Ecclesiastes

Overview – November 2015 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Ecclesiastes

“Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.” — Ecclesiastes 2:11 NKJV

Ecclesiastes, “the preacher,” written by Solomon in his older years, is a striking contrast to Proverbs. By inspiration of God, Solomon declared the results of all human wisdom, earthly advantages and aspirations, and indulgence in everything that wealth and wisdom could obtain which might show fair promise of producing utmost happiness on earth. Being in a position to test this to the full, as wiser and wealthier than all other men, he learned by bitter experience that “all was vanity and grasping for the wind.”

Let us carefully remark that this book speaks of simply taking advantage of every material thing “under the sun.” It considers things only from an earthly viewpoint. Hence it teaches us that, apart from the revelation given by God, man’s history is hopeless misery. How wonderful the contrast in the New Testament’s presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ, His revelation of the glory of God and the eternal inheritance of the saints in light!

Ecclesiastes then cannot be regarded as teaching doctrines as revealed by God, but as showing man’s thoughts and conclusions apart from the higher revelation of God’s thoughts. Therefore, it only stresses more strongly that we must look far higher for the full truth that will meet the need of the heart. This is fully provided in the blessed person of the Lord Jesus, in whom is revealed all the glory of God as is so beautifully seen in the New Testament. Along with Proverbs, Ecclesiastes (rightly interpreted) provides the best course obtainable on the subject of philosophy.

By Leslie M. Grant

This column is taken from the book: “The Bible, Its 66 Books In Brief.”
It is available for purchase from Believers Bookshelf USA.