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Introduction to Ecclesiastes
I’ve never heard a sermon series on the book of Ecclesiastes.
I’ve never done a deep dive into the book.
I’ve read it a few times.
But it always seemed so gloomy, and dreary.
It’s not like some of the other books of the Bible.
It’s difficult.
In fact, the one thing that you will get people to agree on when it comes to Ecclesiastes is that it’s a difficult book.
Some believe that it was an error to include it in the cannon of Scripture.
That it doesn’t belong with the rest of what God is conveying in his word.
As I studied and read, and studied and read some more the last few months, I have come to the conclusion, that Ecclesiastes is a magnificent work of art.
It is a beautiful book of Scripture with the goal of driving us toward finding meaning.
In fact, the book can be somewhat refreshing, but the author doesn’t sugar coat the realities of pain.
He doesn’t gloss over the emptiness that life feels like at times.
He doesn’t put on a veneer and try to help us to see and know that things are okay.
The author acknowledges that Life is Hard, but God is good.
The author grew up hearing the platitudes of religion.
He grew up getting the same pat answers to the problems of the world.
But he wasn’t satisfied with the answers he recieved.
He was looking for something deeper.
Something more meaningful.
And I’m going to be honest with you.
Many of you are going to struggle with this book.
It will seem to clash with what you learned in SS, or what you have been taught.
But God has included it for His own purposes and for his own glory.
We could learn a lot from Ecc.
We could learn how to be honest about our problems and about our struggles.
We can learn how to pray well, to lament, to cry out to God when trouble strikes.
Never cursing God for our circumstances.
But crying out to him b/c there has to be more.
The book of Ecclesiastes is a book of Longing for something better.
Longing for something greater.
Longing for meaning in the mundane.
Meaning in the meaningless.
Ecc.
looks at the brokenness around us and longs for restoration.
A rediscovery of Eden.
A restoration of life, creation, and meaning.
Before we get into the text this morning, I want to lay a ground work for what we are going to read and study over the next 11 weeks.
This book is for all generations.
At the time of this writing the Author is reflecting on King Solomon’s life.
All that he had gained.
All that he had missed.
And is almost like a cautionary tale for the readers and hearers.
For the youth, it points to the reality that there is more to life than money, pleasure, and knowledge.
For the young adults, it points to meaning outside of oneself.
That there will never be true fulfillment in you job, income, or relationships.
For the middle aged, it points to finding joy not in your activities.
But in seeking and enjoying Jesus.
For the more seasoned, it helps to point to the reality that faithfulness is the key to ending well.
This book is a book for all ages.
But that doesn’t make it any less confusing.
In fact, back in August when we were first getting back together with the Youth and meeting.
One of the girls had just read Ecc. and she was put off by it.
She was confused by it.
And rightfully so, if we read it just at the surface level it can be overly confusing.
One of the reasons is that the Author gives us a whole host of problems and issues.
He points out the worst of what’s wrong in the world.
And we don’t get any solution or purpose until the end of the book.
But many of us read a book and and don’t get to the end.
So as we begin this series, I want to go ahead and tell you the solution to the troubles of the world as the Author in Ecc sees it.
So as we venture through this book I want you to keep this verse in the back of your mind.
I want you to know that this is where we are going.
That the goal of all life is to Fear God and Obey His Commands.
Now one thing to note about Ecc. is that this book is a look at Shared humanity instead of God’s movement in history.
What I mean, is that the Author doesn’t talk about Exodus, the Patriarchs, or any of the history of Israel.
Rather his primary concern is the reality of the world around him.
Which is why it seems rather dark and gloomy.
For the Author of Ecc, God is real, but so is the brokenness and suffering in the World.
Ecc. is part of the wisdom literature of the OT.
Included in that are the proverbs, song of Solomon, and Job.
And each of the wisdom books deal with something just slightly different.
Proverbs focuses primarily on ethics.
How to live a life that honors God and honors people.
Song of Songs or Solomon, is a love letter.
It focuses on the love between a man and his wife and the Joy found in relationships.
Job is primarily about the reality of suffering in life.
And how even in the suffering God is in control.
Ecc is about the pursuit of meaning and how true meaning cannot be found on this earthly plane.
So why would we choose to go through Ecc?
Why would we want to spend time in a book that seems to have less of a focus on God and more of a focus on us?
First, The book is honest about life’s troubles and difficulties.
If we are honest with ourselves, we aren’t often honest with ourselves.
As followers of Jesus we tend to put on a face.
We tend to wear a mask and act as if everything is okay all of the time.
We don’t want to reveal our hurts or hangups.
It’s easier to pretend that everything is fine, when everything is, in fact, not fine.
We could take pointers from Ecc and admit that nothing is as it should be.
Secondly, Ecc helps us to ask and answer the big questions in life.
Where do we find meaning.
Is there a point to this life.
What is my purpose.
These are all questions that everyone asks.
And Ecc will help us to answer them.
Thirdly, a study on Ecc will help us to worship God Better.
We will see where God really does fill in the gaps and emptiness of our hearts and souls.
Ecc will help us to be grateful for his gifts.
We will learn that being content brings about joy.
We will discover that the secret of life is not more things, but more God.
We will see that even though we live in chaos, God is in Control.
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