little darkness, while providing hidden truths. Let’s look at each of these points.

First, while proverbs appear simple, and some are, they often contain deep truths. “Part of the skill involved in being a sage was the ability to a complex idea and stick it into six or seven words….” (Kugel, How To Read the Bible, p.507). The book of Ecclesiastes has many such proverbs or mashals.

• Ecclesiastes 7:1 (HCSB) A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of one’s death than the day of one’s birth.

Looking at this we might see the pessimism of Ecclesiastes, which is how I immediately understood it. Such is a natural conclusion. But we may be wrong. A Jewish scholar suggests a depth here teaching something not readily seen:

“As with every mashal, Parts A and B are related. So here the point throughout is indeed the person’s name…. That day, the day of a person’s death, is certainly a sad day, but it is no less a day of great significance, since it marks the completion of the process of building a name.” (Kugel, p.513)

Good names are like perfumes in that both can have positive effects. Such a comparison was common in the ancient world. However, good names cannot be bought, and cannot be emptied by use. Therefore, they are better than fine perfumes. Good names come not from birth, but from a life time of making it good. If this understanding is true, and it is not universal, then this short little proverb definitely provides deep thoughts.

The meanings in Ecclesiastes are often different than what we would mean today even if we used the same language. We read into it our culture and Christianity. As Christians would say that the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth (7:1). But would we mean the same thing as “the Teacher?” We are speaking of eternity, while he is still speaking of this earth. Making a practical application, look deeper into what someone might mean. They just might be right but only after a little reflection.

Second, Ecclesiastes is a darker book than Proverbs. Both present truth, but Proverbs is more optimistic and Solomon’s second book of wisdom is far more “realistic.” Since both are books of wisdom, let’s compare two proverbs on this topic:

• Proverbs 3:13 (HCSB) Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding,
• Ecclesiastes 1:18 (HCSB) For with much wisdom is much sorrow; as knowledge increases, grief increases.

Admittedly and importantly, much more is written about wisdom within Ecclesiastes that is positive. But obviously there is both happiness and sorrow associated with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. I would suggest part of the darkness comes from the depth.

Here are two more contrasting statements, but in reality both teach truth:

• Proverbs 12:21 (HCSB) No disaster overcomes the righteous, but the wicked are full of misery.
• Ecclesiastes 7: 15 (HCSB) In my futile life I have seen everything: there is a righteous man who perishes in spite of his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in spite of his evil.

Third, I think many of us would disagree with what Ecclesiastes says if it wasn’t written in the Bible. But because it is, we give it the rightful benefit of the doubt even when we do not understand. How many of us would say, “Money is the answer for everything.” But that is what Ecclesiastes says (10:19). Sermons are far more apt to quote “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Or “You cannot serve both God and money” (Mt.6:24). Was Solomon being sarcastic? If so, then the meaning is dark. Is he being practical and realistic? I think so, and this becomes a disguised truth because money is not normally spoken of so positively. But realistically, it is hard to survive without money. So enigmatic is this statement that I once attended a lecture with this as the title and the speaker never addressed it. He simply spoke about what else the Bible said about money which is often negative.
Going back to my original “doomed” statement, let’s quickly investigate. Chapters 1-2 dissect man’s ways of finding happiness: wisdom, knowledge, laughter, sex, alcohol, possessions and such. Ultimately such is emptiness, vanity, futility and even confusing. Why can’t we find happiness in such endeavors? God didn’t make us that way. Therefore we are doomed if we try. What the result is that we then look outside of ourselves, outside of this life, and find God. Finding God, we ultimately succeed.

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This entry was posted by PHall on Friday, April 27th, 2012 at 4:12 pm and is filed under Ecclesiastes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.