For such a short work, the Book of Ecclesiastes certainly provided some food for thought. It really had to mull it over and dwell on this one for awhile after digesting it to come to what I wanted to say. In a mere eleven pages, Ecclesiastes packed more flavor than I have seen in much of the Old Testament so far. The eponymous “Preacher,” explained as a son of David, wrestles with ideas regarding many of the same questions, the “meaning of life” and all that, that still plagues people of all cultures to this day. It is a chapter like this one that illustrates to me why the Bible continues to be a source of philosophy in modern Western culture, both religious and secular, and why such ancient books are, er, still to be taken seriously, I guess, not only as works of literature but as sources of wisdom.
This was a bit more of what I expected proverbs to be like. Pithy statements that, if you can believe it, can still really relate to today. Ecclesiastes had many of the biblical passages that I could remember having heard before in the Old Testament so far. Things like “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity,” (1:2) and “So there is nothing new under the sun.” (1:9), in addition to the “appointed time for every thing” series of statements from 3:1 to 8. While I may have issues with some of the philosophies related in the book, this is very evocative writing. In chapter 2, the preacher discusses the story of a very prosperous citizen with everything he wants (fruit trees, vineyards… male and female slaves) and yet still feels unfulfilled, “thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun (2:11).”
Success does not always make people happy; questions of the meaning of life and death remain for everyone. No one is perfect and “there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins (7:20).” Religion is one of the major ways people respond to this and Ecclesiastes reminded me of that without making me cringe at various atrocities that most people distance themselves from; the hitting of children with beating sticks, the genocides, the slavery, the exhortations against the eating of owls or of getting tattoos, those sorts of things that all too often pop up in the Old Testament’s ancient writings. Well, slavery is still acceptable in Ecclesiastes, but, hey, this was written several thousand years ago. It is interesting that in Chapter 9, the Preacher stresses equality, adding “It is the same for all. There is one fate for the righteous and for the wicked.” Does this mean that slaves and slave owners alike are “judged” equally, with none having an advantage in religion. But, wait, one fate for the righteous and the wicked? Does that imply that human life of any kind truly does not matter? This seems a bit, er, difficult to come to terms with! 4:2, “So I congratulated the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still living.” Okay, that’s a bit stark.
The Preacher discusses those fears and of not being sure what the point of all of the work that they do, they things they love and achieve, will be in the grand scheme of things, but he seems to be rather contradictory on the answers to these yearning feelings. Again, in Chapter 9, for instance, the Preacher states “eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works (9:7).” I’ve just noticed that I’ve neglected mentioning God in my discussion yet. The Preachers preaching certainly discusses God and His role quite prominently in his preaching, but to me, the role of the deity still remains opaque. While God might “approve your works,” He also is to be feared. But while “God is in Heaven and you are on the earth” (5:2), it may be that you will never find yourself there.“Whatever your had finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or wisdom in Sheol where you are going” (9:10). Again with this Sheol place. So is the lesson to make the best of life now, because there is nothing after? Or just nothing that one could comprehend? There still seems to be little like the modern conception of heaven being evoked by the Preacher, and seems to imply that, if there is an afterlife at all, it is equally miserable for everyone. The Preacher seems to be working though some interesting paradoxes, particularly the “why bad things happen to good people” paradox. Interesting ideas, but not really answered here. What are some answers that can be drawn from Ecclesiastes deeply introspective take on life’s futility and the inevitability of death, and the place of God in these questions? Food for thought, certainly.
I cannot admit to being entirely comforted by the Preachers points. Regardless, Ecclesiastes was a very thought-provoking and evocative book that really gives a good backdrop for all manner of philosophical and religious discussions and is a perfect example of why I am attempting this project.
Next up, as I continue with my vanities, the Song of Solomon, which appears to be a similarly concentrated text, and I am curious to see what topics it will bring up. For now, I think I’ll take a break from reading and writing for a couple hours as, and go take a bike ride or something as “the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearing to the body.” (12:12). And I have been feeling a bit cooped up lately and should take advantage of the weather (I just can’t seem to get used to the idea that it’s actually 40 plus outside in February).
