The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Ecclesiastes 12:9-10,
"Not only was the Teacher wise, but also he imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true."
"What he wrote was upright and true." Perhaps this may have been helpful to have as an introduction to the book. It certainly is very fitting in the conclusion. I wish more folks would take this to heart and not dismiss this book as the ramblings of an old, discouraged and disillusioned man. The truths in this book are both stark and real. Solomon has taken us to where many refuse to go: the truth of the matter of this life. Those who misunderstand the book or are unwilling to accept its message owe Solomon an apology as they point to his shortcomings as king of Israel as cause for this book. Not that he didn't have his shortcomings, they are fully documented in the Scriptures. Solomon's life demonstrates, as does Abraham, Moses, his father, David and others, that faith does not a perfect man make - but makes him righteous in the sight of God.
God chose fit to raise up Solomon and equip him with an uncommon wisdom. As a man carried along by the Holy Spirit as he wrote this book (1 Peter 1:20-21), he tells us about the futility of "life under the sun". God clearly does not want us to be distracted by the trappings of this life. The analysis Solomon provides us of this life, without reference to what lies beyond it, reveals its futility, meaninglessness and emptiness. It is a message God wants us to know. Clearly, God wants us to focus on what lies beyond this life and the importance of how our choices in this life impact our lives in the next. This book points us to the view of the heroes of faith:
"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13-16.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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